Allen said that if his bill passes, novels with gay protagonists and college textbooks that suggest homosexuality is natural would have to be removed from library shelves and destroyed.
"I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them," he said.
So, a return to the Dark ages is the goal. Well, at least the goal is now clear.
No doubt there is some bight eyed South Carolina politician who has already called over to Montgomery to get the details of this bill, so we can start our devolution. You have to wonder if the works of Da Vinci and Michelangelo are to be included in this ban, or the next one?
I, swear, some of this stuff feels like it comes straight from 'The Handmaind's Tale'.
6 comments:
"...so we can start our devolution." Devolution is exactly what it is.
Here's a question: If this were to pass (which I really don't think it will) who's going to read through all these books to make a case-by-case decision about what evidence from the text suggests homosexuality (sure some are clear cut, but...). As an English major and lover of the classics this interests me.
I'm sure Rep. Allen & Co. can't be bothered with reading all of Western Civilization's best works with their gaydar-enabled red pen (heck, they might accidentally become more more human or something). Are they going to rely on Cliff's Notes? Will literate people be called into hearings to name titles?
The sheer infeasibility of it makes me even more convinced the bill is simply so much grandstanding. Sadly, in the wake of Roy Moore, there's been a huge game of one-upsmanship among white males in Alabama government to see who can propose the most bigoted new policy or law (usually in the name of "Christianity," of course).
We see the same game being played in SC. The current social climate encourages the right towards extremism.
It would be an ironic twist if being exposed to the great works allowed these folks to develop further. However, I suspect that like nuclear industry workers, they would limit their exposure. Assuring the destruction of some of the core of our culture.
In then end, the point that is most aggravating is the use of 'Christianity' as a justification for so much un-Christian behavior.
I'm Catholic, but I've been around plenty of Evangelical Protestants (some of them family members). More so than Catholics, Evangelicals always seem to rely on biblical teaching to back up their beliefs (the sola scriptura issue was a big deal in the Reformation, after all). To wit, the oppression of women and, for a while there, the continuation of racism, primarily based on the Pauline letters, of course, not the words of Christ.
But one of the more disturbing things about the Dominionist movement is the total lack of biblical basis (to be clear, I'm not suggesting in any way that all Evangelicals subscribe to Dominionist 'theology'). I mean, Jesus's followers were predominantly Jews in an province occupied by the Roman Empire. He never called for a violent uprising, much less a "conquering." He said there was value in suffering and giving of yourself. He said to love your neighbor as yourself and for consolation to look to the "Kingdom of God." That phrase alone could inspire hours of debate about its meaning, I know, but the point is, I don't remember Christian teachings saying that people are to effect the "Kingdom of God"; taking over government in Christ's name is not in any of the biblical teachings I've ever been exposed to. Am I off?
The actions of the religious right in no way appear to relate to Christianity as I understand it. Their version seems to be driven by oppression and control. I have always focused on love and support.
I find this current bit to be a great example of what is both dangerous and frightening in their behavior. They are not content with controlling their own actions in areas that the view as sinful. They also want to control the choices of others.
Oh, you're so getting Bloglined. ;)
Don't worry, Susan. Allen and his buddies won't have to actually expose themselves to great literature. They can just borrow the Marshall County Sheriff's new gaydar. Shine that thing around the library just like a lumalite, and all the gay books will glow.
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