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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 09/30/2004 : 06:59:59 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Valiant Dancer
quote:
Originally posted by Dave W.
I wish I'd known about this before it started, but Banned Books Week 2004 began last Saturday, September 25th.
The American Library Association has published their list of the 100 most-challenged books between 1990 and 2000, along with the top ten list for 2003.
Perhaps it should come as no surprise that Huck Finn is still #5 on the top 100. People who forget history are, indeed, doomed to repeat it.
Interestingly, the ALA also has a page on Book Burning in the 21st Century, with a whole lot of articles about church groups burning Harry Potter books (or, in the case of one group who couldn't get a permit, a "book cutting"). They've also got info on book burning in other time periods.
There are some historical banned books from surprizing sources.
The Holy Bible -- Yup. Right here in my home state of Illinois by a Christian church because it wasn't the right version. (I believe the version being banned was Doubay-Rheims.) Other versions in other states have been attempted to be banned for similar reasons by church groups. Silly thing is, none of the groups have been atheist.
That's because few if any atheists care whether the Bible is banned or not. It is only the faithful that shout about it.
I'm reminded that the Republicans have recently put forth an ad in a couple of states to the effect that the Bible will be banned if liberals (Kerry) get into office. Anyone stupid enough to believe that nonsense probably has to be reminded to breath.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard
USA
4907 Posts |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2004 : 11:42:29 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Ricky
quote:
I'm reminded that the Republicans have recently put forth an ad in a couple of states to the effect that the Bible will be banned if liberals (Kerry) get into office. Anyone stupid enough to believe that nonsense probably has to be reminded to breath.
I'm guessing this is not very well known (I didn't know it), but if we could get a copy of that ad, get it posted at some popular sites such as ebaums's world, it would most likely eventually leak into the general population, and I think could be quite damaging to the republican party.
I'm a little suprised that you haven't read about it. It's been clattering around the 'net for nearly a week. From the New York Times:
quote:
Republicans Admit Mailing Campaign Literature Saying Liberals Will Ban the Bible
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
Published: September 24, 2004
The Republican Party acknowledged yesterday sending mass mailings to residents of two states warning that "liberals" seek to ban the Bible. It said the mailings were part of its effort to mobilize religious voters for President Bush.
The mailings include images of the Bible labeled "banned" and of a gay marriage proposal labeled "allowed." A mailing to Arkansas residents warns: "This will be Arkansas if you don't vote." A similar mailing was sent to West Virginians.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/24/politics/campaign/24bible.html
As i said: too stupid to breath.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2004 : 12:52:18 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Ricky
quote:
I'm reminded that the Republicans have recently put forth an ad in a couple of states to the effect that the Bible will be banned if liberals (Kerry) get into office. Anyone stupid enough to believe that nonsense probably has to be reminded to breath.
I'm guessing this is not very well known (I didn't know it), but if we could get a copy of that ad, get it posted at some popular sites such as ebaums's world, it would most likely eventually leak into the general population, and I think could be quite damaging to the republican party.
Sent out and confirmed by the Republican national party in Arkansas and West Virginia. It equated banning of the Bible with allowing gay marriage.
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Cthulhu/Asmodeus when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils
Brother Cutlass of Reasoned Discussion |
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard
USA
4907 Posts |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9687 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2004 : 15:07:27 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave W.
Siberia, the list is of the most-frequently banned and challenged books - "challenged books" being those that people attempt to get banned - within U.S. school libraries and public libraries, usually in attempts to "protect" the children and/or the community from ideas that the people making the challenges find distasteful.
Ah, just as Siberia I was wondering about that list, it's purpose, and how/why books appeared on it.
I have the #3 book in my bookcase: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
It was a "left-over" from when I took an English course at the University. I never read it, so I can't guess how it ended up there, other than I understand that it's about racism in the American south.
And that I know is controversial in some states. Did I mention that I saw Mississippi Burning a few weeks back. A great movie that left me with strong but mixed feelings. |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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BigPapaSmurf
SFN Die Hard
3192 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2004 : 05:14:12 [Permalink]
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Story behind the bible banning pamphlets
[Edited to make the URL a link - Dave W.] |
"...things I have neither seen nor experienced nor heard tell of from anybody else; things, what is more, that do not in fact exist and could not ever exist at all. So my readers must not believe a word I say." -Lucian on his book True History
"...They accept such things on faith alone, without any evidence. So if a fraudulent and cunning person who knows how to take advantage of a situation comes among them, he can make himself rich in a short time." -Lucian critical of early Christians c.166 AD From his book, De Morte Peregrini |
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Maverick
Skeptic Friend
Sweden
385 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2004 : 16:16:07 [Permalink]
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| Banning books seems to be a tradition to celebrate the destruction of the Library of Alexandria. I suspect banning of writings occurred long before that though... What's the point with a public library if someone who is afraid of books can "challenge" a book just like that? If they don't like books they don't have to buy or borrow any. |
"Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy." -- Carl Sagan |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26020 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2004 : 18:26:18 [Permalink]
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Maverick wrote:quote:
If they don't like books they don't have to buy or borrow any.
