Freed Between the Lines

[00:00:00] Welcome to Sacrilegious Discourse.

[00:00:02] For this is what the sovereign Lord says,

[00:00:04] Why do you need prophets to tell people who you are and what you want?

[00:00:08] If you can justify everything that the God of the Bible has done

[00:00:11] then you can justify any of your behavior.

[00:00:14] A lot of this mentality is trickling into

[00:00:17] what is now mainstream right wing Christianity.

[00:00:21] I am capable of empathy greater than this God of the Bible.

[00:00:26] This is a Bible that they tell kids, this is the good Lord.

[00:00:31] This is the good book, this is he is band deciding about murder, mass murder.

[00:00:38] And over to sacrilegiousdiscourse.com right now I got how these reviews or some who don't have your hands gone.

[00:00:52] The hero deringen, the ringer that macht is zurück by prime video.

[00:00:57] Click on the meterhead.

[00:00:58] I don't hear anything about this, I think that's a good thing.

[00:01:02] The hero deringen deringen der macht.

[00:01:05] Now the newest of extreme, null by prime video.

[00:01:32] So we have sucked at getting our podcast out lately.

[00:01:36] And how?

[00:01:37] So wife and I sat down and tried to figure out why we've sucked.

[00:01:42] And how we could stop feeling like suckage.

[00:01:45] Yeah, and we came up with some solutions because a lot of this revolve, well lately some of it has revolved around wife being injured.

[00:01:52] And you know, that comes of all that.

[00:01:56] Yeah, but beyond that I as many of you know has started a new job and that has affected things as well.

[00:02:04] You're working a million hours.

[00:02:05] I'm working a million hours.

[00:02:07] And so what we've decided is that we have basically one and a half days where we can get ahead on our podcast.

[00:02:18] And the way we were doing things was that we got ahead to a certain point until we hit our live discord,

[00:02:25] which is what we're doing tonight actually.

[00:02:27] We're on our live discord tonight, which you can join us every Wednesday at 10 Eastern on this course.

[00:02:35] Yeah, and I highly recommend it, especially after what we're about to announce.

[00:02:39] So what we decided, we could only prepare so far because we wanted to stay current with our episodes when we reached the discord.

[00:02:47] And what we're going to do going forward is our discord night.

[00:02:51] So Wednesday nights when we record will be special episodes every week.

[00:02:58] And every other week will be a Patreon only special episode or discord only.

[00:03:04] So you can catch them always on discord if you're live with us that night,

[00:03:09] or they will be Patreon only on the every other weeks.

[00:03:13] We will do a special episode that goes out every other week for everybody as well.

[00:03:17] So we're going to kind of bounce back and forth, but the only way to catch them all is to either be with us on Patreon or discord or both.

[00:03:25] Yeah, you know that would be I, you know, best way for us to both worlds.

[00:03:30] Yeah, it's true.

[00:03:33] But so that that's what we're going to start doing tonight.

[00:03:36] And that means that our Wednesday night lives will no longer be specifically Bible centric and that we will not necessarily be reading a chapter.

[00:03:47] Right, which is what we've been doing. Yeah.

[00:03:51] Our Wednesday lives will now be more current affairs, particularly maybe leaning on news and politics.

[00:04:01] And it because of that will be somewhat America centric.

[00:04:04] So apologies to our international listeners.

[00:04:07] I know that that doesn't always interest you guys.

[00:04:11] But well, and some of the other things will probably end up discussing would just be relevant things to secularism and

[00:04:16] the idea.

[00:04:16] Yeah, and APS.

[00:04:17] You know, things like that.

[00:04:18] They will always have a tie to our channels purpose, which is atheism and free thought and agnosticism and humanism and all that.

[00:04:28] All that secularism.

[00:04:30] The whole thing.

[00:04:31] Right.

[00:04:33] So that being said, this is this month that this is for or is it, you know, the thing that we're going to be discussing tonight is the month on thingers at this week or this week.

[00:04:43] Okay.

[00:04:43] So there is a thing going on this week, which is kind of influencing what we're talking about tonight, which is going to be.

[00:04:49] Band books week.

[00:04:51] Yeah.

[00:04:51] Because what we're talking about tonight and this is this is one that is near and dear to our hearts and wife's hearts and heart in particular.

[00:04:58] Yes.

[00:04:59] Because wife is quite the kind of sort of books.

[00:05:02] Well, and libraries.

[00:05:03] And like yeah.

[00:05:04] We met by working in a bookstore.

[00:05:06] We did.

[00:05:07] So actually, you know, as far as our relationship is concerned, it's actually very relevant to us.

[00:05:12] And are I think I speak for wife and I both in that we believe that there shouldn't be band books.

[00:05:18] We were discussing this topic last night and the anarchist cookbook came up.

[00:05:25] Well, okay.

[00:05:26] So yeah, we did discuss that and I guess when it comes to direct harm and influencing or having the ability to

[00:05:37] create harm in a book and the instructions on how to do so.

[00:05:42] Right.

[00:05:42] That that might cross the line.

[00:05:45] It's similar to the we have freedom of speech here in America, except that of course there are things that we can't do.

[00:05:52] Sure.

[00:05:52] Sure.

[00:05:53] We have freedom of speech.

[00:05:54] We can't you know, fire and crowded theater if there's not a fire.

[00:05:58] So there's always going to be these rules that have what I would consider common sense.

[00:06:07] Yeah, but we as we all know sense is anything but common right.

[00:06:12] And just before we jump into the main bit, I will say that like atheist and general like to joke that the band book that they want would be the Bible.

[00:06:20] But to be perfectly honest with you, I don't want the Bible to be banned.

[00:06:23] I think that we should have the Bible accessible to everybody and actually more than that I think it should be taught.

[00:06:31] Not too children, but it should be it should be discussed and talked about in the sense that it is a piece of literature about a mythical being from the pat.

[00:06:40] You know, from our past and in human history, it needs to be discussed in the way that it actually is and not how to exist in people's you know zeitgeist for their own religion.

[00:06:50] Right exactly.

[00:06:51] The reason that you don't ban books like the Bible even though they can cause harm with regard to how these laws affect us is because

[00:07:00] we still have to be able to examine those texts that are affecting people regardless of whether they're banned or not and talk about them exactly.

[00:07:08] And that's why it's important not to ban things generally.

[00:07:12] Stop banning books you guys.

[00:07:14] So anyway, I think we're going to get into a lot more in this episode.

[00:07:19] Just wanted to make everybody aware of the change in our platform somewhat we will probably be doing kind of one less episode a week.

[00:07:26] So like our will be doing like four Bible study chapters per week one special episode and a Q&A.

[00:07:34] And that's going to be generally how we set up because it cuts one day off for us and gives us some time to reset and rethink and replan.

[00:07:42] And let us work ahead without interfering with our lives.

[00:07:47] So it takes a lot of stress off of us and it allows us to move forward and still be productive with what we're doing exactly.

[00:07:53] So I hope you all are on board before we're doing and we're looking forward to this new, you know,

[00:08:00] format that we're doing.

[00:08:02] And we hope you'll like it too.

[00:08:04] So with that being said, you ready to jump into this?

[00:08:06] Sure, fuck am.

[00:08:07] All right, let's do this.

[00:08:09] All right, let's get into ban books week, shall we?

[00:08:16] We shall.

[00:08:17] Okay.

[00:08:18] Banned books week.

[00:08:19] Do you know what it is?

[00:08:20] Where we banned books?

[00:08:22] All the books and we banned them or banned them.

[00:08:26] We we banned all the books and then we put them in a band and we, yeah, okay, that's too much.

[00:08:34] Yeah, I would just nope.

