“Freedom of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose.”
George Orwell, British novelist and essayist (1903-1950)
“Freedom rings whenever opinions clash.”
Stevenson, Adlai E. American statesman (1900–1965)
Banned book week might officially be over but I’m still thinking about it. The fact that lists like this exist is disturbing, no doubt about it. But on the flip side, at least the books are out there, available to anyone who wishes to read them. Depending on where you live in the world, you can still get your hands on them and read them – or not. Having the right to pick and choose what you do and do not wish to read is the real issue.
As an author (or an artist or a chef or an architect…) it can be a little daunting to put your work out there for the world to see. You want everyone to love your creation as much as you do. Unfortunately that isn’t going to happen and you have to be prepared for people to say so, to anyone who will listen. Whatever you do, you can’t please all the people all of the time and you’ll drive yourself crazy if you try.
There are incredibly popular authors and whole genres that I don’t care for. My husband likes coconut and I can’t stand it. Do I think that the authors / genres should be banned? Coconut eradicated? Of course not – but neither do I want to drink a pina colada. There’s something out there for everyone. Just think how boring the world would be if we all liked the same things. Conformity is boring, variety is what keeps things interesting.
In a nutshell, if you don’t like it, don’t read it. But respect other’s right to 1) write what they wish to write about, 2) read what they wish to read, 3) express their opinion on the topic.
Come to think of it, those are principles that could be applied to blogs as well…
