Reading forbidden words (24 Hours)
September 16, 2008
24 Hours, Wed, Sept 10, 2008
LITERACY MONTH
Reading forbidden words
Just in time for national literacy month, Torontonians will have the chance to hear some books that aren't audible everywhere. Toronto-based Centre for Inquiry, a secular, non-profit organization that espouses ideas based on reason and science, is holding a banned book reading.
Justin Trottier, executive director of the centre, said the idea has been in the works since last year when a Catholic school board
banned The Golden Compass, a tale about children living in a parallel universe governed by theocracy.
"That's been a sore point for me because these are publicly funded Catholic schools - funded by atheists like myself," Trottier said. "Yet
they're able to ban books."
The reading will feature several titles such as the Harry Potter series, The Merchant of Venice, To Kill a Mockingbird and Snow Falling on Cedars, which all have been forbidden at some point in time for promotion of witchcraft, racial undertones and violence.
Trottier's Toronto chapter has hosted several freedom of speech events including town hall discussions on pro-choice abortion
and the 2005 controversy over the publishing of cartoons depicting an image of the prophet Muhammad.
"The reason we have these forums is so we can use our words instead of weapons," Trottier said.
Children's author Deirdre Baker, who teaches at the University of Toronto, and the Canadian Research Chair in Performance and Culture Chris Innes, will also be speaking at the event at 216 Beverley St. on Sept. 19.
Admission is a $2 donation.