The best way to get someone to do something is to tell them they shouldn’t. Kristy Allison
- macgyvergirl74
- Sep 18, 2022
- 2 min read
It is #bannedbooksweek, my favorite literary week of all! You see, I was never a typical rebellious teenager. I did my homework, obeyed curfew, and never skipped school. I’ve always loved books, and read ones that made me think, made me wonder, and sometimes made me angry or upset. So as a teenager, I chose to rebel in different ways – usually by working my tail off to prove to people that they have underestimated me.
For example, recently I took a class related to the abstracting company I currently work for. I have only been there about eight months, but my boss felt I was ready to start taking these series of tests for certifications. At the very least, I felt it would be a great learning experience, but I didn’t hold much hope in actually passing this particular test. Another worker there told me I shouldn’t even try until I had been there for two or three years. The result? I was even more driven to master the material. Despite obstacles including having the wrong measuring tools, I pushed myself to succeed…which I did. I passed with the required 90% or above.
Banning books seems to have a similar effect. When you tell a teenager that they couldn’t or shouldn’t, they tend to try even harder to get away with it. Don’t believe me? How about that guy you told your daughter she shouldn’t date? How about the friend that responds to every challenge with #holdmybeer? Ever spend time with a two-year-old?
So you see, a banned book list reads as more of a “to-do” list, such as the ones found below:
People don’t like to be told what they can and can’t do. They want the freedom of choice, the ability to think for themselves, and the respect to have their own ideas considered. I could go on and on about the psychology of how banned books actually provoke the reading of those books, but I have a long “to-do” list to get to. Rather, I’ll leave you with these thoughts:
“Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.” ― Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak
“I hate it that Americans are taught to fear some books and some ideas as though they were diseases.” ― Kurt Vonnegut
“I can't imagine a greater compliment for an author than making the banned book section.” ― Chris Colfer, A Tale of Magic...
“Some people do everything, some do something, many do nothing – which is bad enough – but the worst of the lot are those who break down what others have built.”
— Christina Engela
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