Posts Tagged ‘censorship’

School Book Bans Are Rising

September 28, 2022

School Book Bans Are Rising

“From July 2021 to June 2022, PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans lists 2,532 instances of individual books being banned, affecting 1,648 unique book titles.

The 1,648 titles are by 1,261 different authors, 290 illustrators, and 18 translators, impacting the literary, scholarly, and creative work of 1,553 people altogether.”

— “Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools,” Jonathan Friedman and Nadine Farid Johnson, PEN America

“While book bans have long been a part of America’s education fabric, the Pen report suggests they are now driven less by the complaints of individual parents and more by organized, ideological groups and overt pressure from politicians.

About 40% of the book bans in the past year have been connected to political pressure or legislation designed to restrict and reshape teaching, the report estimates.”

— “‘Rapid acceleration’ in US school book censorship leads to 2,500 bans in a year.” Oliver Milman, The Guardian

More:

“Who’s Behind the Escalating Push to Ban Books? A New Report Has Answers,” Eesha Pendharkar, Education Week

“Over 1,600 Books Were Banned During the Past School Year,” Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine

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Turkey Blocks Access to Wikipedia

May 1, 2017

Turkey Blocks Access to Wikipedia

“Turkish residents were unable to access Wikipedia on Saturday after the government blocked the site, citing content ‘showing Turkey in coordination and aligned with various terrorist groups,’ according to the Anadolu news agency.

The government has not officially commented on the outage. But the Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ministry told the state-run agency, ‘Instead of coordinating against terrorism, (Wikipedia) has become part of an information source which is running a smear campaign against Turkey in the international arena.'”

— “Turkey Blocks Wikipedia, Accusing It Of Running ‘Smear Campaign,'” Amy Held, NPR

More:

“Turkey just banned Wikipedia, labeling it a ‘national security threat,’” Amanda Erickson, Washington Post

“Turkey blocks Wikipedia under law designed to protect national security,”Reuters, via The Guardian

“2017 block of Wikipedia in Turkey,” Wikipedia

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Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

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Falwell Censored Anti-Trump Column in Student Newspaper

October 27, 2016

Falwell Censored Anti-Trump Column in Student Newspaper

Pistol packin’ Jerry Falwell Jr., President of Liberty University by grace of God being fathered by LU founder Jerry Falwell Sr., censored a column critical of his buddy Donald Trump in the school’s student newspaper, claims an editor. Joel Schmieg is the Sports Editor of the Liberty Champion, so he knows about locker room talk. “I have never in my life heard guys casually talk about preying on women in a sexual manner,” he wrote in his weekly column, in reference to the GOP candidate’s open mic remarks.

Mr. Falwell had the column omitted from the paper, claiming it was “redundant.” Oh, so there was another “grab her by the pussy” column in the Christian school’s newspaper? Turns out there was a short letter about Trump from an unhappy alum.

Lord have mercy. College president Jerry Falwell Jr. has certainly taught his students a few lessons about Christian morality, conservative politics,  and the First Amendment.

More:

“The Column Liberty Pulled,” Scott Jascik, Inside Higher Ed

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Banned Books Week 2015

September 30, 2015

Banned Books Week 2015

Banned Books Week 2015 Celebrating the Freedom to Read: Sept. 27- Oct. 3, 2015

The freedom to read what we will is firmly rooted in the First Amendment, yet many who rant about upholding the Constitution would restrict our access to written art, enlightenment, and information. Celebrate liberty and literacy —read a banned book today.

Banned Books Day Events listed by state here.

More:

“This Is Why You Should Celebrate Banned Books Week,” Maddie Crum, Huffington Post

Banned Books That Shaped America

“Ban This Book,” Grant Snider, Incidental Comics

“6 Historical High Points For Book Banning,” Claire Fallon,Huffington Post

Related:

“America’s Very Own Book Burnings,” Libby Coleman, Ozy

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Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

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Banned Books Week 2014

September 23, 2014

Banned Books Week 2014

Q: What do the books The Adventures of Captain Underpants andThe Kite Runner have in common?

A: Both books have been banned. Frequently.

It’s Banned Books Week (September 21−27, 2014). The freedom to read what we will is firmly rooted in the First Amendment, yet many who rant about upholding the Constitution would restrict our access to written art, enlightenment, and information. Celebrate liberty and literacy —read a banned book today.

Banned Books Day Events listed by state here.

More:

Banned Books That Shaped America

“Ban This Book,” Grant Snider, Incidental Comics

“Too Graphic? 2014 Banned Books Week Celebrates Challenged Comics,” Lynn Neary, NPR

“6 Historical High Points For Book Banning,” Claire Fallon, Huffington Post

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Image (“Freedom to eRead, after Roger Roth”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht,NotionsCapital.com

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

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Turkey Tries to Turn Off Twitter

March 24, 2014

Turkey Tries to Turn Off Twitter

In a frantic effort to keep a lid on dissent, Turkey’s political leaders are blaming an outside agitator — Twitter — and they’re desperately trying to shut it down. The real problem seems to be insider information on corruption in those tweets, though, and not the micro-blogging platform itself. And work-arounds make a shut-off attempt futile. Twitter can be accessed through other sites and even by SMS text messaging.

More:

“Turkey: Twitter allows ‘character assassination, ‘” Suzan Fraser, AP via Fort Worth Star‑Telegram

“Twitter May Have Exposed Government Corruption, So Turkey Is Banning Twitter,” Sara Morrison, The Wire

“Turkey blocks use of Twitter after prime minister attacks social media site,” Kevin Rawlinson, The Guardian

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Banned Books Week 2013

September 24, 2013

Banned Books Week

Q: What do the books The Adventures of Captain Underpants and The Kite Runner have in common?

A: Both books have been banned. Frequently.

It’s Banned Books Week (September 22 to 28, 2013). The freedom to read what we will is firmly rooted in the First Amendment, yet many who rant about upholding the Constitution would restrict our access to written art, enlightenment, and information. Celebrate liberty and literacy —read a banned book today.

Banned Books Day Events listed by state here.

More:

Banned Books That Shaped America

“Ban This Book,” Grant Snider, Incidental Comics

(more…)

Tiananmen Square, Vaguely Remembered

June 4, 2013

Tiananmen Square, Vaguely Remembered

In the spring of 1989 a million Chinese protesters gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and called for government accountability, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and better industrial working conditions. Chinese authorities sent in troops, killing over two hundred people.

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Banned Books Week 2012

October 3, 2012

Banned Books Week 2012

It’s the middle of Banned Books Week (September 30 to October 6, 2012).  Read a banned book yet?

The freedom to read what we will is firmly rooted in the First Amendment, yet many who rant about upholding the Constitution would restrict our access to written art, enlightenment, and information. Celebrate liberty and literacy —read a banned book today.

Banned Books Day Events listed by state here.

(more…)

Ai Weiwei, Nude, and the Conceptual Art of Taxes

November 27, 2011

Ai Weiwei and the Conceptual Art of Taxes
Dissident artist Ai Weiwei is in trouble with Chinese authorities who say he owes millions in taxes on donations he received from around the globe. So how did he pay the $1.3 million tax case appeal bond? With donations.

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