IIRC, Bradbury at one point was saying that 'dangers of authoritarianism' was the main theme and (the badness of) book censorship was really just a vehicle for making that point. But also IIRC he's said conflicting things about it across the years. Suffice in my mind to say that it makes both points excellently.
It's the same theme, really- one begets the other. Authoritarian regimes always ban books and ideas that threaten their power. A regime that just bans reading, period, is the logical end result of an attempt to control every aspect of life, and a total ban on reading also would require such a government to enforce it.
This was during the days of the Vietnam war, assassinations, and campus protests. And I was going to a private school that gave me an excellent education and much to my father's horror, turned me into a liberal.
It's a great book. One of my favorites from the required reading list in high school, and also one of the scariest because I was and am a bookworm(wyrm).
In my personal philosophy desecrating a book is a sin. The only books I've been able to recycle were phone books. Hell, I've got a book on DOS on my bookshelf right now that has survived at least 3-4 moves because I can't decide what to do with it. It needs to go to some kind of technical historical library, but I don't know of any.
you remind me of my oldest and best friend, who thinks there must be a museum somewhere that wants her old computers. I swear, she still has a tower that has windows 2000 on it. :)
The Establishment Clause is clearly the establishment of christianity in government.
As was consplained* to me: "The 1st Amendment does not say separation of church and state. So, what? People aren't supposed to believe in god when they work for the gov't?"
Conservative Christians never stop trying to mark their territory in the public square, owned by everyone. They simply do not grasp the fact rights are not matters of majority rule, and they can't seem to get their heads around the idea anyone could possibly be justified in taking offense at THEIR religion. There is no shortage of places on private property where this nativity scene could be placed.
This is the Tragedy of the Commons (it's not), by allowing other religions in the public square, all the resources get squandered, and then no one has a public square. (#sarcasm)
I school we were taught "Majority rule by minority right." Now it's "Majority rule by majority might." Because Might Makes Right.
Everything christians want, they get. Everything they hate is illegal.
You see, the gov't is there so that they don't have to sully their hands. They're not for killing, the bible clearly and unambiguously demonstrates that (stop laughing!). They don't kill, but if the gov't executes someone they hate, then their hands are clean. Just like with the crucifixion, it was the Romans, not the Jewish leaders.
Christians want the gov't to be their proxy in enforcing everything they want. They don't want abortions (actually, they do), so they have the gov't interfere in everyone's lives. They don't want a nanny state, but they want the gov't to bail them out when things go wrong. They don't want same sex marriage (they do), so they want the gov't to interfere in same-sex couple's lives. They want parental ownership of children, but not for those who raise their children the wrong (non-christian) way. The gov't is the enforcer of their ideology. So, no drag queen reading hour for your children. No medical treatment for trans-children - unless it's conversion therapy.
And when christians don't get their way, the gov't is interfering in christians' lives. Even if only by allowing "them" to do what they want with their lives instead of what christians want.
A village, not too far from where I live and not too long ago, used to put up, in front of its court house, a nativity scene san any secular decorations. Their reality lens is very parochial in thinking that all folks should accept the Christian faith. While visiting the village I'd check out their library and noticed they stocked their shelves with magazines and books promoting Christianity. On one visit I was shocked by having to experience being proselytized by one of the library staff because I was reading a science magazine. I told the staff member that I did not want to listen to their sales pitch, but that resulted in the staff member doubling down on their pitch. After reading this latest F.A. posting I checked out the front of the courthouse and found that secular holiday displays have been erected, along with the nativity scene, which means the village government figured out how to honor the Winter Solstice season for all folks.
Here's a little humor: I had Google translate "Quand les poules auront des dents" and the translation was "when hens have teeth". I then tried to translate the English phrase "when pigs fly" into French using Google translate and it gave me "Quand les poules auront des dents".
Want to put up a display at a fire station to honor someone/something?
Fine. I suggest a monument to all those Iowa firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty. The display can even be year-round, demonstrating the stark reality that the biblical deity is nowhere to be found when comes time to put out a raging inferno.
There are good people here, but they're outnumbered by the jackholes. Nearly 44% voted for Beto for Governor last year. But because Abbott hates all the people they hate, 54% percent voted for him, rather than someone who appears to actually *care* about Texans.
They wouldn't have to address this issue if their display had stayed on private land. This isn't christians being persecuted, it's christians pushing the limits so they can claim they're being persecuted.
