Scrotum.......That is All
It's funny how such a funny sounding word can reassure my distrust of both public schools and uptight conservatives. But once again, the book burners are out in force to eliminate the newest Newberry Award Winning book by Susan Patron called The Higher Power of Lucky. All because of the word "scrotum."
Apparently, I haven't read the book yet, the main character Lucky, overheard another character talking about his dog being bitten on the scrotum by a rattlesnake. Then, rather humorously, the author adds “Scrotum sounded to Lucky like something green that comes up when you have the flu and cough too much." It kind of does. I have a lot of scrotum right now with this awful cold.I don't know about you, but referring to a dog's body part using correct anatomical language seems fine to me (she could have used more vulgar slang terms). I mean, I feel so sad when I hear a nine year old refer to her vagina as a pee pee. I also thought it was very fitting for the child character to here such a foreign word and go on to speculate it's meaning. I remember hearing some sexual related words by older kids in school and trying to decipher their meanings in my mind.
I guess these banned books debates are somewhat close to my heart because I've worked at a couple of libraries. The last library I worked at in Oregon was such an important place for children to gather. They felt comfort and a sense of excitement (especially since the town consisted of little else but a Dairy Mart.) Many kids started out with graphic novels and dvd's, but eventually would pick out books, especially if they had a paper due or if a book got a lot of hype from peers or the media. I believe children should be able to make their own decisions on what they read, but the parents should be mindful. It's not a Librarian's place, or especially another child's parent's place, to insist on what my child is able to pick out at the library.
It will be interesting to see how this story plays out. I'll be sure to check out copy from my local library. I guess Banned Book Week will also have a new title to add to it's already impressive list.
This topic really bugged me today. Fighting off a cold and going through caffeine withdrawal does not suit me.
Labels: Books
posted by BurdockBoy @ 10:25 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Makes me want to go out and read this book right now! I can't believe that there would be so much objection, especially in the scenario you described. Some people are too uptight for their own good.
I'm with Carla. If something is a ban it just want me to go out and do it.
Maybe if they ban the bible. Yea their all sorts of evil in their take look Noah after the flood, Jacob or Joesph doing so call looking in future and I could list lot more tales of black magic for say.
Can't all always hide from the real world.
You know, A lot of kids know a lot more about sex and sexual organs than these people would like to think, and there not learning them from books. There learning them from teenage brothers and sisters and kids who have teenage brothers and sisters. Just like I did!!!
Sorry about your cold and withdrawl. How's the baby?
It's too bad when the neo-cons go so balistic on the truth. They will tell you the kids that can get their hands on this book are too young and it will only lead to promescuity. Fuck that! (sorry for my vulgarity) We all know the "F" word would have an easier job of leading kids "too young" to being nice to each other than reading about a dog's scrotum being bitten by a rattlesnake. Ouch.
I'm 38, I got "the sex talk" when I was eight or nine, I'm not doing the math. My mom was very cool about it. My dad didn't say a word. I can remember it because I HAD to go straight home after school that day because the "After School Special" was My Mom's Having A Baby. It was very graphic but it was honest, it showed a woman giving birth. When in 6th grade we had the sex ed class that a permission slip was needed. My mom, my Christian, church going, Republican voting, mom signed without hesitation.
Where did they go wrong, when did they become so far out? I know they were always out there, but when did they become so organized? George Bush will go down in history as the worst president ever. He, if not anything else, is a divider. He's surely not a conqurer.
Sorry about the political stuff, but it is what book banning boils down too. Ever see the movie Red Dawn? After America is taken over there's a scene of big piles of books burning. I just saw Hart's War for the first time. I'm not sure how old the movie is, but in it, the Nazi in charge was educated at Yale and he gives one of the American POW's a book. He explains, very shortly, that he loves all the greats, he mentions Mark Twain.
I'm rambling on and on.
Thanks Burdock, you fired up a little passion I still have left. I'm not much of a reader, I only read 50 some books last year, mostly sci-fi, I'm kind of read out these days, but now I'm inspired to pick up this huge fantasy novel I have, The Sword of Shannara. I've read the first third, it's time I read at least the second.
Not only that, you reminded me of an Anti Rock Rally I attended way back when. Of course you know I was on the anti, anti rock rally side. Not many people showed up for the anti rock rally side. I'll try to explain it better in a future post.
Carla:
I think that often times banning books does drive up the demand for wanting to read it. It sort of bring out the taboo. Still I can piture kids getting their hands on this book and then being like "so what is all of the hype about?"
pepplady:
The bible is filled with a lot of violence. But i seems like the banners are more about stuff that is sexual related. Killing & hate ok. Sex or sexual terms, we can't let the children read it.
silver maple leaf:
Yeah I'd say most kids do get their sex ed from older siblings or peers. Unfotunately, sometimes the info is a bit skewed.
Toby:
It's been over two days since I've had any coffee. I feel like Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting. My fever has finally subsided, but I still feel pretty crappy. KIA's hanging in there. I hope she don't catch this nasty cold. Oh I enjoyed your political rant.
Why do so many religious wacko's find body parts to be so evil? According to them, we are made in Gods image are we not?
I think parents are just too uncomfortable talking to their kids. They just want little Johnny to come home, grab some hot pockets and plop down in front of the TV. God forbid if he asked questions about anatomy or sex.
Sword of Shannara. Thats Terry Brooks. He's from my home town of Sterling, IL. My dad went to school with him. I remmember he came to our high school and a handful of kids got to take a writing class from him. I guess I was in the right class because I was one of them. I'm not a huge sci-fi fan so I never really got into his stuff. I had a lot of friends that were huge fans though.
I'll look for the anti-rock post. I can't imagine....
If you are going to read a banned book, why not read a few and take the "Banned Book Challenge" through the Pelham Public Library in Fonthill, ON? We have been following banning issues on our blog for a couple of years. Visit http://www.pelhamlibrary.blogspot.com/2007/02/take-banned-book-challenge.html to get the details and register.
Stupid stupid stupid. What's even worse is that most people won't even view it for their selves but will let OTHERS tell them it's a "bad" book. I had a woman tell me once she was glad the school allowed her son to not have to read Harry Potter since it is evil and full of devil worship. I asked her if she had read it and she said she didn't need to her paster had told her it was a bad book. I knew the paster (fairly well oddly enough)---he never read the book either. Idiots.
Monica
It's small world. I'll post about the anti rock rally tomorrow. :)
F451:
I'll check it out.
Monica:
I have heard so many mis-quoted, out of context nonsense quoted from Harry Potter by fanatics who never read the books. Buncha sheep. No that's an insult to sheep....
Toby:
Anti-Anti-rock, rocks.
I've read it. It is harmless. It's actually written at about a 4th grade reading level. Lower primary.
"Any book worth banning is a book worth reading."
TFool.
Thanks for sharing your first hand experience with the book under questioning. I figured it was harmless. I knew the character was supposed to be 10 and guessed it was intended for around that age.
Damned idiot fundies, I can't stand them and their shame based faux morality.
Anyway, since you mentioned you might go to GU, I was just in their library last week, and they had a whole special display on the history of bookburning. I found it fascinating. They might even have something about in online, take a look.
Really like your blog, your thoughts etc.
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