Dear you,
I am curious and have never, until recently, wondered why I am built that way. I know, never assume, but I have assumed that people generally want to discover things, answer random mind-tripping questions, hear about the experiences of others. Anything I read is prompted by those desires. I usually read two books at once, sometimes three. I mix modes, taking in expository information, fiction, poetry, biographies and essay collections. Currently, see above photo, I am reading and re-reading that text on Buddhist practice and true accounts of bad-girl behavior from excellent women writers. They work together in a "be true to yourself" kind of way. Their revelatory bits and pieces aren't standard stuff; they certainly don't align with the Christian Nationalism-purity agenda. If given the opportunity, conservative book banners would put these two on some sort of hit list. "Atheist propaganda!" "Lurid tales of fornication and guilt-free fun!"
Imagine a day not so far away when these simple texts are forbidden. What will happen when these two books are not on a library shelf? Who will answer questions about religious practice and breaking bad? Some questions cannot be sufficiently answered by a Google search. Curiosity is nipped in the bud because some/many people fear books. A perverse obsession, considering the other problems we should be addressing. The situation is so absurd, this conservative obsession, it is best described in satire. Thank you, opinion writer Rex Huppke of USA TODAY for your comedic spin in "Please stop asking me to address gun violence, I'm busy banning books." An excerpt from that satirical delight:
"The other day, while I was not considering a way to address the frequent and uniquely American issue of school shootings, I came up with a list of the greatest threats our children face: wokeness; Disney; lesbian M&Ms; diversity; equity; inclusion; Renaissance art (aka, statue porn); the word “gay” and it being said out loud; and probably mail-in voting.
These are all things we can and should ban to keep our children safe. But guns? Who’s that going to help, aside from the people being killed by guns?
No, as Rep. Burchett suggested, we can’t possibly stop school shootings. But we can put a stop to what me and my fellow Republicans see as the most dangerous thing that happens in schools: learning."
Brilliant, Rex. Sadly true.
We are witnessing a war against fluid intelligence and curiosity. Neurosis v. Open Minds. But our neurotic friends face clever opponents: bad ass librarians, teachers, old-school libertarians, creatives, progressives, good-trouble makers, lawyers with souls, and - of course - bad girls and Buddhists.
Happy end of April. Support your local libraries and bookstores!
Love,
Joyce
