Book burning has a long and dark history, dating back to the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans. It has been used as a tool of censorship and oppression, with rulers and regimes seeking to control the ideas and information available to their subjects. Perhaps the most infamous book burning in history was carried out by the Nazis on May 10, 1933.
The Nazi book burning was a highly orchestrated event, with right-wing students marching in torchlight parades against what they deemed the "un-German spirit." The burning of over 25,000 books, including works by Heinrich Mann, Ernst Gläser, and Erich Kästner, marked the beginning of an era of state censorship and control of culture. The Nazis sought to eliminate any books they deemed to be "degenerate" or "un-German," including those written by Jews, communists, and other groups.
Today, book burning and censorship continue to be a problem in many parts of the world. Books such as Catcher in the Rye, The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1984, Animal Farm, and Lord of the Rings have all been subject to attempts at censorship or banning. These books, and many others, have shaped our way of thinking and helped us to question the world around us.
While some may argue that certain books should be restricted based on age, it is never appropriate to ban or burn a book. The right to free speech and expression is a fundamental human right, and censorship undermines this right. We must remain vigilant and resist attempts at censorship, whether they come from governments, organizations, or individuals.
We must remain vigilant to protect the freedom of speech and expression. While attempts at censorship may continue, we must stand up against them and fight for the right to read and explore new ideas, even if they challenge our beliefs. Books have the power to shape our understanding of the world and ourselves, and we must never let anyone take that away from us.
If you want to see a list of books and the attempts to ban them: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics
Now go read a book!
