The Scariest Villain of ALL

I write and read a lot of paranormal. Which consequently, quite often, crosses over with horror. When I was younger, I used to be easily scared. I was afraid of werewolves in particular. Nowadays? Not so much. I can handle, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and monsters. I'm none too fond of evil clowns, but I can deal. What I can't understand are people that BAN books.

I am a huge proponent of never saying negative things on the internet. I don't like confrontation. I'm not an argumentative person in general. But sometimes things go too far. Sometimes I have to speak up, or risk losing my integrity.

Anyone remember Natzi Germany? Yeah, they burned a lot of books. Things by Jewish people like Einstein and Freud. Is this an extreme example? You betcha! But is it unrealistic? I don't think so.

This is America. We believe in the principles of freedom of speech, and, well, just freedom in general. That no matter what your beliefs are, I'm entitled to my own. And the scariest thing to me is that it seems what people are trying so hard to ban or remove are the books that realistically depict the situations teens have to face in their real lives. Ellen Hopkins anyone? How about Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson?

Then there are books that just make no sense to me. HARRY POTTER?? Just take a look at this list. THIS is what truly frightens me. This is the monster that goes bump in the night. So how do we go Van Helsing on it? Well, number one is speaking up. Letting the world know that this is NOT okay. That we support these authors and buy these books. That we recognize voices that cry to be heard, instead of keeping quiet and allowing them to be swept under the carpet. Or burned at the stake.

So? Are you going to help me fight the real monster, Ignorance? What have you done? What do you plan to do?