Censorship


This seems like a kind of back and forth topic for me. I guess there are a few questions that I have to ask myself when thinking about it. Have I read the book? Did I enjoy it? Would I read it again? Is there anything questionable about the book, if so what is questionable about it? Would I want my own children reading this book? There are more questions I could ask myself when addressing a book and if it is bad or questionable.

One this that totally caught me by surprise was that one of my favorite books was on the list handed out in class. I might have to go back and read the book over again to find out what is bad about it because I cannot remember anything bad about it. I do remember, though, that my teacher was surprised how much I really did love the book. The Giver was a required reading when I was in seventh grade, and the book is on the list that was handed out in class. I really do need to reread the book, but I think the book was fine.

I was also shocked by seeing some books that I thought were questionable when I read them in school where not on the list. I would be sitting there reading a book and just be taken back by what was written and asking myself why on earth are we reading this in school?! To make it even worse it would be those books that we would watch the movie of as well. REALLY?! Even in high school, my mom had some complaining to do. Even back in fifth grade, the school had forbidden Pokémon from the school. Cards, games, clothes, anything that was Pokémon, but when we went on our trip to NASA we watched Apollo 13 on the bus. It didn’t add up right to a few parents on the bus.

Censorship, when it all comes down to it, is all about opinions. Everyone has the right to thinking that a book is not good for their child to read. At the same time, some of the things that people are getting worked up over are things that happen in everyday life. Just because a book has a cuss word in it doesn’t mean that the child will start cussing, they might use the word because they don’t know what it means, but that is when the parent teaches their child that some words should not be used. If they don’t read it in a book, they will hear it on TV, in a movie, by a peer. Language is only one thing that is on the list for censorship, there is also sex among several other listed items. Anything that a child can read in a book can also be seen in the world, and you can’t really censor the world, you can try hard and shelter you child, but that will only work for so long.

As for me and my family or my classroom, I will have to ask myself those questions. I do not think that books should be censored but maybe not to be read in the grade that they are being read in. Sometimes certain things are just too much for younger children to be reading. Taking in how impressionable the children are at the age and age of them, a teacher or parent should make a choice on if the book should be read.

There will always be someone to complain about something, no matter what it is. A teacher needs to always have a reason for why they are doing what they are doing, and back up for their backup. A good book might have a few questionable things in it, but as long as the students understands that it makes the story, and that the lesson at the end of the book is learned. Like in The Great Gilley Hopkins, I learned after asking why are we reading this, that though her opinions and thoughts she grew to be who she was, she changed, and we could all learn that we are a little like Gilley.

 
<3  Erin Christina

Same Blog Post as D&C Section 78-81

This felt more of a personal blog post then for my relgion class .. but i posted it anyways.  I just havent been doing well lately. But I put down my thoughts and feeling and tired in the reading and this is what it got me.


I am working on myself.


I am trying to grow.

I know there are still somethings that are holding me back.

Life gets hard. No one said it would be easy, but that it would be worth it.

I struggle.

More then I should.

I read my scriptures for class and I write all these thoughts and feelings that I have about what I read.

But I cant help but feel hypocritical in some of the things.

I am not perfect.

I worry about if I can ever be good enough to recive these blessings.

I doubt myself.

Sometimes I even look in the mirror and tell myself how much I hate me. Tell myself that I am in fact worthless and the only good any guy will ever see in me is to be used. It is like I have fallen down too low to even get back up again, to low for help.

D&C 78:7 "For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare youselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you"

Easier said then done.

I have faith in the Lord, I just dont have faith or hope in myself anymore. I feel like I am just here now.

I know I am not alone. Heavenly Father is with me. But as I keep making the same mistakes over and over I am sure he is getting tired of me disobeying.

How can some someone with a testimony like mine screw up like I do.

My bishop has praised me and has thanked me for how strong I am and he can see it in my eyes. Why can't I feel thing strength when faced with things. Satan knows my weaknesses and I fall every time. It is werid becuase sinning doesnt get easier for me, I can say no to anything and everything, but the one thing he can get me on every time. Satan knows us.

"Ye cannot bear all things..." said in vers 18 of the same section. I know I need him. Every hour. I struggle and I fall. And in a world that I feel so lost and cold and alone in, he is the only one I can turn to. But does he still want me to turn to him as I keep doing what I am doing? "...I will lead you along" I need him to lead me, guid me and walk beside me. I try. I go far. There are times I dont even look back.

