NationStates Jolt Archive

As this topic has been mentioned in the thread about where to put the bible in a library, I thought I'd start an extra thread for it.

Sure, a book is just an item, a thing.
But books in general represent the collected knowledge of mankind, of centuries and centuries of thinking, researching, studying, exploring.
Every book has s story to tell, every book is capable of teaching, every book is a world of thought of another human being. It can contain experience, new revelations, cross references, a new way of thinking, a revolution in opinion. It can entertain you, inform you, help you, excite you, soothe you, make you curious, bore you, appal you, scare you, amuse you, make you laugh or cry, teach you, instruct you, stimulate your imagination, inspire you, offend you, captivate you and anger you. You never know which until you read it. Erich Kaestner once said "Being able to read is like having a second pair of eyes"

Do you remember those flag-burning threads? It feels a bit like that, only books are much more than a flag. Books CONTAIN all the ideas behind all the flags in the world.

It doesn't really matter what book gets burned, it will always make me feel uneasy. It can be a political action or a moral outcry; I normally don't have problems with people burning books because they don't agree with the contents (in most cases, that just shows their own small-mindedness), but every book is in a way a representative for all books, for all writen knowledge. And that aspect makes me cringe whenever I hear about people burning books.

It also stirs some very uncomfortable memories about the autdafes of the past... The burning of books in Grenada after the reconquista drove the Moors out of the country, the pyres in Berlin when the Nazis burned books by authors they didn't agree with....

And finally, burning a book is an act of censorship. By burning a book you declare that in your opinion, nobody should read this.

"Those that burn books will eventually burn people."
-Erich Kästner upon watching his books getting burned by the Nazis.

no 1 should burn books. ever. just coz "you" (whomever that may b) dont like or agree wiv the content doesnt mean that no1 else will like/agree wiv/believe it. we have no right to control what other ppl should or should not c.

As this topic has been mentioned in the thread about where to put the bible in a library, I thought I'd start an extra thread for it.

Sure, a book is just an item, a thing.
But books in general represent the collected knowledge of mankind, of centuries and centuries of thinking, researching, studying, exploring.
Every book has s story to tell, every book is capable of teaching, every book is a world of thought of another human being. It can contain experience, new revelations, cross references, a new way of thinking, a revolution in opinion. It can entertain you, inform you, help you, excite you, soothe you, make you curious, bore you, appal you, scare you, amuse you, make you laugh or cry, teach you, instruct you, stimulate your imagination, inspire you, offend you, captivate you and anger you. You never know which until you read it. Erich Kaestner once said "Being able to read is like having a second pair of eyes"

Do you remember those flag-burning threads? It feels a bit like that, only books are much more than a flag. Books CONTAIN all the ideas behind all the flags in the world.

It doesn't really matter what book gets burned, it will always make me feel uneasy. It can be a political action or a moral outcry; I normally don't have problems with people burning books because they don't agree with the contents (in most cases, that just shows their own small-mindedness), but every book is in a way a representative for all books, for all writen knowledge. And that aspect makes me cringe whenever I hear about people burning books.

It also stirs some very uncomfortable memories about the autdafes of the past... The burning of books in Grenada after the reconquista drove the Moors out of the country, the pyres in Berlin when the Nazis burned books by authors they didn't agree with....

And finally, burning a book is an act of censorship. By burning a book you declare that in your opinion, nobody should read this.


While I do not find the act right … nor would I ever participate in general book burning I absolutely (like flags) don’t condone a law making the burning of books (providing no safety hazard and ownership) illegal

no 1 should burn books. ever. just coz "you" (whomever that may b) dont like or agree wiv the content doesnt mean that no1 else will like/agree wiv/believe it. we have no right to control what other ppl should or should not c.
Ouch painful to read that, I don’t think he/she was condoning a ban on book burning. Just saying that it was not a good idea.

Ouch painful to read that, I don’t think he/she was condoning a ban on book burning. Just saying that it was not a good idea.
I don't think he meant Cabra West with "you(whoever that may b)"...

I'm not asking for any legislation in that field, I'm sorry if anybody took it that way.
I'm not saying that it's illegal or should be illegal. I'm just stating why I think it's wrong.

I don't think he meant Cabra West with "you(whoever that may b)"...
Very possible the message was … well hard to read lol

I agree - books should not be burned.