[00:08:35] I tried it. It went wrong.

[00:08:36] It went south.

[00:08:37] Take it back.

[00:08:38] We're going to go on this.

[00:08:39] Let's pretend that we haven't happened.

[00:08:41] Banned books week is an annual awareness campaign promoted by the American Library Association.

[00:08:48] The ALA, which I will say more about in a minute, along with amnesty andternational.

[00:08:54] Really? I

[00:08:55] did not

[00:08:55] realize that. Yeah, but

[00:08:57] that's actually really fantastic. Isn't it?

[00:08:59] Yeah, I just,

[00:09:00] I, that was the fact I did not know. And I did banned books

[00:09:03] week either last year or the year before we covered this. We did. Because books

[00:09:09] are near and

[00:09:09] dear to our heart. Yes. So. But

[00:09:13] I don't

[00:09:13] recall that

[00:09:14] being a factoid.

[00:09:15] Yeah, yeah.

[00:09:16] Maybe they just started, you know, supporting it.

[00:09:18] Maybe they start jumped on, you know, it's cool.

[00:09:20] But it's cool.

[00:09:21] But it's, yeah, right.

[00:09:22] So the purpose of banned books week is threefold.

[00:09:26] One, it celebrates the freedom to read.

[00:09:29] Yeah, right?

[00:09:30] Two, it draws attention to banned and challenged books.

[00:09:34] And there is a difference between challenged and banned.

[00:09:37] Got it.

[00:09:39] And number three, it highlights persecuted individuals, which I did not realize that it

[00:09:45] was about the individual is much as the book.

[00:09:50] And that's really interesting to me.

[00:09:51] Well, like I think someone Rushdie comes to mind, right?

[00:09:53] Yeah.

[00:09:54] He is, he's, his home country just not support what he does.

[00:09:58] Right.

[00:09:58] You know, and he was, he's actually a necessity to have.

[00:10:02] Yeah, yeah, we're not all that long ago, actually.

[00:10:04] Like, just in the last couple of years, I think.

[00:10:06] Right.

[00:10:06] And he, like, lost an eye or something.

[00:10:08] Yeah.

[00:10:09] So I mean, in his book is not even available read in his own, his own country.

[00:10:12] So it's, yeah.

[00:10:14] It's, it's, it's things like that.

[00:10:15] Like it's, there's people that risk their lives to get information to you through

[00:10:20] Through their words, you know?

[00:10:21] And that, that to me is admirable and worthy of respect and, you know, support.

[00:10:29] And FYI, if you've never read some in Rushdie, highly recommend.

[00:10:34] Yeah.

[00:10:34] He's so good.

[00:10:36] And I, um, about poop my pants every time I watch Bridget Jones's diary.

[00:10:41] Mm-hmm.

[00:10:42] Because he is part, he plays a small role in that movie.

[00:10:46] He plays the role of the quote unquote boring academic.

[00:10:51] I did not do that actually.

[00:10:53] The, um, she basically thinks that he's like overly pretentious or whatever.

[00:10:58] Right.

[00:10:59] And he plays that guy.

[00:11:00] Got it.

[00:11:01] And that is just fucking hilarious.

[00:11:03] And every time I see him, I'm like, oh my god, that's Sam and Rushdie.

[00:11:07] I always forget he's at Bridget Jones's diary.

[00:11:09] That's very cool.

[00:11:10] Yeah.

[00:11:11] And that's a movie that I watch every new year.

[00:11:14] Okay.

[00:11:14] Anyway, whatever.

[00:11:16] So the United States campaign with regard to band books, we stress is the importance

[00:11:22] of ensuring the availability of those on orthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who

[00:11:30] wish to read them.

[00:11:31] And the requirement to keep material publicly available so that people can develop their own conclusions

[00:11:38] and opinions.

[00:11:39] Yeah.

[00:11:39] And the band books week is intended to encourage readers to examine challenged literary works

[00:11:46] and to promote intellectual freedom in library schools and bookstores.

[00:11:52] So we'll get into library schools, libraries and schools at least in a minute here.

[00:11:58] Ultimately it's goal is to teach the importance of our first amendment rights and the power

[00:12:03] of literature and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed

[00:12:09] on the availability of information and a free society.

[00:12:13] Well, and you know this as well as I do but I think that it's very important to read thing.

[00:12:19] And what we're doing with this entire podcast actually is, is you know, emblematic of this idea

[00:12:26] and that's that read things that challenge your ideas of what is right and correct.

[00:12:35] And try to understand things from a different perspective so that way, all it does to me, not all

[00:12:42] it does.

[00:12:42] But part of what it does for me is allows me to step outside of my own worldview and challenge

[00:12:50] my take on different ideas and then reformulate them in order to adapt to this new information that I'm getting.

[00:13:00] And to me that's important to be able to do.

[00:13:02] I have such mixed feelings on this because I like my comfort level, I like staying in my zone.

[00:13:11] I like being complacent.

[00:13:14] No, I'm just I'm trying to be human here right.

[00:13:17] And like I don't want to go out there and re-Christian literature but here I am reading the Bible so I mean even

[00:13:23] at that I am pushing myself outside my comfort zone.

[00:13:27] But like I'm not going to go shopping in a Christian bookstore and read a lot of Christian books.

[00:13:32] Or there's like a whole bunch of genres like I don't read Westerns you know.

[00:13:37] Like I don't really enjoy tedious biographies.

[00:13:44] But to me it would be so for example right if we continue going down this road with our podcast for a long, long time and we get done with the Bible at some point.

[00:13:53] I'm probably at least in probably going to read other things and some of them will be things to challenge myself and that would be you know I

[00:14:01] definitely I've always one of the read the writings by CS Lewis with regard to religion because that's something that is brought up quite a bit.

[00:14:07] And you know the philosophies that he had with regard to how Christianity is viable and real are important to the zeitgeist of the discussion.

[00:14:16] Shite so these are things that I want to pursue in order to better formulate my ideas of what I have with regard to my beliefs and my stance on religion.

[00:14:27] I totally get that. I totally get that. So and that's that's I'm just trying to be honest like honestly speaking there are some things that I don't want to try out.

[00:14:39] Right, I completely agree with you.

[00:14:41] I will never read Daniel's deal right so I'm just saying that one is not going to be something I will ever not in to advance or erotic of you like getting a steel more power to you.

[00:14:51] I just I'm not doing it. Yeah, so I'm just it's not my thing. Right and yeah so I guess the difference is that whereas I don't want to come out of my zone and try things I'm not willing to stop other people like if you like romance or erotic or whatever if you like Westerns that's fine.

[00:15:10] It's there read it though go read all the things but it oddly enough one of the books that you and I connected on when we were younger was.

[00:15:19] I'm not really sure. Right, I'm really.

[00:15:22] We were both reading it for the reasons of understanding a different perspective on you know politics and yes.

[00:15:30] You know that was why we were reading it not because we were fans of a brand know like we were we were trying to understand this point of view and then be able to comment about it better after having read that book right so information even opposing views.

[00:15:46] Yeah, being available for everybody to read and understand have available is very very very important.

[00:15:52] It was important for our marriage. Well yeah that's I mean okay, we told the story before but just for anybody who has never heard it.

[00:16:00] We were both going to our local community college and we both ended up in the computer lab at the same time and we're sitting next to each other and we're like hey how are you because we have both.

[00:16:10] We had worked together at a bookstore. Yeah, so which we can say the name it's not even a bookstore.

[00:16:17] Oh yeah borders books of music yeah.

[00:16:20] Yeah, so we used to work there loved it and then when we bumped into each other on the community college campus right it was just like really cool like just coming back to an old friend you know.

