The thing is, some of these books that people want to ban for having racial slurs make very strong statements against racism. Of Mice and Men had that filthy "n" word with all of its historic weight of opression and racial hatred - but the book also took a very strong stand against racism. To Kill a Mockingbird and Huckleberry Finn also use the "n" word but are two of the books who have the strongest antiracism message out there anywhere. If you do not show how hideous racism is, it is difficult to send out a strong message against it.
Believe it or not, Catcher in the Rye is starting to grow on me. In about the fifth or sixth chapter it is revealed that the main character's beloved younger brother died. All of the alienation and rage and whining makes perfect sense now. This kid's heart is bleeding with unexpressed grief every minute of the day and night. He is slowly dying inside, and his parents keep sending him away to expensive boarding schools rather than address his very real and actual emotional issues.
Like Red Badge of Courage, this is intended to be a psychological portrait rather than a linear story.
I did read 1984 and Brave New World in my thirties, so appreciated them a bit more...
