Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j92NEiG17215; Sun, 2 Oct 2005 19:14:44 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2005 19:14:44 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <1128294814.79a6a59cashomaker1@student.gsu.edu> Errors-To: listowner@nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Andrea Kay Shomaker" <ashomaker1@student.gsu.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:3321] Re: Banned books and adult literacy X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" X-Mailer: NetMail ModWeb Module Status: O Content-Length: 3134 Lines: 30 I am not surprised that "anonymous" encountered road blocks, particularly where the already marginalized are concerned. It often occurs to me that many individuals in administrative leadership roles must have made their way into their positions because of their collective uncanny ability to the maintain the status quo. Moreover, so many Americans as a whole are not comfortable with the challenging of their own cultural values and expectations. They are more than ready to attempt to remove written expressions of an alternate reality and to accomodate others with similar concerns. I think the theme, "It's your freedom we're talking about" is a great title. We are advocates for those without a voice, and whether these adults can easily read these books (yet) which are made to be contrversial, as Americans if nothing else, we carry the responsibility of defending their rights to equal access, particularly since even when books are banned the literate and affluent have ready access to these materials. Incidentally, I visited the website referenced in the prior posting to see what books are today being banned and why. www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.htm I literally laughed out loud when I read this on the list: "In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak, for nudity and offensive language Since when is the idea of "nudity" a challenge to demand a call for banning a book? How poorly described, if nothing else! I mean, how dare we be "nude"! This claim is so incongruent when compared to complaints against sexual content, offensive language and other written "offenses." How can a book have "nude" content, as if it were a visual presentation, like in a movie? Naturally, I'll be reading this book soon so I can "see" for myself. And recommending it to everyone I know! -----Original Message----- From: "Daphne Greenberg" <ALCDGG@langate.gsu.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 16:57:37 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:3311] Banned books and adult literacy Awhile ago I posted a message to this list about banned books and our learners. A person who wishes for obvious reasons to be anonymous privately emailed me and agreed that I can share the following: "Tried to get something going on the banned books stuff and what a road block I encountered. Seems everyone is so worried about being politically correct that they don't want to "stir up trouble". Since our clients aren't advanced enough to read most of the books, I was told it did not fit our mission to get worried about it." Does anyone have any reactions to this that they would like to share? (she wrote her email to me in response to this posting of 9/8: Banned Books Week is 9/24-10/1 and the theme is: "It's Your Freedom We're Talking About". This event is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom. For further information visit: www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.htm This might provide stimulating discussion in the classroom, debates, critical thinking, and essay writing activities.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon Oct 31 2005 - 09:50:26 EST