The Effects of Censorship on Readers, Writers, Publishers, Educators, and Librarians
Readers
The effects of censorship upon readers is a multifaceted issue. This topic can range from a very minimal effect all the way up to the absolute crippling of a society. For instance, in America there are constantly challenged and banned books on the issue of homosexuality and all of the branches that stem from the trunk of that tree. Gay marriage, gay adoption and the rearing of children, etc. This can and has hurt the actual lives of many kids that are or were tackling the issue of there own sexual orientation. If they had that certain book available that had been illegally banned it may have been the push or uplifting words that they needed to hear to keep on charging forward in their lives. So the simple banning of a book for a reader that may be a homosexual could have life altering implications. It is stripping them of what they may need to hear or learn about. Because one person with differing beliefs says that it is wrong. On the other end of the spectrum the banning of books can utterly crush the general public. Countries like North Korea, for example, have taken the banning of books to a whole other level. The government has banned anything and everything in order to keep the general public ignorant and in the dark. All of this is done out of the fear of losing their grip on power. Knowledge is power, so the lack of it must equate to powerlessness. This is a class on banned books in America, but where does it stop? If a reader can be stripped of their right to choose what they want to read or not in a country that says freedom of speech for everyone, is it truly freedom of speech?
Writers
When it comes to censorship and the actual writers of books, censorship is truly a power struggle between the parties involved. It breaks down to one mind telling another mind what it can express openly. Almost on the level of policing one’s thoughts. Writers not only write to express thoughts, opinions, and stories relating to life, but many also do it to make a living. The challenging and banning of a writer’s work could obviously hit their bottom line when it comes to getting paid for book sales. If the work cannot be sold, then the publisher and therefore the writer cannot get paid. It is truly tragic when a writer has information that he or she wants to get out to the public and someone else says they cannot because it is wrong, or indecent, or not the appropriate work to fit in with the social norm. The work originates in the writer’s very own thoughts. Very intimate and personal. So when another person says that it cannot be written, it is attacking the innermost part of the writer’s very being.
Publishers
Publishers fall into two general categories. There are those that want to get a work out for the sake of the work and what it offers to the public. These are the publishers that may have the same thoughts and beliefs as the writer. Or than may be simply on the side of justice and providing the public with information because according to the law, they are permitted to do so. Whether they believe the writer’s position or not they stand with the First Amendment and publish whatever is presented to them. So the banning of books published by these types of publishers hits them in the same sort of way that writers are hit. It is a more personal type of attack and defeats them emotionally as well as financially. The second group are those publishers that are in the publishing business for the sake of their bottom line. A publishing company cannot stay in business without making money. And if books are challenged or banned they cannot make money for the publisher. No sales equals no money. No money equals no ability to stay in business. Simple as that.
Educators
When it comes to the challenging and banning of books where educators are concerned, it presents a dilemma unique to the educators themselves. There are those educators that are in their position because they truly care about those that they educate. They also believe in this country’s laws pertaining to the First Amendment. These educators utilize books to educate their students. Whether the educator believes in what the banned work is all about or not is a moot point. They want the ability to provide those that they teach with all the materials they can and let the students make their own decisions based on what they’ve read. And if a work is banned and basically stolen from the educator, it robs both the educator and the student of the ability to choose what’s right or not so right for themselves. This can hamper the ability of the educator to provide those that they educate with the best quality of education. It can strip them of the tools of their trade. Just as a mechanic needs his or her tools, so educators needs theirs. There are those educators though that actually roll with the status quo and assist in the banning of books. These are the educators that push their own personal agenda and rob the students of the ability to read and make their own assumptions.
Librarians
Librarians are those that get caught in the crossfire. They are those that sometimes must have to sit and watch powerlessly as their library is stripped of its books right in front of them. This is a personal affront similar to having one’s home burglarized while the homeowner sits and watches. A librarian is a lover of books and therefore knowledge for the most part. The challenging and banning of books steals this treasure trove of knowledge from them and therefore their ability to provide it to others. A librarian most likely knows and believes in the First Amendment on a deeper level than most. This law is the very lifeblood of their passion for books, so when it is illegally violated it is a personal affront to them. A library is supposed to house books of all types no matter what the content. It is supposed to be a place of knowledge that can be sought out by those interested in all the varying topics of life. When books are banned it limits the power the library has to provide readers with the knowledge that they crave.
