Real Americans Buy Banned Books
In America we are living in a time in which freedom of ideas, of wisdom inquiry, exploration, and expression, are under more assault than perhaps at any time since the era of McCarthyism.
Book bans. Repudiations of science, social progress, and diversity. Propaganda. Hatred directed toward people and institutions espousing ideas contrary to the party line. Strongarm political crackdowns on universities, colleges, schools, libraries, NPOs, and institutions that refuse to limit ideas.
All that sounds pretty big picture. So you ask, “Can little old me do anything about it?”
Yes. Yes, you can. And it’s easy.
Buy banned books.
Banned Books Week is Oct. 5-11. You can buy one or more banned books then, or you can do it anytime.
I’ve previously made my full case for buying banned books.
For the average person, there is no easier, effective way to perform an act of resistance or dissention to the wave of oppression that is fouling America with anti-intellectual, anti-diversity, anti-science, anti-arts, anti-ideas, anti-freedom, anti-American chill.
So:
- Go to a bookstore. (Or do this online if bookstores are out of reach for whatever reason.)
- Search for banned books. Or ask. Most bookstores actually set up displays of banned books; they’re proud to sell them.
- Pick one. Or two, or three, whatever.
- Take your treasure to the counter. Bore the checkout clerk by telling her (or him) that you are doing this for your own reading pleasure and as an act of resistance.
- Take a picture of yourself with your newly purchased contraband.
- Post the picture on social media.
- Read the book. Now, or whenever you’re ready to.
Real Americans love freedom of speech, freedom of ideas, freedom of books. Real Americans buy banned books.
For more information, check out:
—The American Library Association.
—American Booksellers Association.