Which is roughly like saying that we want to find a way to have our meeting underwater without holding our breath and not drowning. I find it phenomenal that there continue to be public officials who want to believe that a religious display on public property is somehow acceptable WHEN IT ISN'T. If they wanted to add the Constitution display which the FFRF came up with years ago, it would be one thing, but these people seem to think there is some loophole they can exercise in their favor.
There ISN'T ... and once again, city officials are about to waste a whole lot of taxpayer money on lawsuits when they should damned well know better.
And if you don't have the bucks to pay that FD to come to your house while your home is going up in flames, just remember: You WANTED privatization to save that pitiful excuse of a nativity scene. Was it worth it?
"Yes, of course we have slaves. We've always had slaves. Our people have held slaves for thousands of years. It's a tradition. It's one of our folkways. How dare you come along and tell us we can't do it? We've ALWAYS done it!"
I know I'm a nitpicky little shit, but it's just 𝘣𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 me and I have to mention it before it drives me nuts: why in the 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 is the shed 3D but all the people and animals and even the improvised furniture 2D? Pick one or the other and 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 to it, damn you!
Well, I mean, how good a job do you really need to do when you're pretty much marking territory the same way a dog would? /s
Well, and I assume an actual professionally-produced scene would be expensive. With the home made bit, well, you're just looking at wood, paint, and maybe some sealant or glue or something; this way it's clear they actually worship money, they way they should. Or something, I guess.
Tried to find a video of the Plasmatics lead singer Wendy O. Williams chain sawing a TV onstage, but all the vids are 90 minutes long. Couldn't find a meme of GIF of it, either.
Back when they were a punk band or when they switched to metal? 😎
She was one gutsy lady. In the video for "The Damned," she drove a school bus through a wall of TVs. Then she climbed out and performed on top of the bus while it was still moving. And when she formed W.O.W. she performed dangerous stunts involving transferring from a speeding car to a rope ladder dangling from an airplane for the video "It's My Life."
Setting fire to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Isn't that what Bradbury claimed firemen did? (One of these days, I swear I'm going to get around to reading that book.)
It truly is a great one; always gets pride of place on my bookshelves.
The movie (the 1966 film, not the thoroughly terrible 2018 adaptation) also makes an 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 ironic first-watch for any new TV I buy.
We read the book and saw the 1966 movie in middle school.
Our community theater did the play a couple weeks ago. It's been a while since I've read the book, but there were definitely some differences.
With what I know about the story, probably a little too anti-establishment for my Jr. High.
IIRC, Bradbury at one point was saying that 'dangers of authoritarianism' was the main theme and (the badness of) book censorship was really just a vehicle for making that point. But also IIRC he's said conflicting things about it across the years. Suffice in my mind to say that it makes both points excellently.
It's the same theme, really- one begets the other. Authoritarian regimes always ban books and ideas that threaten their power. A regime that just bans reading, period, is the logical end result of an attempt to control every aspect of life, and a total ban on reading also would require such a government to enforce it.
This was during the days of the Vietnam war, assassinations, and campus protests. And I was going to a private school that gave me an excellent education and much to my father's horror, turned me into a liberal.
It's a great book. One of my favorites from the required reading list in high school, and also one of the scariest because I was and am a bookworm(wyrm).
In my personal philosophy desecrating a book is a sin. The only books I've been able to recycle were phone books. Hell, I've got a book on DOS on my bookshelf right now that has survived at least 3-4 moves because I can't decide what to do with it. It needs to go to some kind of technical historical library, but I don't know of any.
you remind me of my oldest and best friend, who thinks there must be a museum somewhere that wants her old computers. I swear, she still has a tower that has windows 2000 on it. :)
I got rid of the computer but I still have Civilisation 1 on floppies for some strange reason.
Fun fact- the US keeps nuclear information stored on 5 inch floppy disks. Unhackable, LOL.
I can think of one book you could feel good about desecrating (its authors are Michael and Debi Pearl).
Lead me not into temptation.
"Look, Mommy! There's going to be a fire!"
The Establishment Clause is clearly the establishment of christianity in government.
As was consplained* to me: "The 1st Amendment does not say separation of church and state. So, what? People aren't supposed to believe in god when they work for the gov't?"