[00:16:34] Yeah and so we started hanging out when we were sitting next to each other in the computer lab you has been opened your backpack and I about ship my pants.

[00:16:44] Because not only did the book I ran at least shrugd tumble out of your backpack but I saw your bookmark you were almost exactly the same way the same portion of the way through the book that I was.

[00:17:01] And I was like you're reading that you've got to be fucking kidding me and I'm like I opened my bag and pulled my copy out and like we weren't taking the same classes like this does not college requirement or suggestion.

[00:17:15] We didn't run in the same circles and have it come up a conversation or anything like that.

[00:17:20] You both had chose to read that book.

[00:17:22] Yeah, so I mean if I believed in fate of my safe was meant to be but this is an atheist podcast and also look at the history we met at the fucking bookstore.

[00:17:31] Right and we were both very liberal bookstore at that.

[00:17:34] Yeah, yeah.

[00:17:34] At the time.

[00:17:35] And you were discovering your liberalness at the time.

[00:17:38] Yeah.

[00:17:39] And we were coming into your own with regard to that and this was part of that journey for you.

[00:17:43] It was, yeah.

[00:17:44] So it's not that unusual.

[00:17:46] Right.

[00:17:46] It was very political too.

[00:17:49] No, I shouldn't say too.

[00:17:50] I was very political.

[00:17:51] Yeah.

[00:17:51] I was at the time campaigning for the green party.

[00:17:54] I was doing all kinds of shit that was very you know out there with active and out there with regard to people of my age group at the time with regard to politics.

[00:18:03] I read a lot of political books.

[00:18:06] I read a lot of history.

[00:18:08] I read a lot of, I mean when I was in my early 20s you probably didn't want to fuck with me on politics.

[00:18:15] So I would probably angry fucking kid with regard to politics.

[00:18:18] Yeah.

[00:18:18] That's kind of who I was.

[00:18:20] So I'll just never forget the day that I realized that I was not the Republican that my parents have brought me up to me.

[00:18:27] Right.

[00:18:28] I emailed like all my liberal friends and was like oh my god you guys I think I think I'm a Democrat.

[00:18:36] Everybody was like sending me like applause and like you know, pretty job and welcome and oh so glad to see you here and husband used that me welcome to the dark side.

[00:18:47] Yeah.

[00:18:48] Yeah.

[00:18:48] That's so great.

[00:18:49] Okay.

[00:18:49] So anyway back to being a book.

[00:18:52] Not romance.

[00:18:53] No.

[00:18:53] Yeah.

[00:18:54] We got to we're.

[00:18:55] You know, people shouldn't expect us to get off on.

[00:18:58] You never never mind what?

[00:19:00] So anyway, yes, we do those.

[00:19:03] Yeah.

[00:19:03] So we talked about the United States campaign with regard to band books week.

[00:19:08] The international campaign recognizes individuals who have been persecuted because of the writings that they produce circulate or read.

[00:19:16] So that's where salmon rush to your example would be mentioned.

[00:19:20] I'm amnesty international documents cases annually with show individuals who have been reportedly killed incarcerated or otherwise harassed by national authorities around the world.

[00:19:33] They urge people to take action to help it in partnership with its urgent action network by contacting authorities regarding human rights violations.

[00:19:42] The international event held by amnesty international has been praised for reminding people about the price that some people pay for expressing controversial views.

[00:19:53] Wow, you know, since 2011 the American Association of School Libraries, which is a branch under the ALA has designated the Wednesday of Band Books Week as Band website awareness day.

[00:20:11] And we're recording this on Wednesday of Band Books Week.

[00:20:15] So today is right now, if you're listening to this when it posts then it's Thursday or after so your late and you missed it.

[00:20:24] Sure.

[00:20:24] You should have been on discord, you know, at 10 p.m. Eastern on Wednesdays.

[00:20:29] Right.

[00:20:30] I bet I bet our podcast website probably ends up in some like filters because there's cuss words all through it.

[00:20:36] So right.

[00:20:36] It's a very least with that that's even before you get to the ideas that I wrote it through it.

[00:20:40] Sure.

[00:20:41] Which is the guard ace, the atheism and everything else.

[00:20:44] Well, husband happy band website awareness day.

[00:20:48] Yeah.

[00:20:48] And you're supposed to say to you as well.

[00:20:50] And to you as well.

[00:20:51] I'm sorry.

[00:20:51] I apologize.

[00:20:53] I didn't really know if we were celebrating right here on the air.

[00:20:56] Yeah.

[00:20:57] I thought you were just acknowledging that yeah, that's the thing.

[00:21:00] So yeah.

[00:21:01] The theme of this year's event is freed between the line.

[00:21:04] So we're going to be a little bit more powerful.

[00:21:06] That's clever.

[00:21:06] Yeah.

[00:21:08] I'm always here for a good dad joke and your dad puns.

[00:21:12] Did you like my dad joke today?

[00:21:14] Yes.

[00:21:14] Oh my gosh.

[00:21:15] It was so smart.

[00:21:17] Well, it was really dumb.

[00:21:18] It was really fucking dumb.

[00:21:19] It was so smart.

[00:21:20] So I'm going to start the story.

[00:21:22] You can finish it.

[00:21:23] But there was a there okay.

[00:21:24] I was at work where there was a freaking red tailed hawk in a tree at work.

[00:21:29] And it was just sitting there.

[00:21:31] And I was like, oh my gosh, that's so beautiful.

[00:21:33] And so I found a place where I could take a really great picture of it.

[00:21:36] I took a really great picture of it.

[00:21:37] I'm going to share it in this corner when we're done.

[00:21:39] It's beautiful.

[00:21:40] But it's a beautiful picture.

[00:21:43] And anyway.

[00:21:44] They sent it to me and kid.

[00:21:45] Yeah.

[00:21:46] And then you can tell them what I said.

[00:21:47] And you said sit in an a tree in front of our place of work.

[00:21:50] Yeah.

[00:21:50] And then kids said, did he buy a thing?

[00:21:54] And then you said, hello.

[00:21:55] Well, though.

[00:21:56] He said our prices were too falcon high.

[00:22:01] Falcon.

[00:22:03] Falcon.

[00:22:05] And I died and this is my go speak to.

[00:22:09] Sorry.

[00:22:10] Like I said, I was proud of that moment.

[00:22:12] For about 30 seconds.

[00:22:13] No, I said that to my mom and your mom and they both appreciate it.

[00:22:17] It was a good one.

[00:22:18] My mom said that she and Dan were both cracking up.

[00:22:21] It's a good end.

[00:22:23] You felt an high.

[00:22:24] All right.

[00:22:25] So let's talk a little bit more about the American Library Association.

[00:22:29] Okay.

[00:22:30] It is a nonprofit organization based in the US that promotes libraries and library education internationally.

[00:22:38] It is the oldest and largest library association in the world.

[00:22:44] Well, that's cool.

[00:22:45] Yeah.

[00:22:45] ALA membership is open to any person or organization.

[00:22:49] Why are we not members of the ALA?

[00:22:52] Mostly poor.

[00:22:53] Though it's members are mostly libraries or librarians.

[00:22:58] Sure.

[00:22:58] And I am in a different life.

[00:23:03] Have masters and library science.

[00:23:05] I'm a librarian.

[00:23:06] If you want to be.

[00:23:08] In a different timeline.

[00:23:09] Right.

[00:23:10] And if I were to pursue that career choice that career field,

[00:23:15] I would have to find a school that has an accredited program that is approved by the ALA.

[00:23:22] Right.

[00:23:22] So they're an important group.

[00:23:25] They're very, they're for real.

