Why Is Bless Me Ultima Be Banned

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Is It Right To Ban Bless Me Ultima?
Since its publication in 1972, Rudolfo Anaya’s novel Bless Me, Ultima has been controversial. While the novel is “critically acclaimed” and “required reading” (Mehta) in some schools, it has been banned in others. The book is “No. 75 on the American Library Assn.’s list of top banned books” (Mehta). Despite its popularity with some students and teachers, the book continues to be banned due to complaints that it contains too much profanity, is anti-Catholic and is sexually explicit.
Some parents claim that the book has too much profanity. For example, in 2005, “Some parents asked to burn the book… the book was removed by the superintendent after two parents complained about the profanity”(“Banned 33”). Also is “Stanislaus County school board banned a celebrated but controversial piece of Chicano literature from its high school classrooms this week because trustees and the superintendent believe “Bless Me, Ultima” contains too much profanity”(Mehta). It mostly curses in Spanish when the characters are angry, so they have a reason to use profanity. …show more content…
For instance, in 2008, a school in Newman, CA, called Orestimba High School, “removed by the superintendent for being ‘profane and anti-catholic.’ Teachers claimed the superintendent circumvented policy on book challenges and set a dangerous precedent”(“Banned 33”). There was only one character that was an atheist and his name was Florence. Also, people might say that the book is anti-catholic because the main character, Antonio was introduced to another god called, the golden carp. There is a part in the book when Antonio pretends to be a priest to practice for confession with the other kids and that is why parents might think the book is
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