Here's another rant about something that's always really irritated me. Book burning. This accomplishes absolutely nothing except making a big fuss over something that doesn't need to be fussed about. Let's examine what book burning really does.
1. Draws attention to the book.
2. Makes people interested in the controversy.
3. Causes book sales to go up.
Now let's examine that. In order to have a book burning, books must be present. In this case, it should be assumed that the books were purchased at some point, and if that's the case then what sort of message is that sending out? Bookseller: "Oh, wow! Lots of copies of this book have been purchased! I should get more from the publisher!" Then the publisher says: "Oh wow! Lots of copies of this book are being ordered! We should print more copies. Also, we should get the author to write another book because this one is doing so well!" They don't know that the books are being purchased just to be burned. They see it as sales. So it accomplishes nothing.
The attention they draw to the book also ups sales. People want to see why a book is so controversial, don't they? I know I would. I would buy books just to defy the people burning books because they irritate me. Leave it alone -- don't try to tell people they can't do something. If you don't want to read a book, don't. It's that simple.
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I know that even though I had never really had any interest in reading the Golden Compass or seeing the movie, I was tempted after all the controversy over the movie. It peaked my curiosity, and if I recall, that movie did well enough at the box office.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
The movie sucked. But the books are awesome, controversy aside.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman