Joseph 's comments
(member since Aug 02, 2008)
Joseph 's comments from the Banned Books group.
(showing 1-15 of 15)
This serial might be of help:
Banned books ... resource book [2000 to :]
Pub.Info: Chicago, IL : American Library Association, 2000-
Frequency: Annual.
Vol.Dates: 2000-
If you'd like to, fine with me.
Lois Lowry wrote it as a loose trilogy. You don't have to read them all, but reading "The Giver" first adds to understanding "Gathering Blue" better, and reading those two helps to get more out of "Messenger."
Oh good grief! When is such stupidity going to end? I'm glad to see that the library didn't bend, but that they should have to confront such a thing to begin with is just plain sad.
well i suppose it is, but in the case of the book, no one had a choice- if they didnt want to die, they still had to. but i got a feeling that some, if not all, of them didnt quite know it was going to kill them, they might still be under the impression they were going Elsewhere.
anyone think the same way? or am i totally off the mark ^-^
I think the old went willingly to be killed simply because that was the way their society worked. Things had been that way for so long no one ever thought for themselves anymore, to question whether or not letting themselves be killed off was right or wrong. Their society just thought that was the right thing to do.
If you read the next two books in the trilogy,
Gathering Blue and Messenger, you'll learn more about what happens to those few who did decide to think for themselves and do go Elsewhere instead of to their death.
Kenza wrote: "no, suicide is simply
"the action of killing oneself intentionally" and it may not have to do with depression at all."
You're right, I meant to say OFTEN due to depression. Somehow that one word got left out, sorry.
What I was trying to do was separate euthanasia, helping someone kill themselves, from suicide, someone killing his/herself by his/herself.
In "The Giver," if I remember correctly, there were some people who were given the jobs of helping the old to end their lives. That would be euthenasia, not suicide.
Kenza, I did not mean to be criticizing your wording, I meant to be nitpicky about the people who were giving suicide as a reason for banning the book.
In any case, to get back to answering your question, the society in "The Giver" used euthenasia to "improve" its society by ending the lives of those who were of no longer any value to the society and so had become what they saw as nothing but an impairment. They thought why keep them around if they could not give anything back to the community any more. That's why they killed the babies that did not measure up, also. They thought if they did not look like they were going to grow up big and strong and valuable, why bother with them? Just kill them and devote valuable time and energy to raising the babies that would be of value.
There wasn't any suicide in "The Giver." All the old people who ended their lives did so willingly with assistance. That's the definition of euthenasia, not suicide. Suicide is by definition ending one's own life for the sole reason of being too depressed to go on. The old people in the book who ended their lives did so because that was just the way things were done in their society, not because they were depressed.
There was also murder involved, though. The killing of the babies just because they did not measure up to the society's standards.
Jun 22, 2009 03:38PM
Update:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local...
Controversial book to stay on reading list
Some parents seek to ban 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian'
By Lisa Black, Tribune staff reporter, and Ruth Fuller, special correspondent
4:09 PM CDT, June 22, 2009
Antioch High School has agreed to form a committee that includes parents to review books after an assigned summer reading book drew protests because of its language and description of sexual acts.
Community High School District 117 Supt. Jay Sabatino said this afternoon that after reading the book, he and two school board members decided to keep it on the summer reading list.
"The consensus is we feel it is a valuable read, a good read . We will continue to offer an alternative if someone wants one," Sabatino said.
Earlier today, school board President Wayne Sobczak said he doubted the book -- "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie -- would be pulled from shelves as some parents wanted.
"I am sensing the book is going to stay because it is age-appropriate," said Sobczak, who said he had also received positive input from parents who read the book.
"I appreciate the parents who came and had concerns," he added. "But the tone and flavor of the book is positive for children this age, and shows someone trying to do the right thing."
He noted that the 400 incoming freshmen already have an alternate book that they may choose to read.
The book is an award-winning story of a 14-year-old American Indian who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. The main character faces many of the same challenges the incoming freshmen will face when they start school in the fall, said John Whitehurst, chairman of the English department at Antioch High School.
Sobczak and two board members who read the book are scheduled to discuss their thoughts at a meeting tonight.
Sobczak said the committee being formed could issue warnings about future book assignments.
"If they believe a book needs a warning for parents, that it contains something that might be objectionable, they will have warning and an alternate book," Sobczak said. "Something like, "We find the content and the theme of it is very appropriate for our children. However you may find some of the language inappropriate."
Jennifer Andersen said she was one of seven parents who attended a District 117 school board meeting Thursday to ask that the book be banned from the curriculum, or at the very least be accompanied with a warning about the content.
"I can't imagine anyone finding this book appropriate for a 13- or 14-year-old," said Andersen, whose 14-year-old son will be a freshman this fall. "I have not met a single parent who is not shocked by this. This is not appropriate for our community."
Andersen said this afternoon she was pleased to learn that a committee would begin reviewing books and warning parents, if necessary.
"I think that's a great idea," said Andersen, who has a teaching degree.
"Ideally, I would love them to say, 'We don't condone this language in the schools and we feel this book does not meet our standards."
She said that she is not promoting censorship. While the book has a good storyline, she said, she questioned why the author felt it was necessary to include language that "would not be allowed in school hallways."
"It saddens me. I understand they think this is a great book about overcoming difficult situations in a child's life," she said. "How can we look past the vulgarity?"
Andersen said she read the book because she wanted to be able to help her son understand it.
"I began reading, and I started to cross out sections that I didn't want him to read," she said. "Soon I thought, 'Wait, this is not appropriate; he is not reading this.' "
There is an alternative book that students can read, "Down River," if parents do not approve of the selected title, Sabatino said.
