For the Love of Books A quote from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury says that “... books are to remind us what asses and fools we are.” Ironically, Fahrenheit 451, whose main theme was the harming effects of censorship, was banned from some schools for using the word “hell” and “damn” and for using God’s name in vain in 1953. But it is this kind of gall and truth that students are deprived of when books are banned from schools. Other banned books include The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain for its racist language and themes, and Beloved by Toni Morrison for its sexual content, language, and discussion of bestiality. In every case though , rather than protecting the innocence of children and students, it denied them their first amendment right, their access to the lessons and themes of the world around them, and their tools to open their minds and expand their imaginations. It is for these reasons that “mature content” books, such as Fahrenheit 451, must remain in schools.
As most know, the United States Constitution gives all American citizens the right to freedom of expression. This means that Americans can voice their
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Their explicit content is a small detail in an otherwise big picture. Set in the deep south during a time when slavery was still prevalent The Adventures Huckleberry Finn would not be historically accurate if Mark Twain did not show the blatant racism of that era. The mistreatment of blacks came with the times, but the book is not a how-to guide. Its purpose, in fact, was to reveal the truths of racism. Similarly, Fahrenheit 451 is not a profanity dictionary, and Beloved is not a modern version of the Kama Sutra. These details, as controversial as they may be, are meant to build the story and add emphasis, but they are not the purpose of the story. To remove these books from schools removes the world's life lessons and values from the