Misunderstandings

As I am sure you readers know, there is a section in the library where they have on display a bunch of books that have been banned in many areas of the United States. There is a paper there saying that we have to be careful that we don't let our freedom to read be taken away. I am going to share my thoughts on this.

First of all, I point out that in all the books, they were challenged in school settings because they were reading material used in a curriculum. The problem was made because parents believed their children either too young to read the books, or because they believed the books promoted questionable ideas. This is understandable, that parents would want to protect their children from certain corrupting factors. The problem here is not the books themselves, but the environment in which they were introduced.

There are things that children should not be exposed to at certain ages. In school, it is fine to have children reading books that give them a look at life in the past, or whatever excuse the school has. But when the book has even references to something that would help put an R-rating on a movie, then those books should not be allowed.
The so called "freedom" to read that was being taken away was simply the books not being allowed to be forced on children to read. Because it is either the kids read the books, or they fail the assignments.

However, there is a way that our freedom to read could be threatened, and that would be if published works available to the public was restricted. If people in the public wish to read a certain book, then they should be able to read that book. They should not be limited. However, it is wrong to impose controversial books on children while still learning things. Children have very impressionable minds, and the more they are exposed to something, the more desensitized they become, unless they have a strong counterweight to the influence, affirming what is right and wrong.

I used to have a strong aversion to swearing. But because I was exposed to it, at school, online, at home, I've become desensitized to it. I don't have an aversion to it anymore, except for the idea that the more something is used, the less powerful it becomes. Therefore, I reserve cussing for extreme situations.

Ever wondered how soldiers get trained to kill people? They get desensitized to the meaning of life through playing games where they kill people. Thus they are able to take human life with receiving damage to their mentality, for the most part. I have played video games where I kill people too, and I think the only reason I myself have not become desensitized was because I am a religious person, and my faith is constantly teaching about how precious life is, and how it should be protected. These values and beliefs keep me protected from losing my treasuring of life.

If challenged books will be presented to children, then they should also have moments of time where they explain how the controversial things are either wrong or right, and give both sides of the argument. But do not leave the growing generation to believe that the things they just read are alright and okay, that they're nothing special. Because that is how a morally corrupt society is born.