One of my favorite books is The Da Vinci Code. However, this book was banned in Lebanon after it was said to be offensive to Christian leaders. I think this book was a good read, not only because it was exciting, but made you think. It made you wonder. Most of all, it made me not believe everything I hear. One of the main reasons we go to school, apart from learning how to do math, learn about science, study history, and take grammar, is to learn to think critically. This book helps you do just that.
When you ban a book, or anything for that matter, what are you really doing? You are telling others that they can not say what they want, cause it may make others feel bad. Some may say that this makes perfect sense, that we should edit our selves. But where do you draw the line? How long until we get to the point of not being able to say anything at all, for fear of offending someone? To be honest, one of the big problems is that people take things so seriously. Don't the Catholic leaders understand this is a FICTIONAL story? It isn't real! It never happened! The point of the book is to entertain, not to undermine the authority and leadership of the Catholic Church.
I think this book should not have been banned. It may have some controversial topics in it, but so do a lot of books. Banning it tells the people that controversial topics are bad, and should be gotten rid of. All controversial topics are things that people just don't agree on. Well, I hate to break it to you Catholic leaders, but people don't all agree on religion either. So if you were to ban this book, we have the right to ban you. Now, I'm not saying we should, far from it. But my point is that we have to learn to deal with things that we may not agree with. It is a part of life. If you go around and try to ban everything you don't agree with, you will not get anywhere.
But what do you think? Should a fictional book be banned because the topic might offend people? Or should those people just choose not to read it?
