#freedomofthought — Public Fediverse posts

A quotation from Henry Commager

The concept of loyalty as conformity is a false one. It is narrow and restrictive, denies freedom of thought and of conscience, and is irremediably stained by private and selfish considerations.

Henry Steele Commager (1902–1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1947-09), “Who Is Loyal to America?” sec. 3, Harper’s Magazine, Vol. 195, No. 1168

More about this quote: wist.info/commager-henry-steel…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #commager #henrycommager #conformity #freethought #freedomofconscience #freedomofthought #loyalty #onetrueway #orthodoxy #selfcenteredness #selfishness

A quotation from Kurt Vonnegut

   And on the subject of burning books: I want to congratulate librarians, not famous for their physical strength or their powerful political connections or their great wealth, who, all over this country, have staunchly resisted anti-democratic bullies who have tried to remove certain books from their shelves, and have refused to reveal to thought police the names of persons who have checked out those titles.
   So the America I loved still exists, if not in the White House or the Supreme Court or the Senate or the House of Representatives or the media. The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries.

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1922-2007) American novelist, journalist
Essay (2004-08-06), “I Love You, Madame Librarian,” In These Times Magazine, Vol. 29, No. 20 (2004-08-30)

More about this quote: wist.info/vonnegut-kurt-jr/840…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #vonnegut #kurtvonnegut #kurtvonnegutjr #bookbanning #bookburning #censorship #freedomofthought #librarians #library #privacy

A quotation from Henry Commager

A nation which, in the name of loyalty or of patriotism or of a sincere and high-sounding idea, discourages criticism and dissent, and puts a premium on acquiescence and conformity, is headed for disaster.

Henry Steele Commager (1902-1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1949-11-05), “What Ideas Are Safe?” Saturday Review

More about this quote: wist.info/commager-henry-steel…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #commager #henrycommager #acquiescence #conformity #control #dissent #freespeech #freedomofspeech #freedomofthought #heterodoxy #intolerance #loyalty #orthodoxy #patriotism #security #intellectualfreedom

A quotation from Thomas Carlyle

Money? He will say: “Take my money, since you can, and it is so desirable to you; take it, — and take yourself away with it; and leave me alone to my work here. I am still here; can still work, after all the money you have taken from me!” But if they come to him, and say, “Acknowledge a Lie; pretend to say you are worshipping God, when you are not doing it: believe not the thing that you find true, but the thing that I find, or pretend to find true!” He will answer: “No; by God’s help, no! You may take my purse; but I cannot have my moral Self annihilated. The purse is any Highwayman’s who might meet me with a loaded pistol: but the Self is mine and God my Maker’s; it is not yours; and I will resist you to the death, and revolt against you, and, on the whole, front all manner of extremities, accusations and confusions, in defence of that!”

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Scottish essayist and historian
Lecture (1840-05-22), “The Hero as King,” Home House, Portman Square, London

More info about this quote: wist.info/carlyle-thomas/20789…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #thomascarlyle #freedomofreligion #freedomofthought #government #identity #religiousfreedom #resistance #selfprotection #state

A quotation from Edward R. Murrow

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.

Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965) American journalist
Commentary (1954-03-09), “A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy,” See It Now, CBS TV

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/murrow-edward-r/2931…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #joemccarthy #edwardrmurrow #redscare #treason #disagreement #disloyalty #dissent #freepress #freespeech #freedomofconscience #freedomofspeech #freedomofthepress #freedomofthought #witchhunt

Books Unbanned | The Seattle Public Library

This brilliant program makes #ebooks and #audiobooks available to teens and young adults anywhere in the country. It was started by #brooklynpubliclibrary and #seattlepubliclibrary is the second one to join in helping kids and young people everywhere access books being banned by the religious right.

I hate that it has to exist. I love that it does.

If you know or are a young person living somewhere where books are getting banned because adults are afraid of change, follow the link and get your free card to private access to all the books.

https://www.spl.org/programs-and-services/teens/books-unbanned
#library #libraries #bookstodon #books #freedomofthought #freedom
#seattle