This is the most ironic news item I encountered this week, although it is six month old. The father of a 15 year old high school student in Texas objected his child having to read Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. He wants the book taken out of the class. Mr. Verm did not read the book, but looked it through and “found the following things wrong with the book: discussion of being drunk, smoking cigarettes, violence, ‘dirty talk,’ references to the Bible and using God’s name in vain.” My favorite quote from the father is “if they can’t find a book that uses clean words, they shouldn’t have a book at all.” I have rather different priorities than him, but we share a preference for clean work. I personally don’t use “dirty talk,” because I believe I can make the world a more pleasant place by doing so. I also try to instill this preference as a value to my closest family members.
I acknowledge though that this is strictly personal and do not wish to impose it on anybody else. Furthermore I do not object reading works that contain foul language if I (think I) can get something else out of them. Bradbury’s classic is certainly worth to read. I also strongly disagree with the “they shouldn’t have a book at all” part of the sentence. I think books are amazing. If I would need to choose between books or no books, I would always choose the first option. Because humans have thinking facilities they can always argue with, dislike, disapprove of what they read in a book. The process results in some sort of learning. As opposed to not reading it will not improve one in any way.
The irony is of course that the very book Mr. Verm wants to “ban” is dystopia where books are banned. It is as if Mr. Verm is working towards a world like that. He plans to rob his daughter (and her classmates) the chance to learn about that prospect. As the article explains it is unlikely to happen, thanks to the diligent work and strong principles of the librarians, ALA and the school involved.
This entry is part of my Intellectual Freedom series.