Teachers create a list of possible titles, read the books and consult experts and organizations for their recommendations before assigning them, Whitehurst said. The English department did a survey last year and determined many boys at this age do not like to read, he said. Because the protagonist in the story is a boy who is quite engaging, it would appeal particularly to those reluctant readers, Whitehurst said.
"While there is graphic language, keep in mind that Arnold [the main character:] uses this language to express his own feelings to himself or to exchange taunts with his best friend," he said. "He never uses this language in front of girls, to his family or to other adults, and he doesn't act on such thoughts. He is consistently polite."
Whitehurst said the book is filled with positive, life-affirming messages and has an especially strong anti-alcohol message.
Andersen said she understands kids use profanity, but if it is part of the curriculum, the students will believe the school condones it.
"That is like saying that because Romeo and Juliet committed teen suicide, we condone teen suicide," Whitehurst said. "Kids know the difference. Like it or not, that is the way 14-year-old boys talk to each other."
Andersen said she would like to make this a national conversation about placing warning labels on books.
"We rate movies and put warnings on music and TV," she said. "What about books? There is no warning whatsoever if there is vulgar language in a book."
"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" has won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and was named one of the Los Angeles Times' Favorite Children's Books of 2007 and New York Times' Notable Children's Books of 2007.
Jun 22, 2009 05:23AM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local...Some parents seek to ban The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Group calls book vulgar; administrator says character's experience are the same challenges facing incoming freshmen
By Ruth Fuller | Special to the Tribune
June 22, 2009
Some parents of incoming freshmen at Antioch High School want an assigned summer reading book pulled from the school's shelves and the curriculum because it uses foul, racist language and describes sexual acts.
The book, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," by Sherman Alexie, is an award-winning story of a 14-year-old American Indian who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. The main character faces many of the same challenges the incoming freshmen will face when they start school in the fall, said John Whitehurst, chairman of the English department at Antioch High School.
Jennifer Anderson said she was one of seven parents who attended the Community High School District 117 School Board meeting Thursday to ask that the book be banned from the curriculum, or at the very least be accompanied with a warning about the content.
"I can't imagine anyone finding this book appropriate for a 13- or 14-year-old," said Anderson, whose 14-year-old son will be a freshman this fall. "I have not met a single parent who is not shocked by this. This is not appropriate for our community."
District 117 Supt. Jay Sabatino said he has not read the book but planned to do so over the weekend and asked two school board members to do the same. On Monday, the group will reconvene to discuss the appropriate action to take, he said.
Anderson said she read the book because she wanted to be able to help her son understand it.
"I began reading, and I started to cross out sections that I didn't want him to read," she said. "Soon I thought, 'Wait, this is not appropriate; he is not reading this.' "
There is an alternative book that students can read, "Down River," if parents do not approve of the selected title, Sabatino said.
Teachers create a list of possible titles, read the books and consult experts and organizations for their recommendations before assigning them, Whitehurst said. The English department did a survey last year and determined many boys at this age do not like to read, he said. Because the protagonist in the story is a boy who is quite engaging, it would appeal particularly to those reluctant readers, Whitehurst said.
"While there is graphic language, keep in mind that Arnold [the main character:] uses this language to express his own feelings to himself or to exchange taunts with his best friend," he said. "He never uses this language in front of girls, to his family or to other adults, and he doesn't act on such thoughts. He is consistently polite."
Whitehurst said the book is filled with positive, life-affirming messages and has an especially strong anti-alcohol message.
Anderson said she understands kids use profanity, but if it is part of the curriculum, the students will believe the school condones it.
"That is like saying that because Romeo and Juliet committed teen suicide, we condone teen suicide," Whitehurst said. "Kids know the difference. Like it or not, that is the way 14-year-old boys talk to each other."
Anderson said she would like to make this a national conversation about placing warning labels on books.
"We rate movies and put warnings on music and TV," she said. "What about books? There is no warning whatsoever if there is vulgar language in a book."
"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" has won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and was named one of the Los Angeles Times' Favorite Children's Books of 2007 and New York Times' Notable Children's Books of 2007.
The idea to suggest some good works of fiction about banning books came to mind with the current discussion about suggestions for the Banned Book Club of books that have been banned.
Along with the classic Fahrenheit 451 you might also like to read Memoirs of a Bookbat by Kathryn Lasky and The Day They Came to Arrest the Book by Nat Hentoff. Nat Hentoff has also written several very good works of nonfiction about censorship. Enjoy.
Great idea. Two that come to mind as must reads that are also challenged books are The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and And Tango Makes Three.
If you're still looking for a good copy of "The Count of Monte Cristo" then I suggest:
The Count of Monte Cristo (Oxford World's Classics)
by Alexandre Dumas
published June 25th 1998 (first published 1844) by Oxford University Press, USA
Paperback, 1168 pages
isbn0192833952 (isbn13: 9780192833952)
I've only read "The Three Musketeers" from this publisher's series, but it was excellent so I see no reason the rest of the works by them should not be. Good luck.
I've read all of these challenged books, many of them BECAUSE they were challenged.
*And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
*The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
*The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
*Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
*Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
*Forever by Judy Blume
*Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
*The Giver by Lois Lowry
*The Witches by Roald Dahl
*The Goats by Brock Cole
*To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
*James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
*A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
*Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
*Lord of the Flies by William Golding
*Native Son by Richard Wright
*The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
*Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
Oh good grief. I thought it was bad enough that Palin was anti-abortion and pro-guns, but being a book banner too?!? No doubt about it, we definately do NOT want McCain in the White House.
I'm sure you know that Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September. Just thought you'd want to know that this year that makes it September 27–October 4. For more info, check out here
