Kerby Anderson

Some social movements go through cycles. That is certainly the case with the latest outrage concerning “book banning.” Liberals have been at the forefront of college speech codes as well as cancel culture. It seems a bit hypocritical that they are suddenly outraged that some school districts have balked at putting certain progressive books in the school libraries. Some of the school districts that have been attacked are just down the road from where I do my daily radio program. These districts have put together committees to evaluate some of the books currently in the library or being considered for purchase. As you might expect, liberal critics refer to this is as a “book ban.” This is a category mistake. School districts have no responsibility to carry every book that liberal, progressive activists are convinced needs to be in every school library. This is especially true when some of the books in question talk explicitly about sexual activities and adventures. Many years ago, when liberals were criticizing what they termed “book banning,” I used to make the joke that nearly every school in the country was engaged in banning my books. None of these libraries put my books on their bookshelves, so they were engaged in banning my books. The response was interesting. People would try to explain to me that just because a school district didn’t buy my books and put them on their shelves didn’t mean they were banning all my books. But I would then ask what the difference was if a school district decided not to buy books promoting issues as diverse as race, sex, and gender. I wouldn’t even consider reading from some of these books on radio because they are distasteful, but also because the FCC would fine me and the radio program. And parents who do read from these books at school board meetings are shut down because the content is so disgusting. These school districts are NOT banning books. They are simply showing good judgment.