The spirit of Christmas came to us this year, but there is little peace for the people of Carroll County, Md. Instead of exchanging season's greetings, they are fighting over middle school libraries and "The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things," a teen-oriented novel peppered with obscenities and sexual references.

The conflict began a few months ago when a group of parents, upset that the book was in the district's middle school libraries, called for its removal. The uproar escalated in October when a committee of parents, students and district employees ruled against the parents' request.

Despite the setback, opponents of the book persevered. They asked District Superintendent Charles Ecker to personally remove it from school libraries. After reviewing the volume in question, Ecker did as they asked. That, in turn, set off protests by students and provoked accusations of censorship from such heavy hitters as the American Civil Liberties Union. The conflict is far from over: Ecker has agreed to reconsider removal of the book.

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