So, I know that everyone has been talking lately about Wesely Scroggins wonderful article promoting book banning. (Spit) As soon as I read about it, I knew I was going to have to say something about it, because it makes me so angry and when I get this angry, I get a little bit irrational. Like, deciding I should fly to Missouri with my two 50 lbs suitcases and 2 carry-on items filled with copies of Speak, and Slaughterhouse-Five Twenty Boy Summer, distribute them to anyone on the street who looks like they want a copy, then head over to Scroggins office and laugh in his face when I tell him that I just handed out 200 copied of his filth to the members of his town... Ahem.
That's not practical. I don't have that kind of money, but boy do I wish I did. If I could make it rain banned books, I definitely would. I know that this little town of Republic, MO is getting a lot of attention right now, but this happens all over the place and every time, it makes me cry a little inside.
But, I'm not writing today to talk about banned books in general, although I am sure a post about that will come soon enough. I'm here today to talk about a book that I love. That I've loved since I first picked it up like 5 years ago. A book that I think could very easily make that difference in a person's life that let's them know they are not alone, that there are people who know what they are dealing with and that there are people who will listen and who will help. I'm talking about Speak.
I will say that I feel a little bad for Twenty Boy Summer and Slaughterhouse-Five. They were called out in the same article but haven't been getting nearly as much attention as Speak. I haven't read Twenty Boy Summer yet, although I did just grab it from the library and I plan to read it this week (Thank You Dr. Scroggins) but I have read Slaughterhouse-Five and I thought the book was brilliant. But, I'm going to be just like everyone else and focus on Speak because what he said about that book is reprehensible.
I did read the full article, and I specifically looked at Scroggins reasons for believing Speak to be pornographic. I read it more than once, and do you know what conclusion I came to? He's either puffed up on his own self importance or he's the guilty party and is trying to cover up his issues with a public outcry against this wonderfully uplifting, moving and incredibly powerful book. I've read the book Scroggins. Have you? Have you really read it? Or does the word rape automatically make you assume that it's pornographic. Because, if that's the case, you might have bigger issues than just not wanting the upstanding citizens in your town to read this book.
But really Scroggins, when it all comes down to it, we get the last laugh. You do realize, do you not, that more people, especially those very high school students you want to protect are now going to pick up Slaughterhouse-Five, specifically because you mentioned the frequency of the f-word and the immoral scene behind glass. Sales of Speak and Twenty Boy Summer are only going to rise with the number of bloggers, authors and people upset by your small-mindedness. Just take a look around at all these book bloggers and others who are hosting giveaways of some variation of these books. That's helping to promote them. I don't know if you are even able to comprehend the amount of publicity you are giving these books because you spoke out against them. Now, everyone is speaking up FOR them, and when it all comes down to it, you are the one going to look the fool. How does it feel to have a huge population of very well read, very outspoken people fuming mad at you? Are you proud of yourself? Does it make you feel better to know that you are publicly condemning a book that has saved the sanity and emotional well being of countless young girls and boys?! If you don't believe me, view Ms. Anderson's website. She has a video link up, where she talks about the thousands and thousands of letters she has received from victims telling her that this one book saved them, brought them hope. I highly doubt that anyone who has been the victim of rape or any sexual attack would be writing thank you notes to the author of a book glorifying the action, or making it pornographic. It just wouldn't happen.
I'm going to say something mean now, so I need to be clear that it's not just directed at Scroggins, but to all those out there who believe they are more qualified to decide what I should or should not be able to read, or what you should or should not be able to read... I hope you choke on your own bile.
I wonder if a book can sue for defamation of character... ?