Resist the Thought Police

It's time once again to celebrate banned books, my lovelies. You owe it to yourself and to freedom of thought to read something that someone doesn't want you to this week. It doesn't have to be dull, though. Seven of the 10 most challenged books of 2007 were challenged at least partly because of sexually explicit content, not counting "And Tango Makes Three," which was challenged as anti-family for its portrayal of--gasp!--two male penguins caring for an egg together. "Tango" was also one of two books, along with "The Golden Compass," challenged for their "religious viewpoint." We had no idea penguins were so subversive.

The American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom annually reports challenges, which are defined as formal written complaints to a library or school requesting that a book be removed because of content or appropriateness. OIF Director Judith Krug states, “Free access to information is a core American value that should be protected. Not every book is right for each reader, but an individual’s interpretation of a book should not take away my right to select reading materials for my family or myself."

Amen. Go to the office's website for a list of banned books and more info about Banned Books week.