"This book is unacceptable and should be burned. Now pardon me while I pattern my life on a book full of murder,rape, incest, slavery, and killing non-believers."
This merely confirms what I already know about the toxicity and danger of fundamentalist religion of any kind. There seems to be inadequate room in the human psyche for both fundamentalism and simple humanity. This is one reason I am so dismayed to watch the already odious republican party turning into a fundamentalist Christian religious cult underpinned by a criminal enterprise. This can't be good for America.
I live in the area and they don't care as long as they get to impose their religious views. That's the Religious Reich for you. I don't think books should be banned at all and I made the same suggestion you did in an article I wrote. The Bile has it all, and meets the criteria they set up for banning.
I agree with you about this book baning issure. And, of course Sharia law will not be adopted as our legal system. But, that's not really the problem. If religious conservatives can strong arm or obfuscate their way around secular law any religion can, in theory, be forced onto people in the future (look at Europe). Religious conservatives are hipocrits on this issue, but for those of us who truly believe in separation of ch. and st. criticism of Sharia law influence is warranted.
Start worrying if they ban books from the public library. As a father, there are elements of society I do not want my children exposed to. And if I can limit or control that exposure, you bet your ass I will do my best. A parent's greatest fear is not being able to protect your child and this strikes at the matter. Planting your "constitution/free speech" tree in a school library is not going to bear any fruit.
"...songs at school musical performances being predominantly religious; graduation and other school events being held at churches; and the opening of school board meetings with prayer." I'm perfectly fine with UCLA sueing them and I hope my county loses so that they will learn that you can't mix religion into school systems like that.
The ACLU is threatening to sue my county (Sumner) here in TN for, "This pattern and practice includes teachers leading students in prayer and Bible study sessions; the opening of one school to a youth minister who proselytizes frequently at student lunch tables; the distribution of Bibles during instructional time; prayer over the loudspeaker; the display of a cross on a classroom wall; preferential treatment of religious organizations in their ability to distribute materials to students..."
Personally, I think books are great way to explore things that I'm not exposed to in real life. I've read books about doing drugs and other "scandalous" things and they've made me realize how much I would hate doing those things IRL. Books can allow kids to imagine different situations and understand things from others' perspectives. Though I guess conservative parents don't want their kids thinking differently...
I agree with everything you said. In my public schooling, we always did the list thing where parents could choose to have their kids read a different book. One time, we had a choice between 4 books to read outside of class. Two girls from conservative families weren't allowed to read 2 of the books. Girl 1 wasn't allowed to read books 1 or 2, and Girl 2 wasn't allowed to read books 3 or 4. I found that very interesting.
Sadly, this is why our nation is in so much trouble. Instead of trying to focus on fixing any of the major problems with our country, we would rather find small and unimportant things to focus on because at least those things come off as a problem that can be "fixed." I personally hope that this almost-choking tide of stupidity and conservatism starts drying up after 2013 gets here.
This is an obvious ploy to rally the ignorant to their cause. They could have given any number of reasons to ban a book. These people deliberately chose that justification with in mind the controversy that would ensue the decision. The media attention will serve as a rally call for the ignorant. In free and open society what else could be the reasoning? Surely their P.R. officer thought this through. If not I think there's an job opening for a P.R. person at school board in Missouri.
I'm not sure how anyone would find what you said socialist, because socialism is all about banning certain books and restricting knowledge that the regime finds offensive. I am in full agreement about sending a list home and let the parents decide, but that points the the bigger problem doesnt it. Most parents are so un-involved with their children that they would rather lat others do their job for them then bitch when something is not quite what they want. I home school my own children.
"This book is unacceptable and should be burned. Now pardon me while I pattern my life on a book full of murder,rape, incest, slavery, and killing non-believers."
Pbirv 6 months ago
This merely confirms what I already know about the toxicity and danger of fundamentalist religion of any kind. There seems to be inadequate room in the human psyche for both fundamentalism and simple humanity. This is one reason I am so dismayed to watch the already odious republican party turning into a fundamentalist Christian religious cult underpinned by a criminal enterprise. This can't be good for America.
Pbirv 6 months ago
too bad you didn't read more of the quote. It is even scarier than you present. BTW the other banned book is "Twenty Boy Summer"
I read banned books.
kalozakos 6 months ago
I live in the area and they don't care as long as they get to impose their religious views. That's the Religious Reich for you. I don't think books should be banned at all and I made the same suggestion you did in an article I wrote. The Bile has it all, and meets the criteria they set up for banning.
