Last week, I came across a list of banned and challenged books. The introduction to the list said this:
The ALA [American Library Association] Office for Intellectual Freedom records attempts to remove books from libraries, schools, and universities. These titles are books on the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century that have been banned or challenged.
The very possibility that every thinking person wouldn’t be angered at the idea of banning books — let alone actually banning them — angered me. It still angers me. It will always anger me.
Imagine a time at which your local library will contain only the volumes approved by every one of the ever-growing numbers of special-interest groups. Imagine a time at which information will be unavailable to you because someone else doesn’t want you to have it. Imagine a time at which intellectual curiosity has withered and died because it was starved to futility by the combined forces of the Thought and PC Police. Imagine a time at which you won’t be able to do a damn thing about it — or worse, a time at which you accept it.
Tolerating any such thing is the antithesis of agency.
I share your outrage. Did we learn nothing from this experience in Nazi Germany?
We should all be outraged, Frank:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
(Martin Niemöller, 1946)
Bravo, Mark! I salute you! “Imagine a time at which intellectual curiosity has withered and died because it was starved to futility by the combined forces of the Thought and PC Police.” Such actions are not taken by those who desire to protect us; they are enforced by those who would pretend to be able to make you, me, and everyone else who tolerates such action, a slave. No thanks, I am Spirit–hear me “roar.” Great article and accompanying video.
Thank you, Art. I can’t for the life of me understand why we can’t see what’s coming. George Orwell spelled it out for us in 1984:
“We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it.”
“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”
I’m most appalled at how easily we’re surrendering.
Thank you for your comments, Art.