* Conservatives tell me things
Conservative Christians never stop trying to mark their territory in the public square, owned by everyone. They simply do not grasp the fact rights are not matters of majority rule, and they can't seem to get their heads around the idea anyone could possibly be justified in taking offense at THEIR religion. There is no shortage of places on private property where this nativity scene could be placed.
As proven by the fact that the tacky thing originally 𝘸𝘢𝘴 displayed on private property, there's 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 one other place it could go...
The local dump perhaps?
This is the Tragedy of the Commons (it's not), by allowing other religions in the public square, all the resources get squandered, and then no one has a public square. (#sarcasm)
I school we were taught "Majority rule by minority right." Now it's "Majority rule by majority might." Because Might Makes Right.
This is how laws work:
Everything christians want, they get. Everything they hate is illegal.
You see, the gov't is there so that they don't have to sully their hands. They're not for killing, the bible clearly and unambiguously demonstrates that (stop laughing!). They don't kill, but if the gov't executes someone they hate, then their hands are clean. Just like with the crucifixion, it was the Romans, not the Jewish leaders.
Christians want the gov't to be their proxy in enforcing everything they want. They don't want abortions (actually, they do), so they have the gov't interfere in everyone's lives. They don't want a nanny state, but they want the gov't to bail them out when things go wrong. They don't want same sex marriage (they do), so they want the gov't to interfere in same-sex couple's lives. They want parental ownership of children, but not for those who raise their children the wrong (non-christian) way. The gov't is the enforcer of their ideology. So, no drag queen reading hour for your children. No medical treatment for trans-children - unless it's conversion therapy.
And when christians don't get their way, the gov't is interfering in christians' lives. Even if only by allowing "them" to do what they want with their lives instead of what christians want.
Always like a dog peeing on a tree with these folks.
Lol, was going to say something similar
“It’s unfortunate that we even have to have this discussion”. Hmmmm, yes, Brian, but it’s because you’re flouting the law. See how that works?
A village, not too far from where I live and not too long ago, used to put up, in front of its court house, a nativity scene san any secular decorations. Their reality lens is very parochial in thinking that all folks should accept the Christian faith. While visiting the village I'd check out their library and noticed they stocked their shelves with magazines and books promoting Christianity. On one visit I was shocked by having to experience being proselytized by one of the library staff because I was reading a science magazine. I told the staff member that I did not want to listen to their sales pitch, but that resulted in the staff member doubling down on their pitch. After reading this latest F.A. posting I checked out the front of the courthouse and found that secular holiday displays have been erected, along with the nativity scene, which means the village government figured out how to honor the Winter Solstice season for all folks.
Tradition ? Like forced conversions and throwing women in water to see if they are witches ?
"The only question is when the city’s leaders will come to the same conclusion."
Quand les poules auront des dents.
Here's a little humor: I had Google translate "Quand les poules auront des dents" and the translation was "when hens have teeth". I then tried to translate the English phrase "when pigs fly" into French using Google translate and it gave me "Quand les poules auront des dents".
🤣
Google is a little smarter than I gave them credit for.
I have got another for you to play with "avoir une araignée au plafond".
I hope my screws are in place (fake hips)!!
Want to put up a display at a fire station to honor someone/something?
Fine. I suggest a monument to all those Iowa firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty. The display can even be year-round, demonstrating the stark reality that the biblical deity is nowhere to be found when comes time to put out a raging inferno.
A nice statue of a dalmatian.
They have one by the door.
"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
-- Jesus, in Matthew 6:1
I'm also thinking that Nativity could be a graven image. A clear violation of the 2nd Commandment.
How about we put up another sign that says, "Birth of Quirinus, 500 B.C. The original son of gods."?
Or the classic, add a Santa with a knife in the back ground, with the sign, "There can be only one."
𝔄𝔰𝔨 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔶𝔢 𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔯𝔢𝔠𝔢𝔦𝔳𝔢.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/46c6580450014782981196859f916dfda9da20688c7dd5c8980d171158e24590.jpg
Beat you to it, about 30 minutes ago.
I read Quirinius 😅
Link: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/11/texas-prison-lawsuit-fetal-rights/
Texas: 𝑭𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒕’𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒖𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚!
Rage is all I’ve got for Texas.
There are good people here, but they're outnumbered by the jackholes. Nearly 44% voted for Beto for Governor last year. But because Abbott hates all the people they hate, 54% percent voted for him, rather than someone who appears to actually *care* about Texans.