[00:23:26] Yeah.

[00:23:27] Like you don't just go to school and be like, I'm a librarian now.

[00:23:31] Right.

[00:23:31] Like if the ALA says you're not then your degree is nothing.

[00:23:35] So anyway, most members of the ALA live and work in the US with international members,

[00:23:43] comprising only 3.5% of total membership, which makes sense.

[00:23:48] It's based in the US.

[00:23:50] But that's where international and the C international comes in.

[00:23:54] Got it.

[00:23:55] All right.

[00:23:56] But let's talk about that thing.

[00:23:57] I mentioned earlier the American Association of School Libraries, which is a branch of that.

[00:24:03] Okay.

[00:24:03] The AASL is a division of the ALA that serves primary school and secondary school librarians in the US, Canada,

[00:24:13] and internationally, which is why it says primary school and secondary school.

[00:24:19] That's what?

[00:24:19] Right.

[00:24:20] So the mission of the American Association of School librarians is to empower leaders to

[00:24:26] transform teaching and learning.

[00:24:29] AASL publishes standards for school libraries that provide benchmarks and insight into

[00:24:34] the indicators for each standard.

[00:24:36] It's various publications assistant helping school librarians establish effective library programs that meet the needs of changing

[00:24:43] school library environments.

[00:24:46] And you know what?

[00:24:47] I'm going to applaud the school librarians out there because a lot of them have really stepped up to the plate when it's come to some of these band book things that are happening in the news.

[00:24:58] Yeah, particularly in Florida.

[00:25:00] Yeah.

[00:25:01] And they really have held their ground with regard to their stance on how to treat the information that is in their libraries.

[00:25:10] They've tried to fight it and when they couldn't fight it anymore, they complained some of them retired over it or quit.

[00:25:18] Some of them created secret libraries for students that, you know, were really interested in one of these band books.

[00:25:27] But they've made a public statement.

[00:25:30] They collect collectively as a group of people.

[00:25:32] Yes.

[00:25:34] There's been enough voices out there that it is well known that they have stood up for the rights of free speech and it's something that is very admirable to me on a individual basis.

[00:25:45] Yes, no, that is something that I've always appreciated about librarians in general.

[00:25:51] Yeah, to me they are like the not the front line, but they are right there in the fight for first amendment rights and they are just so brave and the work that they do is amazing.

[00:26:07] I so admire them. They are heroes.

[00:26:10] That's off to librarians everywhere.

[00:26:12] I agree.

[00:26:13] So band website awareness data. Let's talk about that a little bit more.

[00:26:17] Okay. It was designated by the AASL and is celebrated to raise awareness of the overly restrictive and increasingly aggressive blocking of legitimate educational websites and academically useful social networking tools used by students and educators in schools at school libraries.

[00:26:39] Yeah, I read a bunch of the sites that are blocked that they wish that they would block things like Facebook even because they're like, well, no, that was my first impression.

[00:26:51] But the more I read them or that they kind of convinced me like the kids are on it, whether we like it or not and blocking it means that we cannot teach them how to use it correctly or you know when there's bullying happening off campus.

[00:27:08] The school cannot step in and assist students who are being bullied online.

[00:27:14] And that's what I mean.

[00:27:16] I get it, I guess my concern is that you know, I in an ideal situation I would want them not to be banned.

[00:27:28] Right.

[00:27:28] And but in the the focus should be on teaching.

[00:27:34] Yeah, teaching moment.

[00:27:36] Not banning.

[00:27:37] Exactly.

[00:27:37] Because that's the lazy way out, right?

[00:27:39] Yeah.

[00:27:39] That's like teaching the abstinence only and sex at.

[00:27:41] Right.

[00:27:42] And let's have a discussion about these things and trust our children to make choices based on what they've learned at home.

[00:27:49] Right.

[00:27:50] And you can't teach them how to navigate something if you don't allow them to even navigate it.

[00:27:54] Right.

[00:27:55] Right.

[00:27:55] And they are going the the fact is that whether their parents and the school bands it or not, those kids are still going to be on social media.

[00:28:04] Like a guarantee it.

[00:28:05] It's not it's not even a question at this point.

[00:28:07] They will have an account through a friend's phone or something that they manage and that's just the way this world operates.

[00:28:14] Did you see there there's been times when students or when kids had their smartphones taken away from them?

[00:28:21] And they were so addicted that they found a way to use the online thing through their refrigerator to get on Twitter or something like that.

[00:28:30] No, that is some serious innovation.

[00:28:33] Everybody's like these kids are still addicted and I'm like, did you all miss the part where they figured out shit that we can't figure out?

[00:28:41] I'm like, compared to your level of technical expertise, they just hacked fucking NASA.

[00:28:46] Right.

[00:28:47] And you're like, you're whatever you know.

[00:28:48] In our day we made fun of our parents for not being able to program the BCR.

[00:28:54] And now the kids are making fun of us for not being able to get online or not know that you can get online through the smart devices in our home.

[00:29:05] Right.

[00:29:06] You know?

[00:29:06] I'm like, you're missing the thread here.

[00:29:10] I kind of feel bad for our kids because I always very technical and I know how to do things.

[00:29:17] Yeah.

[00:29:19] But you know what, here's the difference right?

[00:29:22] Our kids grew up in an environment where we encouraged, you know, thought and conversation and we encouraged them to bring us ideas.

[00:29:33] And I think we fostered an environment that allowed them to be online and still have a family discussion about things.

[00:29:40] Yeah.

[00:29:41] And it seemed to work, you know?

[00:29:43] And I think that's more importantly than anything with regard to the band website day or whatever.

[00:29:49] Right.

[00:29:50] I think the problem is that we're not addressing the issue that is there.

[00:29:55] And the issue that is there is that these kids are getting on things that we don't know that a lot of parents don't know what they're doing.

[00:30:04] And the problem is not that the kids are addicted.

[00:30:07] Like, no, that's a symptom of the problem.

[00:30:09] The problem is that the parents are addicted and they are using the phone that they're letting the phone entertain their kids while they're in another room sitting on the couch on their phone.

[00:30:23] Yeah.

[00:30:24] And they don't care until it's too late.

[00:30:25] Right.

[00:30:26] That's the general M.O.

[00:30:27] The child with a bathroom.

[00:30:29] On line parent.

[00:30:30] By child with never.

[00:30:31] That's what they always say.

[00:30:32] Sure.

[00:30:33] That's like you don't even know what your child would or what it.

[00:30:37] I don't know.

[00:30:37] I think it helps to set healthy boundaries with with regard to technology and like we had things where, you know, like if you started getting in a bad mood because of technology.

[00:30:49] It was it was off.

[00:30:50] You're done.

[00:30:51] That's that's it.

[00:30:52] It was particularly like video game kind of things like they would get like shitty about it.

[00:30:57] Both both of them.

[00:30:58] They would get shitty about like, I keep losing or dying and then they would like get so angry and we're like, okay.

[00:31:04] So you need a break.

[00:31:05] Yeah.

[00:31:06] Like I understand frustration at losing but you are like legit pissed off and that much emotion toward a game is not okay.

[00:31:17] And during early adolescent and younger, we checked in with them very very much with regard to their activity online.

[00:31:24] So I mean it was something we monitored on a regular basis.

[00:31:27] Yeah.

[00:31:28] And you know, kept track of.

[00:31:30] And you know, we helped them set up their accounts and we, you know, made it clear that we could check in on those accounts anytime.

[00:31:38] But we all suspected boundaries.

[00:31:40] So there's a healthy mix, you know?

[00:31:42] You just, you have to have that conversation.

[00:31:45] And not just once.

[00:31:47] Like you have to keep checking in.

