The freedom to read

24-hour marathon raises awareness about censorship in Canada

MELISSA HIEBERT STAFF

About a dozen people were sitting in the foyer of the Millennium Library at 2 a.m. last Sunday morning, when I took my seat in front of the microphone in the front of the room. I had chosen to read a chapter from Underground to Canada, by Barbara Smucker, one of my favourite books that we read as a class in grade five. However, I now realize that not all children had the same experience.

The 24-hour Freedom to Read Marathon, designed to raise awareness about censorship in Canada, featured several (tired) readers that each took turns reading from a selection of about 150 books, all of which have been banned or challenged within the past 20 years.

The extensive library of banned or challenged books includes everything from classics like Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird, to more current books like Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and even The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss.

The Freedom to Read Marathon has been put on for the last five years by the Manitoba Writers’ Guild, because, “There are a lot of people that don’t realize that our freedom to read is always questioned,” said Jim Chliboyko of the MWG. He chose to read from The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, which has been challenged within the past two months for the “offensive” use of the word “scrotum.”

“Every year, there are more and more books that we can bring up and talk about, which is kind of sad,” said Jamis Paulson, the MC of the night. “But I think it’s also in part for us to appreciate what we do have, because authors are still put to death or tortured for their writing in other countries. While we enjoy our freedoms, we should be working hard to make sure that other people can enjoy their freedoms.”