Heres an example of irony sure to make your head spin: Christian parents in Florida want to ban a book about Muslim fundamentalists banning books because the characters pray to a non-Christian god.
Third Graders Are very Impressionable
Book banning is a hobby of the perpetually aggrieved nationwide. Everything from Huckleberry Finn to Harry Potter has come under the gun at some point, because some parent decided that the book was offensive for some reason.
A number of the frequently challenged books have historical significance, as well; what it boils down to is trying to control how children think by controlling the media theyre exposed to.
And thats certainly the case in Florida, where Christian parents have circled a petition to get two books removed from their childrens reading list Nasreens Secret School and The Library of Basra.
The books, both written by Jeanette Winter, are about Muslim religious fanatics destroying and banning books to keep young girls from receiving an education. In Nasreens Secret School, the protagonist, a young woman in Afghanistan, receives an education despite the Talibans best efforts.
This, however, hasnt stopped some parents in Duval County from demanding that New Berlin Elementary School pull the books. A grandparent of several students at the school, Dianne Haines Roberts, said that her children didnt need to know the horrors of the world:
Were talking about third-graders and theyre very impressionable. I dont think they need to know the horrors of the world.
Roberts made sure everyone knew she was a Christian, however:
Im a Christian … and in public school, were not allowed to have any references to God, Jesus or passages about creation. I just think whats good for one group, should be good for all.
The school superintendent, Nikolai Vitti, expressed that banning books was a slippery slope, saying:
We are walking up a slippery slope when we start to decide what books we are going to ban from the curriculum.
Vitti also observed that there are references to Christianity in the school curriculum:
Vitti, however, notes that references to Christianity are, in fact, part of the districts curriculum. In the lessons outlined by the districts newly adopted Engage New York curriculum, a list of learning benchmarks for students include the ability to explain the origins of the Ten Commandments and identify that Christians believe Jesus to be the Messiah and the son of God.
No one has ever said you cant, nor will anyone ever be reprimanded for saying the word Jesus or saying Christianity or talking about the Resurrection as long as its talked about on a factual basis, Vitti said.
Another parent, Devon Mears, similarly dismissed calls to pull the books, saying, [The petition] kills me. Its a librarian that saves the books and thats all there is to it, and, I question if they even read the book.
Of course not. Thatd make them a hypocrite, reading things they want to ban. Best to ban it and end the temptation altogether. Ignorance isnt faith, but its a fine substitute for some people.
Feature image via Jacksonville.com