[00:31:49] Yeah.

[00:31:49] You can't have the birds in the be talk and then just like let your kids go.

[00:31:53] Right.

[00:31:53] Like that can't be it.

[00:31:54] You have to continue to talk about that kind of stuff and and be okay with having open discussions about these things ongoing in your household.

[00:32:03] Because information is how you move forward and it's how you move through life and how you understand them that act.

[00:32:09] Well, like kid asked me, why do you always or what do you keep talking about this?

[00:32:13] You know, we already talked about this before.

[00:32:15] I'm like right, but like I say I love you more than once.

[00:32:20] You know, I don't just say I love you once when you were born and then never again because what I already told you.

[00:32:26] Like no, I keep telling you so you keep knowing it.

[00:32:29] Like, you know, this stuff is just like that.

[00:32:33] It's important.

[00:32:34] I mean, I'm relaying data to you and then I'm reinforcing it.

[00:32:38] Right.

[00:32:38] So anyway, whatever.

[00:32:40] So the AASL, that's the school thing.

[00:32:43] Yeah.

[00:32:44] And I'm going to say that the advice is that filtering websites does the next generation of digital citizens agree this service.

[00:32:51] Students must develop skills to evaluate information from all types of sources and multiple formats including the internet relying solely on filters does not teach young citizens how to be savvy searchers or how to evaluate the accuracy of information.

[00:33:09] Sure.

[00:33:09] So I totally appreciate that.

[00:33:11] Like yeah, amen.

[00:33:13] Do I want my kid floating around on a poor site?

[00:33:17] No, but if you don't address it, they will end up there anyway.

[00:33:21] And maybe not on purpose.

[00:33:22] Maybe yes on purpose.

[00:33:23] Right.

[00:33:23] Like you got to talk about.

[00:33:25] But if you don't, if you are open about it, it's something that you are able to address.

[00:33:30] Right.

[00:33:30] And then if they do want to go to a poor site, maybe they'll do it intelligently and not download, you know, a virus through the computer or have the FBI show up.

[00:33:40] Right.

[00:33:41] I don't know.

[00:33:42] Whatever.

[00:33:44] That's always not a, yeah.

[00:33:49] Nobody wants that to happen.

[00:33:50] No.

[00:33:51] That reminds me one of my nephews.

[00:33:55] Oh, this is what?

[00:33:56] When, what am I in that piece was really, really young.

[00:34:00] Like I'm talking like third or fourth grade.

[00:34:04] Parents were checking it on his phone and found a search history that included included.

[00:34:14] Scooby-Doo and Velma and Daphne.

[00:34:21] Do you want to think?

[00:34:22] Yeah.

[00:34:25] Well, then I just, you know, that's why you checking on kids.

[00:34:29] I just thought, oh, wow.

[00:34:31] That is so funny.

[00:34:32] Yeah.

[00:34:33] Okay.

[00:34:33] Anyway, so history.

[00:34:35] Bandbooks week has been observed in late September to early October since 1982 when it was founded by First Amendment and Library Activist Judith Krug.

[00:34:47] Krug said that the Association of American Publishers contacted her with ideas to bring band books to the attention of the American public after a, quote,

[00:34:58] SLU of books had been banned that year.

[00:35:01] Krug relayed the information to the American Library Associations Intellectual Freedom Committee and six weeks later they celebrated the first band books week.

[00:35:10] Very cool.

[00:35:10] Let's keep in mind.

[00:35:11] 1982 that would have been like right at the beginning of satanic panic.

[00:35:16] And Reagan's, you know, essential, you know, campaign, you know, the super social beginnings of when republicanism was getting tied to Christianity.

[00:35:28] Yeah.

[00:35:28] Hardcore.

[00:35:29] Yeah.

[00:35:29] That makes perfect sense.

[00:35:31] It does.

[00:35:32] The slew of books were suddenly banned everywhere.

[00:35:37] So, unfortunately, yes.

[00:35:38] The top 10 most challenged books of 2023 are gender queer by Maya Kababi and I apologize for my horrible pronunciation.

[00:35:50] Reasons for LGBTQIA plus content and claim to be sexually explicit.

[00:35:57] All boys aren't blue, which was on the list the last time we did this episode by George M. Johnson reasons LGBTQIA content claim to be sexually explicit.

[00:36:06] This book is gay by General Dawson for the reasons of LGBTQIA plus content sex education claim to be sexually explicit.

[00:36:17] I'm sensing that theme.

[00:36:18] Are you sensing a pattern?

[00:36:20] Yeah.

[00:36:20] The perks of being a wallflower are all such a good book and movie.

[00:36:26] By Steven Shboski, reasons claim to be sexually explicit.

[00:36:30] LGBTQIA content rape drugs and profanity.

[00:36:33] This is crazy.

[00:36:33] That's what people should.

[00:36:35] I mean, look, look.

[00:36:37] That book should be, should absolutely be available to the high scores.

[00:36:40] Yeah.

[00:36:41] Absolutely 100%.

[00:36:42] Yeah.

[00:36:43] Totally.

[00:36:44] Because it's not about what happened to the kid.

[00:36:46] It's about how the kid don't within the aftermath and his friends and learning.

[00:36:54] And I'm speaking on this one because I know this one, but I'm sure that it supplies to the

[00:36:58] others as well.

[00:36:59] But I mean, there's no fucking reason that was to be banned.

[00:37:02] No, it's such a good book.

[00:37:04] Yeah.

[00:37:04] Flamer by Mike Curado, reasons LGBTQIA plus content claim to be sexually explicit.

[00:37:11] Yeah.

[00:37:11] The blue is died by Tony Morrison, reasons.

[00:37:14] The picture of rape and cest claim to be sexually explicit.

[00:37:17] EDI content.

[00:37:19] Okay.

[00:37:19] Now we've got a tie for the next two tricks by Ellen Hopkins reasons claim to be sexually explicit.

[00:37:26] Drugs, the picture of rape, LGBTQIA content.

[00:37:30] Ellen Hopkins, I believe is the one who wrote, speak and then shout.

[00:37:34] Oh, yeah.

[00:37:35] That's correct.

[00:37:36] Excellent.

[00:37:37] Those actually.

[00:37:37] Yeah.

[00:37:38] I read those.

[00:37:39] I read them because they're kids.

[00:37:41] No, I read that way before kid.

[00:37:42] That's right.

[00:37:43] I was like super impressed and also just on my toes ready for discussion for speak and

[00:37:53] shout because those are very heavy material, very well written, very good books, but heavy.

[00:38:00] So the other one that tied with it was me and Earl in the dying girl by Jesse Andrews reasons claim

[00:38:07] to be sexually explicit and profanity.

[00:38:09] Oh, not profanity.

[00:38:11] Fucking bullshit.

[00:38:12] Yeah.

[00:38:14] Let's talk about it by Eric Amoen and Matthew Nolan reasons claim to be sexually explicit.

[00:38:19] Sex education LGBTQIA content.

[00:38:24] Again, see that?

[00:38:25] No, I see that.

[00:38:27] No, this is feeling, I mean, specifically the sexual content and the LGBTQIA content.

[00:38:35] And even more so in that, that pairing, LGBTQIA is very, very good.

[00:38:39] Very much religiously driven.

[00:38:43] Yes, you know?

[00:38:44] And, you know, I don't think that.

[00:38:48] I don't know.

[00:38:48] Again, I think these these themes are better.

[00:38:51] Like no matter what your views are on them, right?

[00:38:54] Even if your views are against LGBTQIA, you should be willing to entertain the ideas

[00:39:03] that you can discuss it with your kid, right?

[00:39:04] I mean, I'm just going to tell you.

