TTYL, book burners

The world's working class has had very few enemies more virulent than censorship. The more censorship we let go unchallenged - even in school libraries - the more the censors are emboldened.

It's hard to claim America still has free speech when the meepings of one right-wing busybody can get a book pulled from a library shelf. But that's exactly what's happened now at a public school in Round Rock, Texas.

One dominionist parent in the community complained that the novel 'TTYL' by Lauren Myracle is "obscene" (even though it was intended for young readers). That was enough to get the superintendent to yank the book - even after 2 separate committees of parents and teachers voted to keep the tome.

So not only does America lack free speech, but the wishes of a majority aren't even followed. One person in a town of 60,000 doesn't make a majority. Even though the parent who demanded the banning of the book claims to have over 1,000 backers, it's still not a majority.

Sadly, the smell of burning books wafts over Round Rock today.

(Source: http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/education/entries/2008/11/18/book_removed_from_round_rock_m.html)