Don't Be Afraid Of Different Stories

       In the YouTube video "Banned Books Week: 13 Authors Speak Out," all the featured authors discuss how the banning of books in schools is a stupid, ridiculous, and violent thing to do. They all believe that banning books should not be allowed. They explain that banning books is like banning thoughts, or even certain persons from a culture. Brian Garfield stated in the video clip, " If you don't want to read it, don't read it." I believe this statement, even though short and simple, is extremely precise and on point with the topic. If one person does not want to read a book because he/she doesn't think it's appropriate, they should not have the power to ban it from other people. Just simply, do not read the book. It doesn't make any sense to ban something from other people just because of your thoughts. In the film "Runaway" written and directed by Kanye West, there is a quote at the end of the movie that I believe fits beautifully with this topic. The quote from the film is, "Do you know what I hate most about your world? Anything that is different you try to change. You try to tear it down..." I believe when certain people ban books, that's what they are doing. They are trying to change things so that it will make them more comfortable, not everyone else. They try to tear it down, and try to ban it so that people won't try to read it. Books are doorways into another person's mind, and if we ban those books, it makes the authors feel like they have failed the people. Which indeed, is not how they should feel. We cannot be afraid of different stories and ideas, we need to embrace them. Embrace people to go beyond the norm, and tell stories that no one has ever told before. Be inspired by the fear of being average, and just because someone does not agree with what you have written, does not make it unacceptable. Banning books from schools and other public places will not stop anything, because we are exposed to much worse things everyday in our lives. We live in a social net-working age, and anything we wish to find, will always be easy to get to with the help of the internet. I believe that banning books should not be allowed because rather than making them illegal, why not just discuss them in class. Get everyone's opinion, an if no one likes it, don't read it. If most people believe it will benefit them and help them become better at reading and writing, let them read. Banning books is pointless and I can't stress that enough. Let people read what they want, and let them ignore the books they don't want to read. Don't ruin it for everyone else. Don't be afraid of different stories, because everyone has one.