Critics say bans would hinder rights as proponents would impose their beliefs on others who don’t share their views

Summary

Rightwing groups across the US are driving a wave of legislation to restrict books in school and public libraries, targeting content deemed “sexually explicit” or “obscene,” often affecting LGBTQ+ and race-related titles.

Texas leads with 31 bills and 538 book bans in the 2023–24 school year.

Proposed laws, like Texas Senate Bill 13, shift book selection power from librarians to parent-led advisory boards.

Critics, including librarians and legal scholars, warn these efforts amount to censorship, risk violating First Amendment rights, and reduce access in underserved communities.

  • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    0·
    2 days ago

    17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

    Matthew 5:17-19

    The words of Jesus himself.

    Until 300 years ago when slavery was considered OK, the biblical law on it would still be VERY progressive.

    Not true. The bible was explicitly used by plantation owners in the Southern US to justify chattel slavery, and keep their slaves in line. They printed versions of the bible with all suggestions of concepts like freedom removed.

    You keep telling yourself that what’s in the bible is different than slavery, but it is not. Your book gives explicit rules on how to treat your slaves, how to punish your slaves including beating them and how much you’re allowed to beat them (make sure it’s not so bad that they can’t recover in a few days!) It gives explicit rules on how you are to treat your Jewish slaves compared to Gentile slaves. How much slaves should buy and sell for.

    You’re going to lose this argument. The only out is, “actually, slavery is OK” and I’ve literally seen Christians say this in order to justify their awful book.

    • blaue_Fledermaus@mstdn.io
      0·
      2 days ago

      He fulfilled the law, and did not have slaves.

      The example of His own actions is to read the law with the perspective of protecting the weak, the “lesser”, the vulnerable.