MrianaTroi 6 months ago
This is so strange O_o ....
I am a believing christian myself, but that shool-board's desicion is just plain stupid.
Even if there weren't the first amendment ... If your faith is real, you will not change it 'cause of reading a stupid book ...
There is no need to bann it ...
jerome96114 6 months ago
I agree with you about this book baning issure. And, of course Sharia law will not be adopted as our legal system. But, that's not really the problem. If religious conservatives can strong arm or obfuscate their way around secular law any religion can, in theory, be forced onto people in the future (look at Europe). Religious conservatives are hipocrits on this issue, but for those of us who truly believe in separation of ch. and st. criticism of Sharia law influence is warranted.
DirtyBriefcase 6 months ago
Start worrying if they ban books from the public library. As a father, there are elements of society I do not want my children exposed to. And if I can limit or control that exposure, you bet your ass I will do my best. A parent's greatest fear is not being able to protect your child and this strikes at the matter. Planting your "constitution/free speech" tree in a school library is not going to bear any fruit.
micahhenry 6 months ago
"...songs at school musical performances being predominantly religious; graduation and other school events being held at churches; and the opening of school board meetings with prayer." I'm perfectly fine with UCLA sueing them and I hope my county loses so that they will learn that you can't mix religion into school systems like that.
willquestion 6 months ago
@willquestion Good luck.
tetsubo57 6 months ago
The ACLU is threatening to sue my county (Sumner) here in TN for, "This pattern and practice includes teachers leading students in prayer and Bible study sessions; the opening of one school to a youth minister who proselytizes frequently at student lunch tables; the distribution of Bibles during instructional time; prayer over the loudspeaker; the display of a cross on a classroom wall; preferential treatment of religious organizations in their ability to distribute materials to students..."
willquestion 6 months ago
Personally, I think books are great way to explore things that I'm not exposed to in real life. I've read books about doing drugs and other "scandalous" things and they've made me realize how much I would hate doing those things IRL. Books can allow kids to imagine different situations and understand things from others' perspectives. Though I guess conservative parents don't want their kids thinking differently...
wakefuldreams 6 months ago
I agree with everything you said. In my public schooling, we always did the list thing where parents could choose to have their kids read a different book. One time, we had a choice between 4 books to read outside of class. Two girls from conservative families weren't allowed to read 2 of the books. Girl 1 wasn't allowed to read books 1 or 2, and Girl 2 wasn't allowed to read books 3 or 4. I found that very interesting.
wakefuldreams 6 months ago
@wakefuldreams It's interesting that 'conservative' folks don't seem to agree a whole lot on what conservative actually means.
tetsubo57 6 months ago
Sadly, this is why our nation is in so much trouble. Instead of trying to focus on fixing any of the major problems with our country, we would rather find small and unimportant things to focus on because at least those things come off as a problem that can be "fixed." I personally hope that this almost-choking tide of stupidity and conservatism starts drying up after 2013 gets here.
ArtisticSoul347 6 months ago
This is an obvious ploy to rally the ignorant to their cause. They could have given any number of reasons to ban a book. These people deliberately chose that justification with in mind the controversy that would ensue the decision. The media attention will serve as a rally call for the ignorant. In free and open society what else could be the reasoning? Surely their P.R. officer thought this through. If not I think there's an job opening for a P.R. person at school board in Missouri.
blackbarnz 6 months ago
banning books is wrong for any books and is proving that the books theyre banning are true because then there wouldnt be something to hide.
shishiromura 6 months ago
@tonymengela - Socialism is NOT all about banning certain books and restricting knowledge that the regime finds offensive!
markanthonyquested 6 months ago
I agree with every word you spoke.
tenius6 6 months ago
I'm not sure how anyone would find what you said socialist, because socialism is all about banning certain books and restricting knowledge that the regime finds offensive. I am in full agreement about sending a list home and let the parents decide, but that points the the bigger problem doesnt it. Most parents are so un-involved with their children that they would rather lat others do their job for them then bitch when something is not quite what they want. I home school my own children.
tonymengela 6 months ago
Dearie me... Whatever next? Burning all books and letting the great librarian in the sky sort 'em out? ;)
gummibako 6 months ago
WTF! Slaughter House Five is awesome!
swinebread 6 months ago
Make things up, scare people, bring them over to your side through fear, business as usual. /sigh
peanutbutterpeterpan 6 months ago