Following last week's flap over a production of "The Vagina Monologues" in Florida, this week brings more anatomical intolerance in the form of a dispute among authors and librarians across the country over the use of the word "scrotum" in the Newberry Award-winning novel The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron.
It's startling - but somehow unsurprising - to see even the basic, anatomically-correct terms for the human body sparking controversy.
Lisa Yee at Authors Support Intellectual Freedom writes:
This is a Newbery book, singled out for its literary merit, and honored by the American Library Association. It was written by a librarian. To not carry it in a library infringes upon one's intellectual freedom. It denies the reader the opportunity to choose, or not choose, to read the book.
Elsewhere in the blogosphere, Alice notes:
I guess we'll all make up our own minds on this one. But some of us wield a great deal more power when it comes to getting certain books in front--or away from--young readers. I guess we shall see what becomes of all this scrotum business. In the meantime, read Patron's book and decide for yourself.
She's right. Why wait until The Higher Power of Lucky disappears from your local library to complain? Instead, assert your right to read freely and ask for this book. Read it. Share it. And proclaim loudly to the skies ... SCROTUM!