How the first amendment helps fight banned books and ensure our freedom to read freely.
Not many bookworms have time to think about what guarantees our freedom to read what we want, when want to read it, wherever we want to do so. There are so many countries around the world where you can't just read any book that you take a liking to. It boggles the mind to think about.
If you are lucky enough to get your hands on a contraband book in some countries, you certainly don't have the freedom to sit under a tree on a beautiful day and read it under a clear blue sky. You'd have to read it in secret and keep the book and your newfound knowledge hidden.
So how did America get so lucky? When we ratified the Constitution, we included the First Amendment. You can read the full text of the First Amendment here.
Over the years we have had to fight battle after battle to keep the freedoms inherent in this Amendment. So who and what do we have to thank for keeping our freedom to read intact over the years? Quite a few lawyers and judges, as it turns out.
You can read a synopsis of the struggle over the First Amendment on this page. It includes brief descriptions of the groundbreaking cases and other facts surrounding the First Amendment and its effect on Banned Books.
Tags: First Amendment Banned Books
