LETTER TO THE EDITOR

When I first read about the Newort-Mesa Unified School District’s

discussion about removing some books from a high school reading list, I

thought, “This is ridiculous.”

I don’t believe any censorship in the United States is correct. I

believe it’s all out of line, and it’s unacceptable. I believe censorship

is based on fear and a desire for your own power.

The best place to read a controversial book is in a classroom or in a

reading group of some kind where the reader gets to discuss and listen to

all ideas about the books.

I was in high school in the early 1950s and two books were censored:

“From Here to Eternity” and “The Communist Manifesto.” We all immediately

read “From Here to Eternity.”

I couldn’t find the “Manifesto” until college and, when I read it, I

decided whoever banned it was crazy. It should be read and discussed by

everyone so that everyone could see how the book was only about power.

One group wanted to be rid of the other group in power so they could be

in power. On paper, it may sound like it was for the people; after

reading it, I laughed. I thought the Communist ideals that were supposed

to be for all the people actually made fun of all the people because it

put another group into power.

I thank God for my mother, who allowed me to read anything, including

adult books, in fourth grade. In turn, by seventh grade, my daughter had

read the Bible and “The Coffee, Tea or Me Girls.” We talked about all of

them. I encourage all of my children to read anything. Books are the

greatest education. There’s nothing to fear but fear itself. I just don’t

understand why anybody would censor anything. We don’t just have fear

itself to be afraid of -- we have ignorance to be afraid of.

For me, reading is one way you can stop ignorance. If you know

something about everything, or as much as you can possibly know, you

usually see the logic of it.

SUSAN SEAGER

Newport Beach