Why you shouldn't burn books - ever!
I have a "book" on my shelf that is really nothing more than container for some high explosives. Should anyone try to burn my books, everyone in a 75' radius is going to get a really nasty suprise... :D

I have a "book" on my shelf that is really nothing more than container for some high explosives. Should anyone try to burn my books, everyone in a 75' radius is going to get a really nasty suprise... :D

And because you have a sense of irony, it's "a farewell to arms", isn't it?

Pleeeease.

Sure, a book is just an item, a thing.
But books in general represent the collected knowledge of mankind, of centuries and centuries of thinking, researching, studying, exploring.
Every book has s story to tell, every book is capable of teaching, every book is a world of thought of another human being. It can contain experience, new revelations, cross references, a new way of thinking, a revolution in opinion. It can entertain you, inform you, help you, excite you, soothe you, make you curious, bore you, appal you, scare you, amuse you, make you laugh or cry, teach you, instruct you, stimulate your imagination, inspire you, offend you, captivate you and anger you. You never know which until you read it. Erich Kaestner once said "Being able to read is like having a second pair of eyes"

It is obvious that you love books. Powerful sentiment by the way.

Do you remember those flag-burning threads? It feels a bit like that, only books are much more than a flag. Books CONTAIN all the ideas behind all the flags in the world.

Yep. :D

While I do not find the act right … nor would I ever participate in general book burning I absolutely (like flags) don’t condone a law making the burning of books (providing no safety hazard and ownership) illegal

Well said.

Anyhoo, another great thread Cabra. Keep up the good work. :)

Well said.

Anyhoo, another great thread Cabra. Keep up the good work. :)

Thanks. I'll do my best :D

Hmmm, apparently the people who ended up burning Harry Potter books feel otherwise. And whatever overly religious crazies who thought that a book should be burned because they didn't agree with it.

But to be honest, I fail to see the point in burning books. As was pointed out, they are ideas. You cannot make an idea go away by burning a book, only make people ignorant of that idea by denying them the opportunity to read it.

Besides, that is simply material waste. If you truly must dispose of a book, recycling it would be better.

I never heard of anybody burning Harry Potter books... did that really happen? When? And why?

And because you have a sense of irony, it's "a farewell to arms", isn't it? Pleeeease.

Actually, the cover is Michael Walzer's "Just & Unjust Wars"...

I never heard of anybody burning Harry Potter books... did that really happen? When? And why?

Here are some links. Found through a quick search via google. Some of them are also multi-links so please take your time to look through them.

http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bookburning/21stcentury/21stcentury.htm
http://www.freep.com/news/religion/nburn6_20030806.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/potter2.htm

http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news1002/bookburning.html

This one above is interesting. According to them, book burning was created by them as a measure to keep the faith. I am of the opinion that the writer of the article is somewhat low on tolerance and intelligence, but I digess.

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2001/04/23/editorial2.html

This one appears to be an editorial directed against the clergy responsible for the book burnings.

All books, ever, should be burnt. All at once. To increase global warming. Then we should cut down all the trees and ban cyberspace, to make sure we dont have to deal with this so called "written word" again.

Well I think it's time we heard the other side of the argument, just for balance.

What about burning books that are outright lies/libellous such as Mein Kampf ? Surely those books that are used purely as a form of perjury should be destroyed?

All books, ever, should be burnt. All at once. To increase global warming. Then we should cut down all the trees and ban cyberspace, to make sure we dont have to deal with this so called "written word" again.

Is this what they call a poor attempt at trolling or just sarcasm? I cannot tell.

It doesn't really matter what book gets burned, it will always make me feel uneasy.

What if it's a book filled with my scribbled pictures of various types of trees?

Well I think it's time we heard the other side of the argument, just for balance.

What about burning books that are outright lies/libellous such as Mein Kampf ? Surely those books that are used purely as a form of perjury should be destroyed?

Even Mein Kampf should not be burnt, it is important for the wise to understand the mind of those who would seek power for the sake of their delusions.

'Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind' - Rudyard Kipling

no 1 should burn books. ever. just coz "you" (whomever that may b) dont like or agree wiv the content doesnt mean that no1 else will like/agree wiv/believe it. we have no right to control what other ppl should or should not c.
Looks like you burned your spelling and grammar books.

We can't burn the Bible?!?!?!?!

