Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings. – Heinrich Heine
If you happen to live in one of those dwindling number of countries where certain freedoms are proclaimed, however illusory they may actually be, than it’s time to consider how privileged you are to read any book you want any time you want. Unless, of course, you happen to live in some part of that country where some small-minded bigot with his/her own holy agenda decides whatever book you happen to want to read should be banned. Than it’s time to be pissed off. It’s time to buy the book, stand on a street corner and read it out loud. It’s time to picket the library and bookstores from which that book has been removed.
Barring that, and if you happen to find yourself in San Antonio, Texas (Texas, yeah, a nightmare I know but bear with me here), then patronize the Banned Books Cafe, 118 Broadway, Suite 116 (Half a block off Houston Street).
Elsewhere, refuse to patronize any store that participates in the banning of books. Go out of your way to buy a banned book. If the library has pulled the books, write nasty letters to your councilperson.
And check out these sites:
American Library Association, Never Silenced and Forbidden Library. And something for the jewelry lover: Banned Books Jewelery.
I absolutely agree. The reason I joined PEN was to work on their Freedom to Write Committee.
Those are all great ideas — thanks!