Republicans, where hating is caring.
Fetuses have rights, starting with dying with their mothers.
https://www.reddit.com/r/memes/comments/vxduev/pregnant_woman_in_hov_lane/
Remember this? There's a meme about it somewhere.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f1f9fc79888cd3467d8f850036416aa9d763e65dbedf688468d5f397daa1d84d.jpg
maybe this is it.
They keep telling me this state is purpling. If so, there are a *lot* of apathetic blue jerks out there.
That's just the colour you'll turn into when the Repugs beat you back into submission.
They wouldn't have to address this issue if their display had stayed on private land. This isn't christians being persecuted, it's christians pushing the limits so they can claim they're being persecuted.
𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 “𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑦𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.”
Which is roughly like saying that we want to find a way to have our meeting underwater without holding our breath and not drowning. I find it phenomenal that there continue to be public officials who want to believe that a religious display on public property is somehow acceptable WHEN IT ISN'T. If they wanted to add the Constitution display which the FFRF came up with years ago, it would be one thing, but these people seem to think there is some loophole they can exercise in their favor.
There ISN'T ... and once again, city officials are about to waste a whole lot of taxpayer money on lawsuits when they should damned well know better.
Well, also allowing a big statue of Baphomet would be a start towards inclusivity....oh, wait, they don't like that, either.
https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/eastern-iowa-lawmaker-calls-on-governor-to-remove-satanic-display-at-state-capitol#
Watch their solution be to privatize the fire department. Juuuust watch.
And if you don't have the bucks to pay that FD to come to your house while your home is going up in flames, just remember: You WANTED privatization to save that pitiful excuse of a nativity scene. Was it worth it?
The leopards would 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 eat 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 faces!
Or sell the cities' land to the nearby church for $1.
"Yes, of course we have slaves. We've always had slaves. Our people have held slaves for thousands of years. It's a tradition. It's one of our folkways. How dare you come along and tell us we can't do it? We've ALWAYS done it!"
I know I'm a nitpicky little shit, but it's just 𝘣𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 me and I have to mention it before it drives me nuts: why in the 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 is the shed 3D but all the people and animals and even the improvised furniture 2D? Pick one or the other and 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 to it, damn you!
They're going with the long standing christian tradition of inconsistency.
Well, I mean, how good a job do you really need to do when you're pretty much marking territory the same way a dog would? /s
Well, and I assume an actual professionally-produced scene would be expensive. With the home made bit, well, you're just looking at wood, paint, and maybe some sealant or glue or something; this way it's clear they actually worship money, they way they should. Or something, I guess.
Plywood construction. Simple home hobbyist with a saw, not a chainsaw artist.
That and it's probably easier to store if the blue shed can be disassembled.
Tried to find a video of the Plasmatics lead singer Wendy O. Williams chain sawing a TV onstage, but all the vids are 90 minutes long. Couldn't find a meme of GIF of it, either.
Butcher baby
They're gonna put you away
I saw one of her videos, there was no chainsaw, but she did do something interesting with ping pong balls. 😲
I said what is this queen of the ping pong business
She smiled what do you think
It has no connection with China
I said oow have another drink
Well I knew right away
That I'd seen her act before
In a room behind a kitchen in Bangkok
And three or four times more in Singapore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSVXzSMm__A
Not hard to visualize her doing that.
No need to visualize it, the full movie is on the rodent website.
Back when they were a punk band or when they switched to metal? 😎
She was one gutsy lady. In the video for "The Damned," she drove a school bus through a wall of TVs. Then she climbed out and performed on top of the bus while it was still moving. And when she formed W.O.W. she performed dangerous stunts involving transferring from a speeding car to a rope ladder dangling from an airplane for the video "It's My Life."
It was the 1979 art film 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘛𝘰 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥. Let's just say she was serving ping pong balls without using her hands or her upper body.
There's a scene where a woman does that in 'Priscilla: Queen of the Desert'
I could probably pick one up with my toes...
"...serving ping pong balls without using her hands or her upper body."
A woman of many talents.
If it helps, the plywood cutouts are probably at least a 1/2 inch thick. : )
Actually, this isn't just a manger...this is where Mike Lindell lives.
No pillows, I see.
https://images.app.goo.gl/1Yb9GSjxMBGcJfUV7