Germany

Sadly it appears the skin head culture of hate still exists in Germany as evidenced by this recent news story from Pretzien (near Magdeburg), Germany. The story goes that seven men with the neo-nazi organization, "East Elbe Homeland Federation", burned a copy of The Diary of Anne Frank on a bonfire while they chanted, "German youth, German blood............" If convicted the men would face prison terms of up to 5 years.

In a show of complete stupidity one of the men defended his book burning by claiming it was a symbolic gesture "to rid himself of this bad chapter of German history..........." Using this line of logic would it then be okay for me to burn copies of "My Life" and "Living History" (or is that "Herstory"?) :-) by Bill and Hillary Clinton "to rid myself of the memory of their 8 years in the White House" ?

No, of course not, it would be far better for me to educate myself about these two people so I can help keep Hillary out of the White House in 2009.

Read to learn not burn,

Todd

Look Mommy - there is going to be a fire

Earlier this month a local school district (Lakeville, Minnesota) debated whether or not to remove Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" from a classroom's reading list due to a complaint filed by a parent (I wonder if he has ever read the book). I blogged on this controversy at the time but was reminded of it this week via an article on the national "Big Read" project.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch published a list of events this week focused on Ray Bradbury's classic book that highlights the dangers of book burning/banning -- "Fahrenheit 451" -- which of course is the temperature at which paper burns in case you need to know for a Trivial Pursuit match :-) The planned events include:

• A group of 12 "poets and artisans" will present a recitation of the book at a local cafe
• A Washington University instructor will lead a discussion of the book and censorship issues
• A "poetry slam" focused on the book's themes will be conducted (www.poetryslam.com)
• The St. Louis Shakespeare Company will present a staged reading of the book

If anyone wants to get ideas for your own activities you can reach the St. Louis, Missouri organizers at: 314.935.4407

Read don't burn,

Todd