Another view: It's not censorship to keep graphic books away from young children
The Motion Picture Association can produce a movie and then evaluate that movie based on its content as to whether it should receive a G, PG, PG-13, R or NC-17 rating, grading whether the content of the movie or the subject matter is safe for children or too extreme.
No one claims any offense to this rating system. No one cries “censorship.”
This debate about certain books in the Ashland Public Library is not about censorship.
Wikipedia's definition of censorship is, “the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information.” This is about proper examination and the content of the books to age appropriateness.
Every book in the library and those not in the library have been censored by the library. It is the subject criteria that is the issue. The library and the American Library Association have a criterion and an array of subjects they want to introduce to the public.
We have not said “ban the books.” We have not asked for them to be removed from the library. The request from the beginning is for these books to be moved to the adult section because the subject matter is too extreme for children’s eyes.
The books are graphic in sexual content. They are targeted for children ages 5-12, according to their publishers. The content is too mature for a young child to comprehend.
Just because there is a paragraph of explanation, the eyes and mind of a child are drawn to pictures first, not words. Unless there is custodial parental instruction, the child is left to decide. This is a dangerous possibility.
We have a simple solution to this dilemma. The books can stay in the library, but they should and must be moved to the adult section. Any parent, grandparent or trustworthy adult can pull the book, check it out and introduce their children to these subjects under proper instruction and explanation.
This is about protecting the innocence and purity of our young hearts and minds. The next generation is our responsibility to guard their hearts. This is about the parent rights to introduce their children to these stages of mature subjects at a time deemed acceptable to the parents.
The library Board of Trustees has been clear in their communication. “It is not our job to protect the children.”
The Trustees have also said, “We trust the publishers of these books.”
We do not agree with either of those statements.
The pastor shepherds of several churches in this county could not disagree more. The community health and well being of children is when they know their parents, their pastors and teachers all want to protect their minds from subjects of adult nature for as long as we can.
I believe the library is responsible to join us in protecting the minds and hearts of children. The library trustees should step up to the plate and move these books to the adult section.
We do not trust the publishers at all. They are writing books to make money, promote an agenda and to introduce children to subjects they are not prepared to deal with at ages 5-12.
The Rev. John Bouquet is the senior pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Savannah. He is an active participant in the Ashland County Ministerial Association and has pastored in the community for 40 years.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Rev. John Bouquet shares a view about the Ashland library book debate
