Why We Need Profanity Warning Labels on Books to Protect Our Young People

Case in point is this recent novel, "Permanent Obscurity" by Richard Perez, which was recommended to me by a troubled young reader, who purchased it from Amazon after seeing it at a local library. Here's my stance: What can be said of a novel preaching negative values as "cool?" A book featuring two antisocial, self-loathing, drug-taking girls portrayed as "heroes?" What message does this convey -- especially to the young reader with an impressionable mind? Here is a book that glorifies irresponsible behavior, man-hating, an anti-work ethic, degeneracy, bad language, filth, sadomasochistic and lesbian sex -- all conveniently delivered under the guise of "comedy." Yet what's funny about all this, I ask? Better said, this novel by Richard Perez called "Permanent Obscurity" currently being sold to young readers -- and even available at public libraries -- is a disgusting display and a firm reminder of why we need to safeguard our youth: implement certain strict "Adult Only" profanity warning labels on books or be more vigilant about the kind of books we allow our young people to access. Movies have a rating system -- from "G" to "X" -- why not books? As a good example of the trash I mean: the story of "Permanent Obscurity," which should be rated "X" (at the very least), revolves around drugs; in fact, the book is a thinly disguised celebration of the joys of illegal drug-use and perverted sex (while pretending to be a "morality" tale). Dolores, the vulgar narrator of this tripe, is a lazy, foul-mouthed, Godless, good-for-nothing smoker of marijuana and an abuser of alcohol while her best friend, Serena -- equally lazy, foul-mouthed, Godless, and useless -- abuses alcohol and cocaine. Together, they drop "shrooms" and plot fetish movie escapades, featuring themselves as men-abusing dominatrixes. Does this sound like something that should be available in the "Young Adults" section of a library, protected by First Amendment Rights? Where is the fairness and decency here? Who is looking out for our young people? We need to convey positivity to our young people, not this negative, anti-social and destructive material. Boundaries are healthy and beneficial, even necessary! I say, we should implement strict warning labels on books. These labels could say "WARNING: LIBERAL ADULTS ONLY" or "Warning: TWISTED PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL" or "WARNING: PERVERTED TRASH" It's been days since I've read "Permanent Obscurity" and I can't get it off my mind. That's how disturbing it is. On all counts this is an irresponsible, deplorable, propagandist and morally reprehensible book. And, no, it isn't "cool" to plot, lie and cheat, imbibe alcohol, smoke marijuana, snort cocaine, shoot heroin, engage in anti-social behavior and sexual perversion of the kind described in this book -- even under the pretense of "hipness" or comedy. It's outrageous that such books like "Permanent Obscurity" are brazenly marketed to young people (and even teens!), while books promoting truly positive values -- Christian-based or otherwise -- are ridiculed and left largely ignored. Other books that deserve warning labels are those by Chuck Palahniuk, novels like "Fight Club" and "Choke" that reek of this kind of anti-social, anti-American and highly negative propaganda (but at least without the perverted sexual content and outrageous profanity of "Permanent Obscurity"). -- Dr. Ballard Owens