Censorship Type: Fear

One of the most interesting things that I found in studying banned books in the 80s was the Holt Basic Reading Series by Holt, Rineholt, and Winston. It is explained in detail on pages 141-147 of Margaret Bald's Revised Banned Book: Literature Suppressed on Religious Grounds Revised Version. It was not mentioned in her first Book of the same title. It is notable because it proved the strength of religious groups banning together(the case lasted 4 years), that keeping a company in litigation is all that is necessary for victory(the company finally had to sell, and the new company cancelled the series with no reprints), and how far will Americans go to ameliorate religious beliefs? [the case started with Vicki Frost, a mother of four who believed that the Antichrist would be telepathic(Bald, pg 146)]. Imagination was also attacked, Jack London's "To Build a Fire," in the eighth grade reader, the protagonists use of imagination to solve a problem "contradicted the groups belief that absolute reliance on God is necessary for salvation(Bald, pg. 146.)

This report issued in the 80s perhaps sums it up:

 

The report, titled ''Liberty Denied: The Current Rise of Censorship,'' is written by Donna A. Demac, a lawyer and professor of communications at New York University.

Among the lawyers whose writings are used as evidence in the report are Martin Garbus, author of ''Traitors and Heroes,'' and Floyd Abrams. Mr. Abrams is quoted as saying that the Reagan Administration has ''trumped'' the First Amendment, explaining that ''whatever it chose to do on the pretext of national security took precedence over competing constitutional considerations.''

After declaring that censorship has increased during the Reagan Administration, the report concludes:

''Today the United States faces the significant challenge of restoring the traditions of free speech and diversity of information that have been eroded in the 1980's. It would be a tragic mistake to think that censorship in the country will automatically fade away with the next Presidential election.'' (MITGANG, June 5, 1988, Sunday, Late City Final Edition)

 

Bibliography

Bald, M. (1998). Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Religious Grounds. New York: Facts on File, Inc.

Bald, M. (2006). Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Religious Grounds Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc.

Bernard J. Weiss, ed. (1973). Holt Basic Reading Series. United States: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

MITGANG, H. (June 5, 1988, Sunday, Late City Final Edition). PEN Issues Warning on Censorship. http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.lib.wayne.edu/us/lnacademic/auth/checkbrowser.do?ipcounter=1&cookieState=0&rand=0.6686893552717349&bhcp=1: The New York Times.

Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis: The Story of Childhood. New York City: Pantheon Books.

Sova, D. B. (1998). Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Sexual Grounds. New York: Facts On File, Inc.