Find out more at her web site, www.nataliestandiford.com.
To me the central issue behind censorship is respect. Dictators who don't want their people to read what they please, who are afraid that exposure to new ideas will undermine their power, don't respect the people they rule. They don't respect their intelligence; they don't want them to develop intelligence. They only want obedience.
I studied Russian in high school and college and spent some time in what was then called the Soviet Union. Books, movies, music, news, and all kinds of art were heavily censored in Soviet Russia. The leaders wanted to control how their people thought—but it didn't work. The Soviet people knew they were being lied to. They were hungry for new ideas and forbidden books and found ways to gain access to them in the face of huge obstacles. The leadership could not stop them from thinking, no matter how hard it tried. And at last the Soviet regime collapsed. No amount of censorship could keep it going. In the end, censorship is futile.
Adults need to respect the intelligence and sensitivity of young people and allow them access to whatever books they want to read. Yes, words can be powerful; they can make people think. But they can't change who a person fundamentally is. Books cannot turn a good person into a bad person. But they can turn an ignorant person into a thoughtful person. The role of young people in our society is not to obey us blindly or to be who we want them to be. It's to explore who they want to be. They should be allowed to do that exploration freely, and part of that process is access to all kinds of ideas, all kinds of books and people, so they can sort out this crazy world for themselves. They are perfectly capable of doing this without adults controlling everything in their environment. Guidance is fine, but dictating will backfire, just as it did in the Soviet Union.
Giveaway
Enter to win a finished copy of HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT
and CONFESSIONS OF THE SULLIVAN SISTERS
by Natalie StandifordRules:
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Great blog post and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post!
ReplyDeleteI agree with her about the censorship!
ReplyDeleteYes! Respect! Folks are always talking about young readers like they are empty vessels that won't know how to navigate mature themes. These people obviously haven't spent much time engaging in discussion with young people.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about respect and discussion needs to be happening with youth.
ReplyDeleteI love that she is being honest and brave about her feelings! Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I don't think we give young people enough credit often enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
Great post. I agree that books have to power to make us more thoughtful people.
ReplyDelete"The role of young people in our society is not to obey us blindly or to be who we want them to be. It's to explore who they want to be...They are perfectly capable of doing this without adults controlling everything in their environment."
ReplyDeleteTrue. That. Great post!
I love reading people's opinions on censorship--I just wrote a paper on it for my film class. It's interesting how two different art mediums can be so heavily suppressed.
ReplyDeleteExcellent points in this post. It's sad young readers aren't given more respect. Thanks for the wonderful contest opportunity, as well!
ReplyDeleteMarissa
Great post! I like how Nat related recent, and all, censorship with the situation of the Soviet Union in Russia all those years ago. You made really great points, and I hope that other, more conservative and domineering, will read this and other posts, and realise that censorship can be unjustified, it can come with consequence, and, "Guidance is fine, but dictating will backfire, just as it did in the Soviet Union."
ReplyDeleteGreat comparisons to the Soviet Union. I can't wait to read these books.
ReplyDeleteGood post. I think these books sound great. I hate censorship in any form
ReplyDeleteWords ARE powerful, and they DO make people think. I think that's why people are so afraid of them. Great point!
ReplyDeleteI feel very similiar about censorship. Adults do need to respect that their children, and others children, are curious and and want to expand their knowledge and views over issues. Stifling them by censoring what they read is just harming them in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI agree, censorship should not happen in our world. People should be able to think freely.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely about censorship.
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway. I agree that censorship should not happen. People should be able to think freely and make their own decisions and choices. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteWonderful and thoughtful post. I think sometimes as adults, the more we see kids becoming their own people, the more we want to take control and make them into what we want them to be. But that just doesn't work, no matter how hard we try.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the insightful post. I agree that young people should be allowed to read widely with guidance as appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard about these books. I want to win, so I can read them now.
ReplyDeleteOOOH. Robot Language? Sounds great!
ReplyDeleteashleysbookshelf@gmail.com
Also don't forget to check out my amazing giveaways located at the top of my blog posts.
Ashley's Bookshelf
P.S. I sell complete blog layouts made by me thru blogger template. If you would be interested in one please email and I will be happy to help you :D
I agree-respect our youth!
ReplyDeleteLC
Teenagers aren't as ignorant and innocent as most people view them to be. They're very intelligent. Something they would read in a book, isn't anything they haven't been exposed to in real life (with real issues). If they haven't, they can only learn from it.
ReplyDeleteWow, she's written a wide range of genres. I really think that this type of diversity helps an author in all her writings. Both these books looks awesome.
ReplyDeleteI love your comment about books/ words not changing who a person is or convincing them to become someone else. I know that books have changed my mind/ opinion, but I was already willing to change/ accept a different point of view before reading. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteShe's absolutely right. We need to be who we want ourselves to be, not who everyone else thinks we should be. And I've only known books to make people better, not worse. Great post and giveaway! :D
ReplyDelete~Briana
That's a great way to think about censorship... I had never thought to consider how banning books or media would affect a community in such a big way, but you are right. Censorship throughout history has always proven to be a failure.
ReplyDeleteJane
janestoryblog.blogspot.com
Thank you for posting this. YOu have said exactly what I have been trying to say to someone all morning.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post!
ReplyDeleteLaurie
I really loved the interview, she is so passionate and such an amazing writer!!
ReplyDeleteLasha
Loved the post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you for speaking your mind about censorship!
ReplyDelete