BREAKING NEWS: BIBLE JOINS THE LIST OF BANNED BOOKS IN US SCHOOLS
GOD PISSED
In a shocking turn of events, the Bible has become the latest victim of book bans sweeping across schools and libraries in the United States. That's right, the holy book that has been revered by millions of Christians around the world for centuries is now deemed inappropriate for young readers by some parents and activists who claim that it contains violence, sex, racism, homophobia, and misogyny. God must be shaking his head in disbelief.
According to PEN America, a free-speech organization, more than 1,600 books were banned in over 5,000 schools during the last school year. The bans were facilitated by the increasing number of educational gag orders introduced or passed in 36 states. The banned books include classic and contemporary novels, as well as graphic memoirs. But why is the Bible being targeted? And who is behind this movement to silence one of the most influential books in history?
One of the most vocal opponents of the Bible in schools is Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the former White House press secretary and current governor of Arkansas. Sanders recently announced that she would sign a bill that would ban public school libraries from keeping books on hand that focus on sexual activity, sexual identity, or gender identity. She also said that she would remove any books that "promote or normalize pornography" or "glorify violence" from her own children's shelves.
Sanders did not name any specific titles, but she implied that the Bible was among them. In a tweet, she wrote: "If you want to read about two men who lie with each other as they would with a woman (Leviticus 18:22), incest (Genesis 19:30-38), rape (Judges 19:22-30), slavery (Exodus 21:2-11), genocide (Joshua 6:21) or polygamy (1 Kings 11:3), go to your local library. Not mine."
Sanders' tweet sparked outrage among many librarians, educators, and authors who accused her of bigotry and ignorance. They pointed out that the Bible also contains messages of love, justice, forgiveness, and hope, and that it has inspired countless works of art, literature, and culture. They also argued that banning books is a violation of intellectual freedom and students' First Amendment rights.
"Sarah Huckabee Sanders is a disgrace to librarians everywhere," said Nancy Pearl, a renowned librarian and author. "She clearly has no idea what the Bible is about or what libraries are for. Libraries are places where people can access information and ideas from different perspectives and backgrounds. They are not places where politicians can impose their narrow-minded views on others."
Despite the criticism, Sanders has found some supporters among conservative groups and religious organizations that share her views on the Bible and other books. They claim that they are not trying to ban books per se but rather to protect children from harmful or inappropriate content.
One of these groups is Parents Defending Education (PDE), a nonprofit organization that aims to "fight indoctrination in the classroom" and "promote a return to academic excellence." PDE has launched a campaign called "Challenging Harmful Materials in Schools" (CHMS), which encourages parents to file complaints against books that they deem offensive or unsuitable for their children.
PDE's website lists several examples of books that they consider objectionable, including "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas, "Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You" by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, and "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. The website also provides a template letter for parents to use when contacting school officials or board members about these books.
PDE's president, Nicole Neily, said that the Bible is one of the books that parents should challenge if they find it inappropriate for their children. She said that while she respects the religious beliefs of others, she does not think that public schools should promote any particular faith or doctrine.
"The Bible is a sacred text for many people, but it is also a controversial one," Neily said. "It contains stories and passages that may be disturbing or confusing for young readers. It also contradicts some of the values and principles that we want our children to learn, such as equality, diversity, and inclusion. We believe that parents have the right to decide what books their children read and that schools should respect their choices."
Whether motivated by religious convictions or political agendas, book bans have a significant impact on schools and libraries, as well as on students and authors. Book bans can limit the availability and diversity of books, stifle critical thinking and creativity, and undermine the educational mission of schools and libraries.
Book bans can also affect authors, especially those who write about marginalized or underrepresented groups. Book bans can devalue their work and voice, discourage them from writing about certain topics or perspectives, reduce their income and opportunities, and isolate them from their readers and fans.
Book bans are likely to continue as long as there are people who disagree with or fear the content of certain books. However, there are also people who oppose book bans and defend the right to read. They include librarians, educators, authors, students, parents, and activists who advocate for intellectual freedom and diversity of literature.
They use various strategies to resist book bans, such as raising awareness and educating the public about the issue, organizing protests and campaigns to support banned books and authors, challenging book bans in court or through appeals, celebrating banned books through events and programs, and creating alternative spaces and platforms for accessing and sharing books.
The future of book bans depends on the outcome of this ongoing struggle between censorship and freedom, between ignorance and enlightenment, between fear and curiosity. As the poet John Milton wrote in his 1644 essay "Areopagitica," which defended the freedom of the press: "Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties." Let's hope we can all learn from his words before it's too late.
Book bans are sweeping US schools. A surprising new victim? The Bible | Arwa Mahdawi | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/07/book-bans-are-sweeping-us-schools-a-surprising-new-victim-the-bible
Librarians Read Sarah Huckabee Sanders For Filth Over Bigoted Book Ban https://news.yahoo.com/librarians-read-sarah-huckabee-sanders-160135225.html
