An Ode to Books

In danger of sounding too much like the nerd I can be, I hestitate to tell you I spent last night watching C-Span. But, I did.

I found myself glued to Irshad Manji's address to the American Library Association's annual conference. I could go on about her message, which really resonated with me. But, I just wanted to pass on the poem she closed with. It's better outloud than on a screen. Go ahead and memorize it. I dare you.

P.S. Yes, I already get the irony of watching TV to hear the poem.

From Ronald Dahl's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set–
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all the shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink–
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSES IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK–HE ONLY SEES!
'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,'
But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!'
We'll answer this by asking you,
'What used the darling ones to do?'
How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?
'Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow:
THEY...USED...TO...READ! They'd READ and READ,
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Such wondrous, fine, fantastic takes
Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it's Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggy–Winkle and–
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How The Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole–
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks–
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something good to read.
And once they start–oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.

Stars, Stripes and Essence

Symbol - 1. Something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance. 2. An object or act representing something in the unconscious mind. 3. An act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to excite or objectify a response.

Declaration of Indepence by John Trumbull

US Capitol Rotunda

Tomorrow flags will be waving and red, white and blue clothing will be the norm. Parades will be marching, watermelon will be sliced, fireworks will fulfill the measure of their creation and stressed Americans will revel in a day away from the workplace.

I can't help but wonder what a state our nation would be in if each of her citizens internalized the meaning behind the symbols of the stars and stripes,.. to be as inwardly American 365 days a year as we are outwardly on one.

I'm sure it's been going on since the dawn of our nation, but I seem to notice more UNcivil disobedience lately. News coverage of crime and even small town instances of petty theft and destruction are more prevalent. The attitude sometimes seems to be "I will do these things "because I can". And, this makes me think two things. 1. Thank goodness you can, because I have no interest in living in a society where law enforcement outnumbers regular citizens and 2. You're a bozo and are going to ruin that system.

Living in a free society means bearing the responsibility of living responsible lives. To me, the real essence of being an American is to live a good life. Basic? Yes. Why? Because we end up with fewer laws that way. New laws emerge when some element of human decency is interpreted as being bridged.

It's sometimes easy to view the government as a thing rather than a product of the people. But, it is true that our government is a product of the citizenry. We elect decision makers on a local, state and federal level. You cannot remove yourself from the election process or following what laws and statutes (or local ordinances) are being considered and then complain.

The 4th of July commemorates:
1. Independence from an oppressive government
2. Freedom to struggle and implement a divinely inspired framework of rule
3. Creation of a system whereby men are free to choose their path and talent and drive are the keys to future progression rather than caste.

In order to continue to have something to celebrate, we each need to "be good". Is that so hard?