On Banned Books

​When your local, independent bookstore makes it clear that books banned out of fear and the narrow ideology of a few hurts us all, and then sets up a display table highlighting all the banned titles , and then shared about the generosity they received in over $16k in donations to buy all the banned titles and then some…you know you’re in a great city (even if it’s in a crazy backward state)… and it’s worthy of celebrating! Of course I just had to add a few more titles to my pile! I brought several home to our 16 year old and she finished one of them in one day!
Thank you Rediscovered Bookshop! You are my heroes.
As a side note: these books were all banned by the nearby school district in Nampa, Idaho…some of the titles make no sense at all, I mean Toni Morrison??? I also feel the need to point out that It’s Perfectly Normal is used in our (Unitarian Universalist) 4th - 6th sexuality education program , Our Whole Lives, and has been for years. It’s an excellent book. It offers age and developmentally appropriate information about our bodies and puberty and sexuality. It has been a favorite in our household.
I want my kids to learn by understanding the truth about life and by experiencing stories that help them explore new ideas and relationships and possibilities. Why do we think that because something makes us uncomfortable it is inherently wrong? Why do we allow conservative religion to bully government into compliance for a few? The separation of church and state has meant that no one church should have control over public policy…rather we must affirm the values and needs of the whole and draw our circles wide enough to include all people and all lived experience, even when it’s hard. What about my religion that affirms a free and responsible search for truth and meaning?
I’m just tired of living under the heavy hand of narrow mindedness and fear.
#stickittotheban #banbulletsnotbooks #UUA #OurWholeLives #bannedbooks #freedomofspeech #LetTheChildrenRead #FreedomToRead #thisisboise #thisisidaho #idahome

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