D&C 81:6 "And if thou are faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown of immortallity, and eaternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the house of my father."

All I can do is try. All I can do is keep pusing and enduring to the end. Praying all the time, everywhere, pleeding with my father for help, for the compaionship of the Holy Ghost, the comforter, to always be with me, to help me.
 
<3  Erin Christina

Stargirl

Just a thought I have after reading the book Stargirl (that I think everyone should read .. check out my blog Once Upon a Time, I have a thing posted there about it)

Why am I trying so hard to be someone I am not. 

A qoute from an amazing movie "Why are you trying so hard to fit in, when you were born to stand out."

Such greatness.  Who am I?  Who have I been?  Do I like me?  Have I been changing for him?  Is it the fact that I would do anything for him?  Or could it be the years of me forming to others that I am just not me anymore?

Everyone should read that book!! AMAZING!!

<3  Erin Christina

Fairy Tale Paper

Fairy Tales

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there once lived a beautiful princess…

The stories I grew up with were stories of magic, beautiful princesses, handsome princes, and good over coming bad. Those were the stories that made up my dreams, my hopes, and my fantasies. I was a bit of a dreamer and had a huge imagination as a child, and truly believed one day my prince would come save me from the life I was living, I wanted it more than anything. Was it the fairy tale syndrome? No, it wasn’t, I knew the differences between the real life and a fairy tale, but no one could tell me that I wasn’t allowed to dream.

Fairy tales are those wonderful books that we are read as children that teach us those little things, like good ALWAYS conquers evil, and there is more to some people than meets the eye or the magic of true loves kiss, love as well conquers all. They are the stories that give us hope and faith not only in ourselves but also the world. There are some bad times and there are bad people, but not everyone is bad. We live in a world were dreams can come true, but we live in a world where people say that they can’t come true. It is almost like there is someone out there who doesn’t want people to be happy and dream. Without dreams, where would the world be?

Shoot for the Moon… Some people tell me that I live in a fairy tale world and that I should come back into reality. There is no such thing as a happily ever after, there is no prince that is going to ride in on his white horse and sweep me off my feet and ride off into the sunset, they tell me that I should grow up. I believe in fairy tales, I believe in all the things that they teach us. I still watch Disney movies to make me feel better when the world brings me down and tells me I am not good enough to do anything. I believe in fairy tales, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t understand the difference between them and reality. Try to think of how the world would be if we were never taught how to dream. Some people have said that fairy tales make people thing that they can do anything and that things will happen as they do in the fairy tales, but what they don’t see is that in a way they do. Fairy tales give hope, they teach us how to dream, they teach morals, and they help us grow. There is nothing wrong with dreaming…if you miss, you will still land among the stars.

If you have courage and if you persist, you can overcome any obstacle, conquer any foe. And best of all you can have your heart’s desire. This is what fairy tales teach us. You just have to believe in yourself, there was never a prince, princess, or hero that lost their faith in themselves. It wasn’t always easy for them, but they never gave up on their dream(s) and in the end they got it. We can all have a happily ever after, but we cannot have it without trying and we cannot have it without dreaming. We just have to remember those little things that life won’t be just as a fairy tale, but we can write out own life, and make our own fairy tale out of it.

It is the lessons learned form fairy tales and the hopes they nourish which help the child carry…in real adversity. Fairy tales teach children that no matter what, though anything in life, if they feel alone, afraid, dumb, and stupid, whatever their heart is going though that one day they will leave that state and come into their own happiness. That one day everyone will notice who they are and all that they have done, what they have accomplished in life through their goals and dreams. They will learn that in the end those who are good and try their best will succeed and that the “bad guys” will get what is coming to them, in some form or another. Fairy tales teach children that they should be good, that the good will always over come evil even though at the moment it looks like all hope is lost and there is no other choice and good will lose, in time, no matter what, somehow, good will always win.

This is the beauty of fairy tales, the ways they work their true magic, for ALL to enjoy. Never thing you are too old for fairy tales. You can grow up but never stop dreaming, never stop shoot for your goals, never give up. Hold on to the glimmer of hope that the fairy tales teach you. You can have your own fairy tale, as long as you believe in yourself.

…and they lived happily ever after.

 
<3 Erin Christina