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Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. Tashmere Send a noteboard - 07/02/2010 11:52:02 PM


1. Are there any books that should ever be censored? If so, why? If so, which ones? Who should decide what books are censored and for whom?

2. Should any books be withheld from libraries in high schools? If so, why? If so, which ones? Who should decide what books are withheld?

3. Name five books (aside from religious works) that you think have had a massive impact on the world, and at least one that is frequently overlooked on lists of that sort.

4. Do you think any of the books you listed in point 3 should be read in schools as mandatory reading? Why or why not?

5. Name five books (aside from religious works) that you think SHOULD be mandatory reading in schools (or at least "on the curriculum" if you don't like the word "mandatory"), and why.

6. Do you think schools are too careful in choosing books due to pressure from those who would censor the curriculum? If so, which sorts of books do you feel are unjustly censored?

7. Do you think schools place too much emphasis on particular themes or ideas when choosing their curriculum? If so, which ones?

8. Are there any authors you would remove from school curricula who are presently well-represented? Why?

9. Are there any authors not represented that you would like to see added generally? Why?

10. Is there ONE book (aside from religious works) that you think EVERYONE should read? If so, what book and why?


1. Censored in general? No. Censorship is a double-edged sword. I wouldn't play with it. I don't think that anyone is responsible enough to handle wielding it. I wouldn't want to be where anyone was trying.

2. In highschool? That may be a little different but more for financial and liability purposes. Some books simply aren't worth buying for the libraries and other books would open the schools to lawsuits if they carried them and students happened to have used them before committing a crime on themselves or society. I don't think that books on how to commit suicide or build bombs with everyday household cleaners would be something schools should have on the shelves.

I will have to come back to this later. I have a headache that is getting worse by the minute.

I liked your questions, Tom. I had good arguements with myself yesterday while thinking about them.
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Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. - 05/02/2010 05:15:17 PM 1365 Views
Interesting post - 05/02/2010 06:19:06 PM 872 Views
I agree. One Shakespeare is sufficient. *NM* - 06/02/2010 06:42:51 AM 323 Views
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tough questions - 05/02/2010 08:26:30 PM 844 Views
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we coverd most of those things as well - 06/02/2010 08:08:22 PM 948 Views
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What about... - 18/02/2010 06:57:56 PM 1073 Views
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It doesn't have to be plausible as a whole to be relevant. - 06/02/2010 08:28:20 PM 812 Views
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You raise an interesting point. - 06/02/2010 06:06:20 PM 799 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. - 05/02/2010 11:09:41 PM 936 Views
Nietzsche as mandatory reading - that's a fun idea. - 06/02/2010 06:00:29 PM 885 Views
Re: Nietzsche as mandatory reading - that's a fun idea. - 06/02/2010 06:03:59 PM 861 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. - 05/02/2010 11:47:08 PM 928 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. - 06/02/2010 12:11:06 AM 803 Views
I agree with most of that. But to quote our eminent Camilla... - 06/02/2010 10:30:15 AM 909 Views
I agree on the Shakespeare (and mentioned that below). - 06/02/2010 05:54:50 PM 806 Views
Re: I agree on the Shakespeare (and mentioned that below). - 06/02/2010 06:05:48 PM 915 Views
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I think there is value to discussing staging - 07/02/2010 01:52:47 AM 761 Views
nice post - 06/02/2010 01:27:23 AM 781 Views
Re: nice post - 06/02/2010 01:29:34 AM 794 Views
A lot of people think von Clausewitz is important. - 06/02/2010 05:51:44 PM 718 Views
More than Sun Tzu? *NM* - 06/02/2010 08:31:44 PM 300 Views
Sun Zi was relatively unknown in the West until recently. - 07/02/2010 01:30:06 AM 773 Views
Sure, but he could still have influenced world history by influencing Asia... *NM* - 07/02/2010 01:35:17 AM 326 Views
Doubtful. - 07/02/2010 01:41:01 AM 784 Views
Tom, you did not just write that - 07/02/2010 10:12:40 AM 822 Views
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Neat. - 06/02/2010 06:41:37 AM 1042 Views
Brave New World is an excellent choice. - 06/02/2010 05:15:15 PM 732 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. - 06/02/2010 01:44:07 PM 902 Views
I agree that Shakespeare is over-emphasised. - 06/02/2010 04:29:16 PM 672 Views
Before responding to others, I'll post my own responses - 06/02/2010 04:26:53 PM 933 Views
Re: Before responding to others, I'll post my own responses - 06/02/2010 10:34:10 PM 752 Views
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The Whale Rider is lovely. - 10/02/2010 02:36:01 PM 676 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. - 07/02/2010 11:52:02 PM 843 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. - 08/02/2010 03:14:24 AM 1027 Views
Re: Censorship, promotion of books and dissemination of ideas. - 11/02/2010 10:58:23 PM 908 Views

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