Censorship in the United States takes on an entirely different tone than what is prevalent in China or Iran. Since the 15th century, when the use of the Gutenberg printing press allowed for greater circulation of the written word, overt censorship of material that a church or state power could consider offensive has been a dominant force. From the Roman Catholic Church’s denouncement of Martin Luther’s 95 theses to President John Adams’ institution and support of the Alien and Sedition Acts, most edicts of censorship were meant to maintain power.

Now, censorship has taken a different form. With the protection of the First Amendment comes a more muddled version of censorship that can be more difficult to detect or even define.

The most obvious examples of censorship in the United States are seen in the nation’s schools and libraries where people can openly challenge the inclusion of any book in academic curriculum. Rather than openly censoring religious sentiments or political conviction, those who challenge books in schools hide behind the veil of propriety.

According to the American Library Association, the titles of various literary classics were among the top 100 banned or most often challenged books from 2000 to 2009, including “Of Mice and Men,” “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Slaughterhouse Five” and “The Color Purple.” In the reference book “Banned in the U.S.A.,” it is reported that the three most common causes for banning are sexual explicitness, profanity or anti-Christian sentiment.

In the first words of the First Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” the guarantee of freedom of religion precedes the guarantee of separation of church and state. Here, where censorship and religion meet, is where the gravest violation of the Constitution occurs.

Religion has no place in a public school, an institution funded by the government — the same government that is obligated by the Constitution to enforce the separation of church and state. Issues of national, state and local importance are colored by religion, from abortion and contraception rights to LGBT rights to censorship in schools and community libraries.

Americans have become too comfortable and lenient in their allowance of this betrayal of fundamental American values and principles. This type of violation is more dangerous than the obvious censorship occurring in foreign nations struggling with this issue. The United States has held itself to a higher standard since its independence and to pressure lawmakers under the guise of freedom is a serious abuse and waste of the freedoms set before us.

Nina Golshan is a staff columnist. Email her at [email protected].