Book bans kill inspiration and independent thinking

Imagine a swearing, angry and disgusting moviegoer asking the cinema operator to stop showing a particular film. The operator will probably ask what the cinemagoer finds offensive and objectionable. What if the cinemagoer then replied that he has never seen the film? The scenario is gruesome, but a similar evil – adults who want to ban books from school or public libraries – is on the rise.

Illinois recently banned book bans. But in 2022 alone, book bans, a degenerate cousin of book burning, have been reported in over 30 states. Often, it’s legislators who apply the pressure. In Texas, in 2021, Republican Rep. Matt Krause sent a letter to the Texas Education Agency and school superintendents asking if their schools had 850 books on offer that “could cause students to experience discomfort, guilt, fear, or any other form of psychological distress based on their race or gender.”

Book ban advocates like Krause claim they are protecting their children’s sensitive areas from ideas, ideologies and information that (how horrifying!) encourage independent thinking.

Last week, Natalie Moore of WBEZ wrote about how I know why the trapped bird sings by Maya Angelou fascinated her and made it impossible for her to stop reading. Her father wanted her to put the book down. He objected to a scene in which Angelou was raped and forced her to return the book. But he refused, insisting that the library ban the book. Moore returned the book but borrowed it again. Angelou’s words inspired the future writer.

Tracie Hall, former head of the American Library Association, travels the world to protest against censorship and to fight for intellectual freedom. It used to be illegal to teach slaves to read. Today, a different strategy is being used: banning books that inspire and enlighten the reader.

This is terrorist.

Marc D. Greenwood, Opelika, Alabama

Revolving doors of corruption

The deliberate hiring of Jon Snyder, a former Porter County, Indiana, tax assessor who pleaded guilty in a federal tax case, by Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele is just one example of the continuity of Chicago and Cook County’s close, historic relationship with corruption.

The Sun-Times editorial board on Tuesday called the two-year prison sentence handed down to former Attorney General Ed Burke (14th) by U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall “another welcome blow to the old ‘Chicago method’ of backroom deals at the expense of honest government,” which is certainly true. However, the hiring of Snyder, reported a day later, seems to be a vindication of the Chicago method. Unfortunately, there always seems to be one step forward and two steps back.

Daniel Kassl, Ravenswood

Make adult decisions when voting

They lie to avoid trouble. They blame others – it’s always someone else’s fault. They slander others with more lies. They often throw abusive tantrum and need a time-out. They call each other names – they like to call each other names. Sometimes they threaten. They make up wild stories and pretend they’re true. Many children do this.

Many children also whine and cheat. They distract. They regularly blame others for what they themselves have done. As adults, it is our job to teach children to stop this petty nonsense. And to teach them respect, values, learning, pride, sharing, responsibility, making principled decisions and how to be a good person.

We must hope that one day they will grow up like we did. It would be a terrible shame if someone never grew up and continued to behave childishly over and over again. There is no place in the adult world for spoiled, lying, disgraceful, disgusting brats. My advice is to please vote for an adult in every election.

Mark Broman, Wheaton