National Banned Book Week
Although it sometimes seems like our country is moving rapidly toward a messy meltdown, I take comfort in the fact that I have intellectual freedom. For those who've forgotten, this means I have the ability to seek and receive information from all points of view without limitations. It means I have the freedom to decide which ideas to consider and circulate, and the freedom to disregard, overlook or reject these same ideas.National Banned Book Week, an event observed annually since 1982, reminds Americans not to take this valuable democratic freedom for granted and emphasizes the importance of ensuring the availability of all viewpoints to anyone who wants access. This year, it takes place from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2.
In recognition, the American Library Association and numerous independent bookstores across the nation recommend reading these works that were, at one time, banned or challenged by the powers that be: Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mockingbird, which deals with racial problems and social injustice in the South; Brave New World, Aldous Huxley's science fiction classic about a "utopian" society; Maya Angelou's memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's cautionary vision of a society where firemen burn books; Fools Crow, a coming-of-age novel by James Welch set among the Native American people of Montana; and Ursula Hegi's Stones from the River, about a town led by fear rather than rational thought.
If you can't muster up the dough to actually buy a book, that's no excuse — you can go to the doggone library! I recommend one of the nicest ones in town, the Clearwater Main Library. You know, the new one with the stunning view. (100 N. Osceola Ave., Clearwater, 727-562-4970.)
In conjunction with the close of the Patriot Act Petition Campaign, Inkwood Books presents a screening of Reading Your Rights, a documentary about a Denver bookstore's successful battle against a search warrant for customer records. After the screening, join members of Tampa Safe and Free and the Greater Tampa ACLU Chapter for a discussion of the issues broached in the film. Space is limited (have you seen the place?), so call and make your reservation soon. 6 p.m. Wed., Sept. 29. (Inkwood Books, 216 S. Armenia Ave., Tampa, 813-253-2638.)
For further information about National Banned Book week, go to www.ala.org/bbooks, http://www.amnestyusa.org/bannedbooks/ or http://www.booksatoz.com/censorship/week.htm.
—Leilani Polk
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.