Unit 4 should reject challenge to book

In response to the Aug. 2 article, "Novel's use in classroom challenged," I must write to express my shame that such an objection has occurred in my own hometown. I am a 2006 Champaign Central graduate who went through four years of honors English classes, and I am positive that through the books read in these classes I developed a much broader knowledge of different cultures of the world and their interactions.

Does this parent who objects to "The Kite Runner" object to the occurrence of rape in the novel? I read about rape in "To Kill a Mockingbird" in my freshman English class, as well as "Beloved" in my senior English class. Does he or she object to dealing with the culture and politics of Afghanistan or the Middle East? I've read about the cultures of America, Europe, Africa, and East Asia in my high school English classes; why not add analysis of Middle Eastern culture?