Why Should Cat's Crad Not Be Banned

Book banning limits, restricts, and denies access to any literary work or book. Literary works become removed from public access because they offend people in some way or another. Books containing “sexual abuse, discrimination, or similar topics,” become challenged because they deal with realities society commonly ignores (Durand 92). Kurt Vonnegut's fictional novel, Cat’s Cradle, became censored by the Strongsville City School District on June 19, 1972, simply because its ideas about humanity’s stupidity appeared to be “garbage” and “completely sick” in the eyes of professors (Pal 46). While it may offend many groups of people with its critical viewpoint of humanity, Cat’s Cradle and books alike should not be censored because it goes against

Jonah, the curious protagonist in Vonnegut's novel, witnesses a “winded, defeated-looking fat woman” covered in disgusting clothes who had turned to look at Dr, Breed, a friend of his. He points out that this woman “hated people who think too much,” and sarcastically states how this grimy woman appeared to be an “appropriate representative” for all society (Vonnegut 33). Vonnegut uses this comparison to convey his pessimistic views on society, specifically how people’s laziness allows them to continuously believe in lies by looking down upon those who begin to think of other truths. Cat’s Cradle also introduces a new controversial religion called Bokonon. This new religion attempts to influence the reader to follow the Books of Bokonon by stating that “[all] useful religion is founded on lies” in which following them will eventually lead one to unhappiness (Vonnegut 6). However, this religion becomes a logical fallacy when the “true things” in which one should believe in to be happy, are later specified as “shameless lies” that seem to trick one into being happy (Vonnegut 5). Vonnegut uses Bokonon to prove the illogical basis for humanity's belief in war when Bokonon, the creator of Bokononism, demands that the people of San Lorenzo should commit suicide when the world ends simply because “God was [already] trying to kill them” and he thought that suicide would be a quicker alternative (273). The mass suicide demonstrates the ultimate end to those who believe in such lies, such as how humanity believes that with each battle or war they will finally reach an era of peace. However, Vonnegut believes humanity’s belief in such an easy lie has become a logical fallacy that will end up destroying their world far before the era ever arises. People’s tendency to act as fat and defeated entities that express their differences with a