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Brian Johnston's avatar

The Handmaid's Tale is an excellent example of dystopian fiction. I absolutely believe it should be included in the modern literary canon. My daughter (12 now) is a little young for it, but I will definitely recommend that she reads it in 2 to 3 years. It is a modern day classic.

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Bartow Freedom Coalition's avatar

SO, buy it for her separately.

It should not be in the schools.

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Brian Johnston's avatar

I would much prefer it be generally available and individual parents should be able to opt out of their kids having access.

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Bartow Freedom Coalition's avatar

Of course you would prefer that the schools make the default position to give this obscene book out. Instead, have it removed. Kids can OPT IN to do a book report on it if the teacher and parents approve.

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Brian Johnston's avatar

Exactly...and of course all you can concentrate on is the sexual aspect of it. Puritanical demonization of art is nothing more than cutting off one's nose to spite the face. We are all lesser for it.

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Bartow Freedom Coalition's avatar

Just to be clear, your position is that you approve minors under the 18 being handed graphic material explicitly demonstrating sexual activities in High School. Just to be clear.

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Brian Johnston's avatar

Am I comfortable with high school students reading material that involves sex (including sex outside of marriage, homosexual and masturbation)? Absolutely. If their parents object they can opt out.

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Brian Johnston's avatar

Those are "and" provisions, not "or" provisions. Basic statutory construction.

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Bartow Freedom Coalition's avatar

There are some that are "and" while other are of "or".

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Brian Johnston's avatar

Not how this attorney reads it. But assuming arguendo that you are correct, your examples still wouldn't qualify. The works cited may have sexual content in them, but they don't exist predominantly as an appeal to prurient interest.

It's the same with movies. We are of the same generation, so I will reference a movie we are familiar with. Fatal Attraction is a film that has sexual content in it. It was Rated R at the time of its release. Applying your reading, it would be considered obscene. Under mine it would not. That is arguably reserved for porn. Fatal Attraction has a redeeming artistic value that Girls Gone Wild Vol. 64 does not.

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Bartow Freedom Coalition's avatar

You are reading it wrong.

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