But it makes the right level of heat for cooking hot dogs and hamburgers!

Don't burn books.

It makes them smelly and hard to read.

Are you sure that Landover Baptist article ( http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news1002/bookburning.html ) is real? Surely someone is having a laugh.... aren't they??? Please tell me they're not serious..... :(

Thank God for that, it's a spoof :rolleyes:

Are you sure that Landover Baptist article ( http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news1002/bookburning.html ) is real? Surely someone is having a laugh.... aren't they??? Please tell me they're not serious..... :(

They're not. It's a spoof. And a pretty tasteless one to boot.

"The Landover Baptist Church is a complete work of fiction. It is a satire/parody."

http://www.landoverbaptist.org/tos.html

Are you sure that Landover Baptist article ( http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news1002/bookburning.html ) is real? Surely someone is having a laugh.... aren't they??? Please tell me they're not serious..... :(

:D Foo!

Take a look at their store. Don't know of too many churches that sell Christian Thongs.

:D

They're not. It's a spoof. And a pretty tasteless one to boot.

"The Landover Baptist Church is a complete work of fiction. It is a satire/parody."

http://www.landoverbaptist.org/tos.html

Oh they aren't that bad. They are kind of funny.....

The only books I will ever burn are my English books, and then only because we're not allowed to burn the teacher. :mp5: Other than that, books shouldn't be burned.

The only time when it is acceptable to burn any book is when you are stranded and need to burn something for a fire.

And also burning school work I no longer need like French or Chemistry et cetera.

And finally, burning a book is an act of censorship. By burning a book you declare that in your opinion, nobody should read this.

How? I think you should differentiate the difference between an individual burning a bokk for whatever reason, and a group of people systematically burning books because they disagree with what is said.

Though I don't really have any rational objection to book burning. It does make me feel uneasy, even when it is a lone nut onjecting for some random reason. But, meh, I got very uneasy when I had to throw around half my books out recently. I frequently go to second hand book shops and charity stores and buy cheap books that interest me, end result being that I actually had no more room anywhere in my room for them :(

I need a bigger room.

Another quotation you might like is "Manuscripts don't burn." From The Master and Margarita.

We can't burn the Bible?!?!?!?!

But it makes the right level of heat for cooking hot dogs and hamburgers!

Also the perfect size to make joints ;)

What if it is REALLY cold and I have nothing else to burn?

Well if you rip it up first it is technically not a book anymore

Well I think it's time we heard the other side of the argument, just for balance.

What about burning books that are outright lies/libellous such as Mein Kampf ? Surely those books that are used purely as a form of perjury should be destroyed?

Not really. I would actually go the other way. I think everyone should be encouraged to read Mein Kampf. Well, imo, it is the best anti-Nazi propaganda around.

Honestly, try and read it. It is utter shite. Makes Dan Brown look like Shakespeare.

I'm up for burning the Necronomicon if the real one is ever found, simply cause summoning the Old Ones to this plane goes in the category of really really bad ideas. Other than that, I'm against book being burned. :p

Should books be burned? Hmmm...

Certainly people have a RIGHT to burn books. I really don't see how it's morally wrong. What's so wrong with saying that "I think what this person is saying is a load of crap." What if it is? Sure, it is a little polarizing to burn books, but so is calling, say, Bush the next Hitler or Chirac a coward. Is that morally wrong? [and don't give me the old argument "Well, if it's true..."; you just happening to agree with it (or even lots of people happening to agree with it) doesn't make a particle of difference in this debate. No matter who you are, you should be able to find at least a couple of books the contents of which would make your blood boil]

As to whether it really is beneficial to a person's cause is not for me to judge. I can't think of a situation where I would logically do it.

In general, "censorship" not supported by law (in other words, just people repudiating other people's words or conduct with speech or demonstration) is both condonable and in some cases commendable. The old expression "sticks and stones..." is not true, and although I would never prevent someone from expressing himself, I continually reserve the right to vilify another person's words or actions, especially if I find them dangerous to society.

*burns a Marmaduke comic book*

Surely THIS is acceptable!

They're not. It's a spoof. And a pretty tasteless one to boot.

"The Landover Baptist Church is a complete work of fiction. It is a satire/parody."

http://www.landoverbaptist.org/tos.html

Hmmm, I missed that one. But some of the other articles appear to be somewhat legitimate. Can anyone tell me if it is so? