Posted by alan truelove on August 25, 2003 at 13:07:46 from 170.35.224.63 user atruelove.
In Reply to: Re: Censorship posted by Colin Turner on August 25, 2003 at 00:20:43:
But censorship has reached its ridiculous peak in England. The well-known painting of a mermaid waving to a passing sailing ship has seriously been interpreted in an English court as a hate-crime--it suggests encouraging certain immigrants to leave-- and resulted in a 6 month suspended sentence. Similar loony instances of now-censored speech, publication or action will come to mind.
Actually the American teenage-book censors may have a point (although their efforts are hopeless). If you havent done so, read thru a Judy Blume book. It may surprise you.
It's not the physical details, it is the implied adult, peer and social acceptance (or even encouragement) of certain behavior that boggles. I think this kind of encouragement may be healthy and I found (US elite private day school) that this is indeed the 'official' and 'accepted' counseling. Obviously one couldnt get further away from AR. With this kind of highly relevant, realistic, interesting literature around, it isnt surprising that our children find AR somewhat stuffy.