So it looks like a professor at Washington and Lee University was pushed over the edge when a book about Robert E. Lee's horse was seen in a book store. A children's book about his horse, I should say. A demand was made for it to be removed because it dared present the Old South in a sympathetic light.
Yep. I mean, it's like a Mel Brook's parody of Nazi and Soviet style censorship. Like cornering the frozen orange juice market in Trading Places, or the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Ghostbusters, it's something so ludicrous, so over the top stupid, it makes for great comedy.
Alas, it is also what our country now teaches, endorses, and mandates as a form of good citizenship. A person reacts as if they have been pushed to the brink of a complete psychological and emotional breakdown because there exists something that offends them. Instead of suggesting counseling, we instead move to eradicate, to ban, to destroy all offending materials. At least materials that are offensive to designated groups who matter (another fine contribution of 20th century totalitarian states).
The question is, as homicides overall decrease, why is there an uptick in school shootings and other similar crimes? Could it be that we're telling people that the world should only exist to affirm their personal realities, and any deviation from affirming them and making them feel cozy and safe should be eliminated? And those kids who have learned this, who don't have power or say or control in society, must then take it upon themselves to eliminate the offending parties? Just wondering.
Thankfully, per the story, it looks like sanity prevailed and our country dodged yet another bullet on its long way down the road to oblivion. On an even brighter note, the forces of censorship were unable to convince a commission to remove Lee's name from the university. Score two for the sides of light, goodness and the Christian virtues of forgiveness and reconciliation.
HT to Donald McClarey for keeping one eye on the forces of insanity in this present darkness
When the movie PCU came out (1994) I remember losing some interest in it because it was so over the top. Reality of 2018 now makes it seem like PCU well undershot the mark of insanity. Glad that some sense did prevail.
ReplyDelete"Instead of suggesting counseling".... nope, we're now a society that would hand more bars of soap to someone with an OCD with hand cleanliness.
I salute you for remembering that movie. (I have a copy of it myself.)
Delete