Readers
The effects of censorship upon readers is a multifaceted issue. This topic can range from a very minimal effect all the way up to the absolute crippling of a society. For instance, in America there are constantly challenged and banned books on the issue of homosexuality and all of the branches that stem from the trunk of that tree. Gay marriage, gay adoption and the rearing of children, etc. This can and has hurt the actual lives of many kids that are or were tackling the issue of there own sexual orientation. If they had that certain book available that had been illegally banned it may have been the push or uplifting words that they needed to hear to keep on charging forward in their lives. So the simple banning of a book for a reader that may be a homosexual could have life altering implications. It is stripping them of what they may need to hear or learn about. Because one person with differing beliefs says that it is wrong. On the other end of the spectrum the banning of books can utterly crush the general public. Countries like North Korea, for example, have taken the banning of books to a whole other level. The government has banned anything and everything in order to keep the general public ignorant and in the dark. All of this is done out of the fear of losing their grip on power. Knowledge is power, so the lack of it must equate to powerlessness. This is a class on banned books in America, but where does it stop? If a reader can be stripped of their right to choose what they want to read or not in a country that says freedom of speech for everyone, is it truly freedom of speech?
Writers
When it comes to censorship and the actual writers of books, censorship is truly a power struggle between the parties involved. It breaks down to one mind telling another mind what it can express openly. Almost on the level of policing one’s thoughts. Writers not only write to express thoughts, opinions, and stories relating to life, but many also do it to make a living. The challenging and banning of a writer’s work could obviously hit their bottom line when it comes to getting paid for book sales. If the work cannot be sold, then the publisher and therefore the writer cannot get paid. It is truly tragic when a writer has information that he or she wants to get out to the public and someone else says they cannot because it is wrong, or indecent, or not the appropriate work to fit in with the social norm. The work originates in the writer’s very own thoughts. Very intimate and personal. So when another person says that it cannot be written, it is attacking the innermost part of the writer’s very being.
Publishers
Publishers fall into two general categories. There are those that want to get a work out for the sake of the work and what it offers to the public. These are the publishers that may have the same thoughts and beliefs as the writer. Or than may be simply on the side of justice and providing the public with information because according to the law, they are permitted to do so. Whether they believe the writer’s position or not they stand with the First Amendment and publish whatever is presented to them. So the banning of books published by these types of publishers hits them in the same sort of way that writers are hit. It is a more personal type of attack and defeats them emotionally as well as financially. The second group are those publishers that are in the publishing business for the sake of their bottom line. A publishing company cannot stay in business without making money. And if books are challenged or banned they cannot make money for the publisher. No sales equals no money. No money equals no ability to stay in business. Simple as that.
Educators
When it comes to the challenging and banning of books where educators are concerned, it presents a dilemma unique to the educators themselves. There are those educators that are in their position because they truly care about those that they educate. They also believe in this country’s laws pertaining to the First Amendment. These educators utilize books to educate their students. Whether the educator believes in what the banned work is all about or not is a moot point. They want the ability to provide those that they teach with all the materials they can and let the students make their own decisions based on what they’ve read. And if a work is banned and basically stolen from the educator, it robs both the educator and the student of the ability to choose what’s right or not so right for themselves. This can hamper the ability of the educator to provide those that they educate with the best quality of education. It can strip them of the tools of their trade. Just as a mechanic needs his or her tools, so educators needs theirs. There are those educators though that actually roll with the status quo and assist in the banning of books. These are the educators that push their own personal agenda and rob the students of the ability to read and make their own assumptions.
Librarians
Librarians are those that get caught in the crossfire. They are those that sometimes must have to sit and watch powerlessly as their library is stripped of its books right in front of them. This is a personal affront similar to having one’s home burglarized while the homeowner sits and watches. A librarian is a lover of books and therefore knowledge for the most part. The challenging and banning of books steals this treasure trove of knowledge from them and therefore their ability to provide it to others. A librarian most likely knows and believes in the First Amendment on a deeper level than most. This law is the very lifeblood of their passion for books, so when it is illegally violated it is a personal affront to them. A library is supposed to house books of all types no matter what the content. It is supposed to be a place of knowledge that can be sought out by those interested in all the varying topics of life. When books are banned it limits the power the library has to provide readers with the knowledge that they crave.