I wish it were that easy, but many of these people see themselves as guardians of morality and/or decency, fighting to protect their children and/or community from "garbage."
It's obviously censorship, but they don't see it that way. Instead, they see a these books as attacks on the very fabric of society, and if left on the shelves, the next thing you know, there will be orgies in the streets, the Sun will turn black, and they themselves will be compelled to share in the blood sacrifices the rest of us are keeping hidden in our basements now.
Yes, I'm enjoying a bit of hyperbole. Really, though, the people challenging these books honestly do think that they're doing the correct thing. They believe they've not only got a right to do so, but a duty to do so. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard
USA
4574 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2004 : 18:34:24 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave W.
They believe they've not only got a right to do so, but a duty to do so.
And always for the children! Imagine if a child picked up this filth? We need to protect the children!
In other words, censorship = okay if it's for the sake of "children." They want us all to live in a kiddie-proofed world.
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"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman
"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie |
| Edited by - H. Humbert on 10/01/2004 18:35:00 |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2004 : 19:17:02 [Permalink]
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I was a fortunate child in that my mother didn't care what I read as long as I was actually reading. So, when my classmates were doing such as The Hardy Boys, I was following the adventures of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. In a moment I still take pride in, I was once given a week's suspension for writing an excellent book report on Kiss Me Deadly. They actually told me that it was excellent; then gave it a F and kicked me out.
Spillane is pretty tame by today's standards, but in the early '50s he was considered perfectly awful. Blood and gore, .45 Colt automatics, Lucky Strike cigarettes and cheap whiskey, a secretary with legs clear up to her face........ Wonderful stuff!
My own kids had the same encourgement I had. I found their tastes a tad odd; myths and dragons and such -- Stephen King was a favorite and I liked him too, for a while -- but they read! And now the younger is becoming a better than average, non-fiction writer, currently working on a geneology project, and assigning essays to the old man. The elder is doing design and doing quite well at it. All because they know how to read.
My mother was a very wise woman.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26020 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2004 : 19:21:16 [Permalink]
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filthy wrote:quote:
...a secretary with legs clear up to her face........
I remember that dame. How could I forget? She could make a bishop kick out a stained-glass window. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2004 : 20:43:20 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave W.
filthy wrote:quote:
...a secretary with legs clear up to her face........
I remember that dame. How could I forget? She could make a bishop kick out a stained-glass window.
If memory serves me, her name was Velda and she wore her hair in a page-boy cut. 
Mickey, we miss ya, bro!
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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Siberia
SFN Addict
Brazil
2322 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2004 : 08:39:28 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by filthy
I was a fortunate child in that my mother didn't care what I read as long as I was actually reading. So, when my classmates were doing such as The Hardy Boys, I was following the adventures of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. In a moment I still take pride in, I was once given a week's suspension for writing an excellent book report on Kiss Me Deadly. They actually told me that it was excellent; then gave it a F and kicked me out.
My dear mommy doesn't like when I read Anne Rice. She's ok with Stephen King, it's Anne Rice she thinks is weird, but she lets me read it. I'm free to read what I want.
When I was nine, I had the graces of having read most books kiddies wouldn't even dream about. Nothing with cheap whisky, though... -chuckles- but I had books on art and greek mythology, animal encyclopaedias, that sort of things. I even had an Astronomy encyclopaedia. When I was about twelve, I was introduced to Arthur C. Clarke (2001 - A Space Odissey and squels) and Carl Sagan. Never abandoned it since.
Result? I'm 19, with a short story and a book published.
So much for protection. |
"Why are you afraid of something you're not even sure exists?"
- The Kovenant, Via Negativa
"People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs."
-- unknown
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2004 : 12:23:00 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Siberia
quote:
Originally posted by filthy
I was a fortunate child in that my mother didn't care what I read as long as I was actually reading. So, when my classmates were doing such as The Hardy Boys, I was following the adventures of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. In a moment I still take pride in, I was once given a week's suspension for writing an excellent book report on Kiss Me Deadly. They actually told me that it was excellent; then gave it a F and kicked me out.
My dear mommy doesn't like when I read Anne Rice. She's ok with Stephen King, it's Anne Rice she thinks is weird, but she lets me read it. I'm free to read what I want.
When I was nine, I had the graces of having read most books kiddies wouldn't even dream about. Nothing with cheap whisky, though... -chuckles- but I had books on art and greek mythology, animal encyclopaedias, that sort of things. I even had an Astronomy encyclopaedia. When I was about twelve, I was introduced to Arthur C. Clarke (2001 - A Space Odissey and squels) and Carl Sagan. Never abandoned it since.
Result? I'm 19, with a short story and a book published.
So much for protection.
Excellent! I was 15 when I was first published, a brief piece on venomous snakes in a now defunct (I think) rag called True. And they actually paid me for it! Unfortunatly, my attention span is so poor that I can't write much beyond 5.000 words or so. Several times, I've tried to get a novel going, but always end up with some 30, 000 or so words of gibberish and not even half way in. So, I stick to essays.
If there is indeed a god, that god's greatist gift to us is the ability to read and write, and to comprehend and enjoy the writings of others.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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