[00:39:05] If you are confident in your ideas, you should be willing to allow that information

[00:39:11] to enter and then discuss, right?

[00:39:15] To me, it's okay if your kid reads something that you don't agree with as long as you

[00:39:19] are willing and able to discuss that stuff with them, right?

[00:39:24] That's the important aspect of allowing for books not to be banned is the ability

[00:39:30] to teach from those moments.

[00:39:34] And I think that's why we're having such an issue is because we have a bunch of people

[00:39:40] in this country who are rightlyening religious fanatics who don't like LGBTQIA because

[00:39:48] of religion only they don't really know why.

[00:39:51] You know, they don't understand their ideas of hate that they have towards these communities

[00:39:56] and therefore their answer is don't talk about it.

[00:40:00] It just doesn't exist.

[00:40:02] Let's pretend it's not there.

[00:40:04] And more so let's make sure our kids can't see that it's there.

[00:40:07] Right, exactly.

[00:40:08] Because we don't want to even talk about it.

[00:40:10] No kind of.

[00:40:11] And a voice that says, is the way that it is dealt with now and that's just, it's crap.

[00:40:16] It's not okay.

[00:40:17] It's just not okay at the end of the day.

[00:40:19] It's not okay.

[00:40:20] Okay, the last one on the list for the top 10 for last year.

[00:40:24] Sure.

[00:40:24] That's okay.

[00:40:25] Was the book sold by Patricia McCormick reasons claim to be sexually explicit and depiction

[00:40:31] of rape?

[00:40:33] I am willing to bet if I recall correctly that it's also because it had to do with the slave

[00:40:42] trade.

[00:40:43] Okay.

[00:40:44] That sold is the name of the book.

[00:40:45] Yeah, it's got a group who is.

[00:40:47] Right.

[00:40:47] So I'm going to guess it's also because it made white people uncomfortable.

[00:40:52] Because they don't like that DEI shit, you know?

[00:40:56] Right.

[00:40:57] Yeah.

[00:40:58] Like don't you don't you talk about how I personally used to own a slave in suck?

[00:41:04] Right.

[00:41:05] What?

[00:41:06] Did you hear yourself, sir?

[00:41:07] Yeah.

[00:41:08] I don't think that you understood what I said because you didn't honestly,

[00:41:13] your ancestor certainly did and you shouldn't, you know, be concerned about that when we should

[00:41:19] talk about it, you know?

[00:41:20] Let's talk about it.

[00:41:21] Yeah.

[00:41:22] No, I, that's the important part of these book is the discussions, right?

[00:41:25] No, no, that's Yucky.

[00:41:27] You're saying that I own a slave and that's gross.

[00:41:29] And I'm like, would be gross if you weren't a slave but that's not what I'm saying.

[00:41:33] Right.

[00:41:34] Yeah.

[00:41:35] People.

[00:41:37] Let's see.

[00:41:38] There's a let freedom read day on September 28th of this year.

[00:41:44] Okay.

[00:41:45] Which is, does it speak?

[00:41:46] Yeah.

[00:41:47] We're asking everyone to get ready to vote for the freedom to read or to take at least one action

[00:41:53] to help defend books from censorship and to stand up for the library stuff, educators,

[00:41:58] writers, publishers, and booksellers who make all this available.

[00:42:03] On the 28th if you can do something, do it.

[00:42:09] The USA today put out an article a couple of days ago with regard to bandbook week.

[00:42:15] Then we will link to this article in the show notes.

[00:42:19] They said across several polls, most Americans don't agree with bookbaning and American Library

[00:42:25] Association survey of voters and public school parents found that 71% opposed removing books from public libraries, including a majority of Democrats

[00:42:37] Republicans and independence.

[00:42:39] Very cool.

[00:42:40] Yeah.

[00:42:40] In 2023, a USA today investigation revealed that a site called book looks.org was the resource behind hundreds of book challenges nationwide,

[00:42:52] launched in 2022 the site promotes a book rating system that right-wing political activist group,

[00:42:59] moms for liberty also uses.

[00:43:02] And so like there will be times when they will challenge a book that a library doesn't even own.

[00:43:08] Right.

[00:43:08] But they got it off this list so they're like, I want to challenge this.

[00:43:13] I don't know the exact stats on this, but there was, I think it was like in the state of Florida that was like one woman got like,

[00:43:20] It was a large percentage of the books banned in that state.

[00:43:23] Like one fucking woman.

[00:43:25] Yeah.

[00:43:25] Because of this website.

[00:43:27] Right.

[00:43:27] Bitch.

[00:43:29] Mom's for liberty has been a particularly powerful crusader within the parents' rights movement with a major focus on sexual content.

[00:43:37] They don't like that sex stuff.

[00:43:39] Except that they do.

[00:43:41] It's funny, they're saying sexual content, but really, really they lean heavily on the LGBTQIA.

[00:43:47] And you know, they just basically if there is that theme in a book, they're going to call it sex content regardless whether it actually is or not.

[00:43:56] So I mean, the fact that one of the books that always shows up on the ban books list and I can't remember what it's called,

[00:44:02] but it's about two gay penguins that have baby penguins that they kind of adopted it.

[00:44:08] Yeah.

[00:44:08] And then you probably say that it has sexual content.

[00:44:10] Yeah.

[00:44:11] And it should be banned because it's pushing an agenda.

[00:44:14] That's like, yeah, you know what it fucking is.

[00:44:16] It's pushing the agenda of love is love and get the fuck over it.

[00:44:20] And this is 2024 and it's okay to be queer.

[00:44:25] Is any capacity?

[00:44:26] But it's no more pushing an agenda than if you had a husband and wife.

[00:44:29] Right.

[00:44:30] Exactly.

[00:44:30] That is the same agenda.

[00:44:32] Yeah.

[00:44:32] Just from a different perspective.

[00:44:33] Exactly.

[00:44:34] So they need to, the perspectives are skewed.

[00:44:38] We aren't looking at these ideas from a secular perspective or a free thinking perspective where you can adjust your views based on reality.

[00:44:48] Right.

[00:44:48] We're looking at them from a religious lens and that religious lens is allowing people to say that these things are evil bad and wrong.

[00:44:55] And that's merely their take, their opinion because of their religious upbringing and their religious indoctrination.

[00:45:03] And that's bullshit.

[00:45:05] Like we're essentially allowing our public schools to be monitored by a religious cult.

[00:45:13] Yeah.

[00:45:13] And that is complete crap.

[00:45:16] And it's terrifying that there's a large portion of the country that is for a guy who would make that happen.

[00:45:25] Right.

[00:45:26] You know?

[00:45:26] You're talking about Trump.

[00:45:27] I'm a Soviet.

[00:45:28] Yeah.

[00:45:30] So going on with this article from the USA today in Florida, recent legislation dictates that titles including sexual content even if it is not pornographic or subject to removal.

[00:45:43] This means materials like the Mary and Webster dictionary, the color purple and and Frank's diary.

[00:45:51] Let's not forget the Bible.

[00:45:54] I'm just saying that's sorry.

[00:45:55] But it but that's a good book.

[00:45:58] That's got the good news.

[00:46:01] They have all been pulled from shelves to review.

[00:46:04] So Shakespeare titles are at risk.

[00:46:07] Yeah.

[00:46:08] Wow.

[00:46:09] Yeah.

[00:46:09] You've got to try hard.

[00:46:11] So when they see that they're up for review, that's the challenge.

[00:46:15] Yeah.

[00:46:16] Challenge means that we're going to talk about it and see what the complaint is and if it's valid.

[00:46:22] If we actually pull it from the shelf and no longer allow it, then that means it's banned.

