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| Books Afire 2023 by Geoffrey W. Sutton & Bing AI |
In the US, parents have been at war to challenge the reading material available to their children in school and public libraries. The warriors have been aroused by sexually explicit stories.
As a psychologist, I find it interesting to note the power that a few persons can wield in a democracy. Natanson reports on the influence of just 11 people concerned about books. She goes on to feature the diligent efforts of Jennifer Petersen who has focused on sexual content in school books.
I'm also interested in the religious bias factor. It's tempting in the US to think objections to sexual content in books available to children and teens comes from fundamentalist Christians. Perhaps you thought Peterson was a Christian? It turns out, she's Buddhist.
As a grandparent, I do care about the wellbeing of our grandchildren and what they are exposed to at school. Fortunately, I have confidence in their parents to make good decisions about what my grandchildren view and read.
What's most appealing about the Petersen story is the power one thinking person has to make a difference in the US. You may disagree with Petersen's decisions and her cause but I hope you can be encouraged to make our society safer for our children and better for everyone.
For the record, I have not addressed the matter of sexuality here because the topic is complex. I have addressed morality and sexuality in A House Divided: Sexuality, Morality, and Christian Cultures. Also available as a Kindle book.
Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is www.suttong.com
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