Thanks for this. I didn’t realize this was a thing (I’ll admit to living in the Chicago bubble) until I was at my in-laws house for Easter and they told me that they were part of a group headed to a school board meeting later in the week so the “books” committee could present. I’m so appalled that they are attending a school board meeting in an attempt to ban books (at least I assume) in a district that they don’t even have kids in (I like my in-laws ok but their politics are dreadful!!). Agree 100% on the banned books front. Commenting because you need another comment besides Richard!
Alan, this is such a good essay! Love how you weave in the history and provide meaningful perspective. Humans have done this so many times, this hatefulness, almost as if it’s a contagious virus. Does this kind of negative force collapse into itself? I know the best thing i can all do is stand up for creative expression, for inclusion, for pluralism. It’s how we survive.
Alan, thank you. I often wonder if something new is waiting to emerge beyond the liberal/enlightenment structure of consciousness. In many ways, in my small corner of the universe, my cohorts seek to connect in community in a less defensive and more vulnerable and authentic way. I often wonder if this was what it felt like during the time before the renaissance? And for my part, I seek to meet these fascist trends with less anger and more dispassionately. They are life-denying but being rage filled doesn’t serve me.
Thanks for this. I didn’t realize this was a thing (I’ll admit to living in the Chicago bubble) until I was at my in-laws house for Easter and they told me that they were part of a group headed to a school board meeting later in the week so the “books” committee could present. I’m so appalled that they are attending a school board meeting in an attempt to ban books (at least I assume) in a district that they don’t even have kids in (I like my in-laws ok but their politics are dreadful!!). Agree 100% on the banned books front. Commenting because you need another comment besides Richard!
Alan, this is such a good essay! Love how you weave in the history and provide meaningful perspective. Humans have done this so many times, this hatefulness, almost as if it’s a contagious virus. Does this kind of negative force collapse into itself? I know the best thing i can all do is stand up for creative expression, for inclusion, for pluralism. It’s how we survive.
Alan, thank you. I often wonder if something new is waiting to emerge beyond the liberal/enlightenment structure of consciousness. In many ways, in my small corner of the universe, my cohorts seek to connect in community in a less defensive and more vulnerable and authentic way. I often wonder if this was what it felt like during the time before the renaissance? And for my part, I seek to meet these fascist trends with less anger and more dispassionately. They are life-denying but being rage filled doesn’t serve me.