Don't Ban Books

I love reading. I have liked reading ever since I was little. 

I read the Berenstain Bear books when I was younger until I discovered Harry Potter and started reading chapter books.

Books have always been a way for me to disappear and escape from my daily troubles. They're a temporary relief, and a primary way I relax.

When I was in middle school, I often went to the library to check out books. It was there that I discovered that some books were banned.

This was curious to me because I had never thought there was anything wrong with the books I read. 

To be honest, I grew up in Seattle. 

So I definitely went to a more liberal school.

Unsurprisingly, my school library was not supportive of banning books. 

They had a huge book of the banned books in the United States for 2009, or whatever year it was when I was 12.

Flicking through it, I realized the beloved books of my childhood had been listed.  

Harry Potter, the first chapter book I had ever read, had always been about a boy who finds magic and fights evil while attending school. 

I couldn't understand why it had been banned, he was fighting for the good guys right?
Well, I guess some parents didn't like it and decided it was too dangerous for their children to be reading. 

It's banned in various places in the United States (and Christian communities alike) for reasons mostly magic related. 

According to the ALA, it's banned for occult and Satanism. I honestly don't agree with the accusations. I see more religion in the books that Satanism.

Moving on, I don't agree with banning books. 

Some people compare banning books to rating movies, but I do not believe it is an accurate comparison. 

With movies, people are still able to watch them. 

Even if teenagers under 17 can't go see a rated R movie, they can still rent one from the video store, or find one in their parents collection. 

Books are completely different. They are physically taken off the shelf or put in a section that is off limits unless the child is 'old enough.' 

Sometimes a parents written consent is necessary to read certain books that have been censored.

The point of books is to teach people to think. 

It's to help them learn.

Taking away books will harm us and our minds. 

It will hide our children (be they young or old) and keep them away from the world and the real problems they will inevitably face. 

If parents want to ban books, that is entirely up to them. 

I just would like to point out that banning the Lorax, Little House on the Prarie and Winnie the Pooh is probably causing more trouble than its worth.