Censorship and the Banning of "The Chocolate War" by Cormier

Our country was founded on the ideals of freedom of speech and expression, and now all Americans have to make sure they are upheld. The books on this list are intelligent stories that challenge your perceptions and make you aware of the often harsh realities of life. And while, certainly, a parent might decide a particular book is too mature for his or her child, no city council or church group or senator should have the right to declare a book off limits for every child in a community.
Censorship is becoming more and more common all over the world, especially in the United States. This is happening in schools and libraries across the country too often (once is too often). If children are raised without exposure to other views, how will they know that they are wrong or right when the come into contact with them later in life? Why must a select group of people control the material they are exposed to? Are they any better than the children? Are the children not capable of making decisions of their own? How can we expect them to make decisions as adults if they don't as a child? This needs to change. Americans have the freedom of speech. …