[00:46:28] Got it.

[00:46:28] So that's the difference between challenge to band.

[00:46:30] Okay.

[00:46:31] Yeah.

[00:46:31] But these books have been pulled because they've been challenged.

[00:46:35] They just haven't necessarily been banned, but they might as well be because they're not on the shelf.

[00:46:40] Gotcha.

[00:46:41] Yeah.

[00:46:41] So under Florida legislation, teachers can be charged with a felony for possessing and distributing quote unquote inappropriate books.

[00:46:51] I got to tell you, if I was single, didn't have a family to worry about.

[00:46:55] And I was a school librarian.

[00:46:57] You better bet your ass.

[00:46:58] I'm going to go to fucking jail over that.

[00:46:59] Oh yeah.

[00:47:00] I would fucking make a point.

[00:47:01] I'm not suggesting that anybody do that.

[00:47:04] But I mean, if you are able to.

[00:47:06] And you think that this is an important cause?

[00:47:08] No.

[00:47:09] Yeah.

[00:47:09] I am in coaching.

[00:47:10] But I'm not suggesting somebody do it just to do it.

[00:47:12] But I'm just saying that to me, this isn't important cause and fuck you for put me in jail.

[00:47:17] Yeah.

[00:47:18] This is the fuck you.

[00:47:19] Yeah.

[00:47:19] That is some bullshit.

[00:47:21] Yeah.

[00:47:21] And I would make sure that it got fuck national coverage.

[00:47:24] Right.

[00:47:24] I'm right in the middle of the street.

[00:47:25] I'm looking to make a movie afterward.

[00:47:27] I mean, that guy for Neil on the 50 yard line.

[00:47:30] I'll call him Seattle or Rara.

[00:47:31] Fuck.

[00:47:32] No.

[00:47:33] I was a bad man.

[00:47:34] I know you were saying.

[00:47:36] Oh, I apologize.

[00:47:37] No, I didn't know.

[00:47:38] And I was like, yeah.

[00:47:39] I'm calling.

[00:47:39] I'm calling.

[00:47:40] No, the 50 of one.

[00:47:41] That's why I said that you are lying.

[00:47:42] The football coach, the high school football.

[00:47:44] I don't know.

[00:47:45] No, or care to know his name.

[00:47:46] It turns out he's not even from that state.

[00:47:49] Oh, I know.

[00:47:50] He lives in 40.

[00:47:50] Well, they're fucker.

[00:47:53] But he has a movie deal, a book deal.

[00:47:57] He's making the rounds of like, you know, interviews all over the fucking place.

[00:48:02] This fucker's famous for kneeling on a goddamn football field.

[00:48:07] Well, just in case listeners don't know what the fuck we're talking about.

[00:48:10] Yes, right?

[00:48:11] This football coach, from our high school.

[00:48:16] He had come from out of state, I guess, to be a teacher at this school.

[00:48:22] And I don't remember what state the school is at.

[00:48:24] Right.

[00:48:24] It was, I think it was in like Washington or we're going to.

[00:48:27] I was somewhere in the north west for sure.

[00:48:32] Well, in any way, he was having the football players come to a prayer

[00:48:37] at the goal post or what the fuck ever.

[00:48:40] I don't know.

[00:48:41] If you're lying.

[00:48:41] 50 or like, okay, whatever.

[00:48:43] Doesn't matter.

[00:48:43] Yeah, before and after the game.

[00:48:46] And so he was fired because parents complain because excuse you what the fuck.

[00:48:51] That's not okay.

[00:48:52] So he sued and they found that, yeah, you shouldn't have fired him.

[00:48:59] He has the right to do that.

[00:49:03] And he was rehired never even, he went back for one game and then skied, skied,

[00:49:10] and then he was a little bit mad.

[00:49:10] Well, you forgot to mention the most important part because the Supreme Court cited with this fucker.

[00:49:15] Yeah.

[00:49:16] Okay.

[00:49:16] Our fucking Supreme Court, yeah.

[00:49:19] Sited with this fucking asshole.

[00:49:22] Changing, who's just whatever?

[00:49:25] I can't, I can't even stomach what is happening in the Supreme Court right now.

[00:49:28] Oh.

[00:49:28] And, and what is doing to our country?

[00:49:30] But it's, I have no business knowing anything about what's happening with the Supreme Court

[00:49:35] and it pisses me the fuck off that I have to pay attention to that boring bullshit

[00:49:42] because they are just doing such a horrible job of deciphering the laws that have always been on the books

[00:49:51] or not, not making the laws the way they should be.

[00:49:59] Right.

[00:49:59] It just pisses me off like I should not have to pay the fuck attention to the Supreme Court

[00:50:05] and to know the names and the histories of them.

[00:50:08] Old me would never have been interested in that.

[00:50:11] I'm still not interested, but I'm pissed off enough.

[00:50:14] And what they're doing then I do pay attention.

[00:50:17] Sure.

[00:50:17] It takes up a large portion of my time knowing what them and all the fucking politicians are doing.

[00:50:22] Asholes, I hate them all.

[00:50:23] Just be boring you guys.

[00:50:25] Just do your fucking job, do it correctly.

[00:50:27] Stop being assholes.

[00:50:28] So throughout history books promoting atheism, secularism or scientific inquiry that challenged religious orthodoxy have been targeted

[00:50:38] often for censorship or outright banning.

[00:50:42] Specific examples of atheists or humanist texts that have faced censorship or the god delusion by Richard Dawkins

[00:50:50] Letter to a Christian nation by Sam Harris.

[00:50:54] Why I am not a Christian by Bertrand Russell is a hamathmatician, I think?

[00:51:00] I don't know the answer to that, but I don't.

[00:51:03] You look at it up.

[00:51:04] I'm pretty sure there's a mathematician.

[00:51:05] Got it.

[00:51:06] And other works by early free thinkers like Thomas Payne and Voltaire.

[00:51:11] These bands attempt to suppress dissenting viewpoints and limit access to information that challenges religious dogma,

[00:51:17] which is basically what we've been talking about this whole episode.

[00:51:21] Band books week provides an opportunity to recognize and oppose attempts to silence, atheist voices,

[00:51:29] and defend the freedom to access and explore a diversity of perspectives including those that challenge religious beliefs.

[00:51:36] Got it.

[00:51:37] He was a mathematician along with philosopher, which is how I knew him, but yeah.

[00:51:43] So yes.

[00:51:44] He's a smarty guy.

[00:51:45] The suppression of atheist thought within the larger theme of band books highlights the struggle for it intellectual freedom and encompasses a wide range of perspectives, including those critical of religion.

[00:52:01] The writings of early free thinkers like Baruch Spinoza and Dennis Dinerow were often suppressed or banned due to their critiques of religion and promotion of rationalism.

[00:52:13] And I know Spinoza was one of the early philosophers in helping compose our like forget, I forget what he did.

[00:52:25] But I want to say he was either part of the enlightenment or right after that helps in the creation of what we based our constitution on or something.

[00:52:36] Okay.

[00:52:36] He was a great writer.

[00:52:37] Yeah, yeah.

[00:52:38] I mean he influenced a lot of big thinkers from what I just did it quick, search because I don't know enough about I've heard the name before but I don't know enough about him.

[00:52:46] And I should because he's very influential and yeah definitely would be.

[00:52:53] This is the kind of stuff that I want to get into actually like you know I mean there's that the people that are on the list of people that are influenced or people that I want to read too.

[00:53:00] So I mean like definitely when I did down this rabbit.

[00:53:03] Yeah, he was more of a political and political philosopher.

