Please do not listen to Wesley Scroggins. #SpeakLoudly
Wesley Scroggins is a delusional guy, trying to ban books like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. Why? Because he is SO close-minded and just doesn't understand that times are changing, spotlighting big-deal issues that weren't so spotlighted before. As a Catholic who goes to Church every Sunday, my faith in God so strong, I don't think that he has the right to call Speak or Twenty Boy Summer 'soft pornography'. It's just so wrong.
I've read both of these books and this is a topic that I feel so strongly about, I couldn't hold it in any longer. I've listened to girls ranting about Speak, not realizing (until I actually read it) why it was so great. When I read it, I finally understood.
Speak helps young girls. Speak helps victimized young adults SPEAK UP. Speak teaches a good message to STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.
So why on earth does this guy Scroggins want to ban a book that ACTUALLY HELPS PEOPLE? Isn't it his job as an educator, as a citizen to HELP?
He's also saying this is wrong: "children at the middle school are being introduced to concepts such as homosexuality, oral sex, anal sex and specific instructions on how to use a condom and have sex." But I have to ask, how is this wrong? I know people in the 6th grade who've already had sex! I know my classmates are having it, why shouldn't we be educated about keeping ourselves safer? Sure abstinence is also taught, but this is the REAL WORLD.
On Twenty Boy Summer on the other hand, one of my favorite books, he says: "This book glorifies drunken teen parties, where teen girls lose their clothes in games of strip beer pong. In this book, drunken teens also end up on the beach, where they use their condoms to have sex. I confronted the school board with these issues at the June school board meeting" He completely MISLEADS people to believe that this is all that Twenty Boy Summer is all about. But it is so much more. It's about getting over grief, learning to trust again, and living life to the fullest. It is such an emotional book that everyone will relate to.
Speak up guys! Who is Wesley Scroggins to decide what we should read and what not to read? In letting him win, he is taking our right to make our own decisions. He is depriving us of our right of freedom.
Bloggers, SPEAK UP!
CJ Redwine has written a completely heart-wretching post about this and how Speak has affected her personally. Please read it.
About the Author
Follow Her on Twitter at @ReggieWrites
7 comments:
I can believe something like that!
In Spain people still remember The Censure Institute (it had another name, but you get it) so nobody propose ban anything these days... But give us another 10 years or lest and maybe we'll have the same problem than you in the States :-(
Great post, Reggie!
Wow, I don't remember ANYTHING in Speak that could be called soft porn. The rape is certainly not soft porn, but it happens, and girls need to know that it's not OK and that they CAN speak up.
Oh, I didn't comment on Twenty Boy Summer as I haven't read it. I can't see it would be ban-worthy either though... as no books should ever be banned.
Hello I saw a link to your site on Read All Over. I also have a post about this on my blog which gives you the chance to get hold of a copy of this book thanks to one of my blogger buddies.
What angers me is how Scroggins is more upset by a book addressing uncomfortable issues than the reality of them. He tries to get books banned so that he doesn't have to think about things that spoil his fluffy-pink-marshmallow worldview. As a Christian I think he's got it all wrong - we're meant to acknowledge evil, and try to put it right, not ignore its existance.
Thanks for speaking out girl :)
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