Should books ever be banned?

The question of whether or not books should be banned has been debated time and time again. For books that discuss controversial matters or have highly graphic content, the solution of hiding them away from the public seems easiest. Others, such as me, are of the opinion that banning books only suppresses knowledge, which is something that should never be allowed to be prohibited. Whether your opinion stems from the former or the latter, this issue is still something that is being disputed today and may not have a clear resolution.

One of the more notorious books that started this debate is Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”), which was written by the Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler. The book is an autobiographical manifesto which discusses Hilter’s reasons for being anti-semitic, as well as his hatred for communism. It also provides a heavily detailed outline of Hilter’s various political ideologies and what he believes is the best political direction for Germany.

While there are many aspects of this book that are controversial and offensive to marginalized groups, the part that has sparked the most conversation on whether or not it should be banned is its anti-semitism. In Mein Kampf, Hitler claims that Jewish people are plotting to take over the world and that they should all be exterminated. He actively encourages his readers to adopt this opinion and use his ideology in everyday life. I find this idea morally abhorrent and in no way do I support it.

Scholars and professors have commented on the dangers of letting a book like this be easily accessible to the general public. There are worries that spreading Hitler’s views will cause ideologies like Nazism to resurface again, or that his book could get into the hands of minors who don’t yet have fully sculpted outlooks on society. While I believe that these are valid and logical concerns, I also think there are reasons for keeping books like Mein Kampf unbanned and available for people to read.

I believe that all books contain at least some amount of knowledge that is worth learning from, so that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past and so that we can think critically about decisions we make today. A book like Mein Kampf is part of our history, even if it represents an idea that is wrong. As humans we should be life-long learners and have the tools and knowledge to refine our understanding and opinions. Banning a book will not necessarily suppress the ideas behind it. 

Banned Books Display At the Lacey Library, https://www.flickr.com/photos/timberland/10300020646

I also think that if we ban books, it only increases the desire for them. Banned books may not be easily accessible, but they can still be accessed via illegal publishing. Overall, I believe that keeping books open to the public lets readers explore different perspectives and teaches them the importance of freedom of expression.

Although Mein Kampf is a rather extreme example of books that some believe should be banned, there are also many common and popular books that have been criticized. The Harry Potter series, for example, was heavily criticized for encouraging witchcraft and supernatural activities. If the book actually does this is unclear, but many lovers of the series work to shut down those rumors and make the series available for everyone. 

As previously stated, concerns about not banning Mein Kampf are completely reasonable. To combat the issues that may arise from Mein Kampf being read, I am in favor of teaching students about the book and educating them on the contents of it. Not only is it an important primary source about Hitler’s life and Nazi Germany, but it would also help steer students in the right direction. Talking openly about topics that raise controversy helps to de-stigmatize them. 

This is obviously not a long term solution and isn’t easy to implement in the education curriculum. The question of whether or not to ban books is one that is typically dealt with on a case-by-case scenario, and it is very likely that it will stay this way. Let’s hope though, that we can slowly work to remove the taboo on “banned” books and utilize the knowledge in them for the greater good of society.

Sophie Wynkoop