[00:53:08] Right. So that was where he laid another would be of course Charles Darwin's on the origin of species and other scientific texts that challenge creation is views have also faced censorship attempts from our religious groups.

[00:53:23] Of course because science, you know, we can't have we can't have science.

[00:53:28] No, I mean it's it's sad but Darwin has become this it's almost it's it's not we can't view it as just science because it's such a political thing as well right it's become a catch point for politics in religion.

[00:53:47] Yeah because of how controversial it is to the idea of the Christian religion in the United States right or religion in general.

[00:53:56] I'm not saying just the United States but the idea that we were not just made from fucking dirt or or you know a God book or something is just it hurts, you know people that are religious is feelings so I and you know they can't take it.

[00:54:13] So it's that's that's the thing it's a scientific book right yeah why can't we just examine it on its merits and then if you want to dismiss it find the reasons to dismiss it right.

[00:54:25] Scientifically dismiss the science should know the way other scientists do sure that's the wonderful thing about science we have no problem being wrong.

[00:54:34] Yeah, man. Just let's be right I want you know what if I'm a scientist I want to be fucking wrong prove me so wrong with your right yeah because I want to know you want to be a cog in the progression towards knowledge.

[00:54:48] Yeah, I want to know the right yeah so if I'm wrong please make it right yeah that's that's what that knowledge that's what knowledge is all about you want to be the most right the mode you want to have the most correct answer.

[00:55:02] Yeah yeah because that's that's it to a lot of people that's very important and to me it's very important to me as well.

[00:55:09] I think that it is very important to be as right as possible whether we're talking about science whether we're talking about social issues whether we're talking about.

[00:55:19] And I don't know what do you for lunch you know like there's right answers you know the right answer from me one day though on lunch is not going to the same as the next day so I mean well I mean there's nuance like not everything is just a simple answer and actually something that I wanted to propose that we talk about next week.

[00:55:37] Is an article that I read and some comments about it that kind of discussed the.

[00:55:46] The difference and the misunderstandings with regard to trans people and intersex people.

[00:55:54] Yeah you actually sure that would be good.

[00:55:56] It was so fascinating the article itself and the comments one of the people speaking about the article and saying.

[00:56:06] And pointing out some of its flaws was a trans person yeah and it was so interesting because a bunch of LGBT QIA very firm allies like.

[00:56:18] Yes, staunch allies were arguing with the trans person's interpretation and so the discussion just really unfolded from there I thought that would be a great topic.

[00:56:30] No, I agree. I think that that I you know and we're going to we would be examining that from a perspective of we are not trans ourselves obviously.

[00:56:40] Obviously but we do have a kid that that that that that.

[00:56:43] I did find this chance so that is an important aspect to our lives and I think that there.

[00:56:50] The our ideas with regard to that discussion fell in line with kind of how we feel about other liberal discussions album better out in the world and.

[00:56:59] And that's that sometimes there there are there's the most right sometimes but there's also trying to get people to even recognize that there is a right.

[00:57:10] Yeah, right and you have to decide who you're talking to. Yeah and my point two was that sometimes the answer is nuanced and.

[00:57:22] Sometimes the answer can be two nuanced for the audience that you're speaking to which is what you were just saying.

[00:57:28] So I'm not going to get into it too much further because that might be that's got that that will definitely be part of the discussion yeah but I think that would be a nice follow up from this.

[00:57:37] Because I have reached the end of band books week well that's great yeah I mean I hopefully we never have to talk about band books ever again.

[00:57:47] I know maybe this podcast will change the whole fucking world get the fuck out.

[00:57:53] The Santa's will lose his job you know I mean I usually just going to happen because of this this podcast will be the most phenomenal band book podcast ever and then everything will just fix itself.

[00:58:05] Anyway, I usually don't like to leave you guys with a challenge or call to action or homework but this one time.

[00:58:18] I am going to assign some homework within the next few weeks if not this week see if you can come across a list of band books and challenge yourself to read one.

[00:58:33] And if you're not much of a reader there are children's books there are children's picture books.

[00:58:39] Yeah, you know that you can just look online and they're free or you can go to your local library if you're like you know me and pressed for money.

[00:58:50] But find a band book and read it.

[00:58:54] Well it's supporting libraries just for the record as always.

[00:58:56] Yes.

[00:58:56] So right thing to do.

[00:58:57] Oh my god.

[00:58:58] Whether you utilize them enough or not make sure you do at least support them.

[00:59:03] If you walked into a library and asked a librarian I would like to read a band book here's what I'm looking for can you help me they would be tickled pink.

[00:59:12] And if you told them, I just listened to a podcast that talked about what heroes librarians are.

[00:59:20] Yeah, you would probably bring them to tears right?

[00:59:22] So do that.

[00:59:24] Yeah, I really I do think that librarians are some of the most important front line workers with regard to our first.

[00:59:35] First time writes yeah so I do appreciate their work they do.

[00:59:41] And I I love recognizing that fact and these these we get the opportunity at least once a year with the band book week because we do we do tend to go over this I think yearly but.

[00:59:50] And the band book week there's also a library day that I.

[00:59:55] To celebrate myself but don't really catch it.

[00:59:58] We like books.

[00:59:58] We like books.

[00:59:59] There you go.

[01:00:00] So I am actually going to send another homework assignment with your damn.

[01:00:04] Yeah, so if you guys get an opportunity.

[01:00:08] I would love to hear.

[01:00:11] If you if you have the opportunity to send us an email or some other private conversation.

[01:00:15] I would love to hear how you have handled a discussion with a family member about transgender if you've had that discussion.

[01:00:25] Yeah, I would love to hear how that went transgender and or intersex and or any kind of gender or sexuality.

[01:00:34] Just because we're going to be talking about next week.

[01:00:36] You know, if you've got a story to share share with us.

[01:00:39] Yeah, if you don't know our email address right off top of your head it's sacrilegist discourse at gmail.com or you can go to our website sacrilegist discourse.com.

[01:00:47] And there's a contact page on there either one will work or you know there's various social media places you can reach as well.

[01:00:54] But long form is going to be easier to email I think so.

[01:00:57] And if you have a story to share and you're willing to share it let us know that too.

[01:01:03] Yeah, we would love to hear from you.

[01:01:05] Yeah, and I don't know that we will you utilize that in our podcast.

[01:01:10] But we still want to hear the stories and and we may utilize it but let us know if it's okay to yes like if you if you do send us something let us know if it's okay to share it or not.

[01:01:19] Yeah, if it's personal tell us we won't share any of it.

[01:01:21] Absolutely, but you know if you don't mind is sharing it let us know that too.

[01:01:25] Yeah, so you have anything else for us before we get out of here read a band book and tell us about your discussions.

[01:01:32] Yes those are the things.

[01:01:33] Alright, thank you guys for being patient with us over the last couple of weeks.

[01:01:37] We should be back on track for the most part now.

[01:01:41] Hopefully.

[01:01:42] Yeah and everything will be kind of how we discuss at the beginning of the episode and going forward that's how it'll be.

[01:01:48] Thanks guys.

[01:01:49] Have a nice day.

[01:01:53] Can't do this.

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[01:01:56] He's channeled.

[01:01:56] I'm Leapling shirt unshnapps the i'm coffee on suck.

[01:02:00] I'm flick.

[01:02:00] Kind of panic.

[01:02:01] Persial disc's written in-tuck.

[01:02:03] With their craftform form, you can see the hard-naked flanks.

[01:02:08] For deep-fried fish.

[01:02:09] Just like the disc's in the tromber and the rest, that's what your machine does.

[01:02:14] Because you always have your best.

[01:02:16] Try the best discs from Pessier.

[01:02:19] I'll show you guys from the kids.