7 deadly books? Talk of ban hits burbs

Chicago Sun Times ^ | 5/22/06 | RUMMANA HUSSAIN

[Borges]

The criteria for suitability should be those I had stated earlier. What others would you propose? Moral instruction? This isn't a Sunday school class. There is a lot of great writers with who's world view I disagree.

[Skooz]

This reminds me of when one of Alice Walker's books was removed from the California high school required reading list.

She was furious and repeatedly accused the schools of "censorship."

[Protagoras]

I oppose real censorship everywhere and always. These folks will never "out oppose" me.

The difference is, I understand what true censorship is, and this isn't it. And so do you.

[ModerateGOOPer]

These aren't 5 year olds. These are teenagers on the cusp of becoming adults. People like this school board official should stop trying to mind control them and let the students engage in ideas, otherwise their first steps into the real world will be a disaster.

[Siena Dreaming]

The gay propoganda surrounding Richard the Lionheart is based on one incident when he slept in the same bed as the King of France.

What they do not tell you is that sharing a bed was a common occurrence back then. Even in inns...travellers commonly shared a bed with a stranger.

These are the same people trying to tell you now that Abe Lincoln was gay. Don't buy it.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Hehe, the comments should be amusing on this thread.

[najida]

That is not filth....

[linda_22003]

Far earlier. Remember Edward II....

[Protagoras]

However, I fail to see why the book is inappropriate for classroom use.

Someone has to decide what to recommend to the children. In a more perfect world, it would be the parents by choosing what schools to send their children to. Unfortunately, the government has forced people into their schools.

Is the complete works of the Marqui De Sade appropriate? Someone must decide.

[linda_22003]

And she didn't even read the books! Gosh, that sure saves time, doesn't it? :)

[linda_22003]

SHE didn't read any of them. How is that "doing her job"?

"Leslie Pinney admits she only read passages of the controversial selections"

[Skooz]

No no no.

All good kings were gay and all bad kings were straight.

[Alter Kaker]

The gay propoganda surrounding Richard the Lionheart is based on one incident when he slept in the same bed as the King of France.

Not true. The gay propoganda surrounding Richard I is based at least partially on the fact that a priest ordered him to stop committing "The Sin of Sodom."

[Siena Dreaming]

Do you have to read more than one chapter of graphic sex to know there's graphic sex in a book?

[Alter Kaker]

That is not filth....

You're telling me that sex isn't filth? Are you series?

[Borges]

There's graphic sexual content in Chaucer and Shakespeare. Graphic violence as well.

[nopardons]

Though the idiots, who keep trying to make it seem as though homosexuality is "normal", keep pushing garbage, based on things they don't understand ( i.e. the sharing of beds thing, which they ARE wrong about and yes, I do know that strangers shared beds in inns and that the latest idiocy about Lincoln is based on unadulterated tripe ), the "bi" stuff about Richard is at least fifty years old.

And then, there's always Edward II...he of death by hot poker shoved up a most inconvenient place.

[Skooz]

"Leslie Pinney admits she only read passages of the controversial selections"

I would wager that's a lot more than the other school board members.

When I was 12, I found a book called "Teenage Oral Desires." I didn't read the whole thing (parents busted me before I finished it) but I read enough to know that it is not appropriate reading material for school kids.

[Alter Kaker]

There's graphic sexual content in Chaucer and Shakespeare. Graphic violence as well.

Thank God for men like Thomas Bowdler, who made it safe for families to read those great works.

[linda_22003]

Edward II was a good king? What specifics of his reign lead you to THAT conclusion?