It’s National Library Week, so I’ve been thinking a lot about knowledge and the idea that knowledge should be readily available – for all. An informed populace is crucial to the health of the nation and a bulwark of democracy. The ability to think, to reason, to avoid being fooled, all these notions are tied to reading and easy access to the wisdom of the ages.
And this is exactly why libraries – and their contents – are under siege these days.
HuffPost’s Jennifer Bendery recently told readers:
“Librarians are living in constant fear. They have become the targets
of Republican politicians and far-right groups like Moms for Liberty
Liberty that are hellbent on burning books about LGBTQ+ people,
people of color and racism. Some librarians are quitting their jobs
because of constant harassment; others are getting fired for
refusing to clear shelves of books that conservatives don’t like.”
If that’s not bad enough – and it is – Bendery informs us there’s another evil twist in the tale: “The GOP’s censorship campaign has shifted from book bans to legislation threatening librarians with jail time.” Idaho’s tried several times to enact such legislation; this February, West Virginia passed a bill “making librarians criminally liable if a minor comes across content that some might consider obscene.” Idaho, Iowa, Alabama, and Georgia are also considering various means of keeping books they don’t like off the shelves...and they’re not alone.
The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom shared some frightening statistics: “The number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year, accounting for about 46% of all book challenges in 2023; school libraries saw an 11% increase over 2022 numbers.”
Given these ever-more-frequent, ever-more-strident attacks, what can a concerned reader do to stem the tide of book-banning?
PEN America, an organization whose mission “is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible,” offers a number of ways to make one’s voice heard. Whether you’re a student, a parent, an author, or a librarian, PEN America provides advice, assistance, and resources to keep you informed and ready to push back.
The need to support the nation’s libraries is more urgent than ever. In Bendery’s HuffPost piece, American Library Association President Emily Drabinski draws a chilling conclusion: “What gets lost in conversations about book banning is that it’s really about eliminating the institution of the library, period. It’s not about the books. Well, it is about the books, but the books are the way in to gut one of the last public institutions that serves everyone.”
“You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture,” Ray Bradbury once said. “Just get people to stop reading them.”
Bradbury was one of the 20th century’s finest fabulists, the author of The Martian Chronicles, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and the worldwide blockbuster Fahrenheit 451. Published in 1952, the novel Fahrenheit 451 is set in a future where books are illegal and firemen don’t put out fires – they start them. Printed matter is what they burn.
Bradbury was writing in the tense, paranoid early years of the McCarthy era. But he might as well have penned those words last Thursday.
Support your local library. Speak up for the voices the hate-mongers would shut down. Before – as history’s proven again and again – they try to shut down yours.
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Students fight a book ban by giving away free banned bookswww.youtube.com
The New York Public Library has also weighed in on the matter, you can find its suggestions here.
Robin Williams’ Daughter Zelda Claps Back at Eric Trump: “Look Up What He Said About Your Dad”
Robin Williams would have voted for Joe Biden, point blank.
This weekend, Eric Trump gleefully shared a video of the late Robin Williams making fun of presidential candidate Joe Biden that bore the caption, "Robin Williams Savages Joe Biden."
Zelda Williams tweeted in response, "While we're 'reminiscing' (to further your political agenda), you should look up what he said about your Dad. I did. Promise you, it's much more 'savage.' Gentle reminder that the dead can't vote, but the living can."
Robin Williams, who would have turned 69 last month, had certainly poked fun at Joe Biden. In the clip shared by the younger Trump, Williams quips, "We still have great comedy out there, there's always rambling Joe Biden, what the f***... Joe says s*** that even people with Tourette's go, 'No. What is going on?'" He continued, "Joe is like your uncle who is on a new drug and hasn't got the dosage right...I'm proud to work with Barack America — 'He's not a superhero, you idiot — come here!'"
His comments about the current president were far more incisive and far-reaching. For example, in 2012, he referred to Trump as "a scary man" and "the Wizard of Oz" because "he plays monopoly with real f***ing buildings."
Of course, these jokes are based in very real calamities. Many of Trump's real estate projects and business ventures have notoriously fallen through or crash-landed completely, landing him in massive debt. Yet time and time again he was bailed out by his father, Fred Trump, who paid millions to keep his son's delusions of glory alive. He was also bailed out by a variety of banks (and still owes Deutsche Bank an outstanding $350 million). In some ways, it's no surprise that Trump will leave America sick, in debt, and in crisis.
In the same show, he made fun of Trump's many beauty pageants and his wide range of creepy comments about his daughter. "And he owns all these beauty pageants. Miss America, Miss Universe. Isn't it like Michael Vick owning a series of pet stores? It's a f****** catch and release program for him," Williams continued.
Robin Williams on Donald Trump from 2012www.youtube.com
"This is a man who says: My Daughter is hot.' Even people in Arkansas said that's f****** wrong," he added.
Trump—a man who many online conspiracy theorists and QAnon followers believe is at the forefront of an effort to break up a number of child sex rings—has made numerous unnerving comments about children, including his own daughter, Ivanka.
Williams also came for Trump's crowning glory: his hair. "'And that f****** hair? I believe the hair is The Donald. The body is a maintenance system for the hair.," he said. "The body is a maintenance system for the hair."
Williams died in 2014, after taking his life shortly after having been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. A staunch lifelong democrat, Williams supported gay marriage and donated over $150,000 to Democratic and left-leaning groups during his life. His daughter, Zelda Williams, 31, is an actor, producer, and artist. She's appeared in Criminal Minds and Jane the Virgin and produced and starred in a short film, Shrimp, in 2018.
Williams has also consistently dedicated herself to carrying on her beloved father's legacy. Two weeks ago, she celebrated what would've been her father's 69th birthday by donating $69.99 to a number of local homeless shelters. "To honor him (& that glorious number), I will be donating $69.69 to as many local homeless shelters as I can," she wrote on Twitter. Later on, she shared screenshots of numerous donations to nearby homeless shelters, many of which provide housing for LGBTQ+ youth. "Join me if you like, but regardless, know I am wishing you all at least one hearty, immature belly laugh on Dad today," she added.
While Robin Williams wasn't alive to see Trump ascend to the presidency, it's almost certain that he would've hated the man, and he likely would've given us some very necessary comedic gold. After the end of George W. Bush's presidency, Williams said, "It's the end of the reign of George the 2nd. The reign of error is over. America is officially out of rehab…He's a gift to comedy, though, he's a comedy pinata. I'm going to miss him."
We all miss Robin Williams, but at least we have his progeny to keep the Trump administration (somewhat) in check.