I read with amusement and amazement the recent story about some parents wanting the Phoenix New Times, an audio book by George Carlin , and some other reading material removed from the shelves of the Chandler, AZ library.

One guy says the editorial content of the New Times is "not appropriate for the juvenile reader" so it should be banned. I suppose he has his own point of view on editorial subjects and assumes that the rest of the world should not read other opinions. A mom doesn't want Where Willy Went in the children's section because it explains how babies are made. Atta girl, mom, let's let the kids keep thinking that babies are brought by storks. Another woman says she is shocked by Carlin's "sewer mouth and degraded mind-set" and anti-Christian tone. Never mind if someone likes Mr. Carlin's humor, isn't a Christian, and would like to check it out. According to this gal, it should be removed because SHE objects to it. I imagine she also was in front of the theaters protesting "The Last Temptation of Christ."

I hope the library board sees through this silliness when it meets on November 15 to decide on the complaints. It would be a sad day when a few disgruntled individuals can make decisions that are taken seriously and affect all of us. Tastes differ, and if you don't like the New Times or George Carlin simply disregard them. Don't try to impose your will on the rest of the world.

In a bit of irony, September 29 to October 6 was Banned Books Week. It's a week that is celebrated by the American Library Association as a time to "celebrate intellectual freedom" and read what are considered banned books. Let's take advantage of our rights in a free society and ignore those who would like to impose their beliefs on us about what we should read. If we don't, the story of the burning of the books in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 may be coming sooner than you think.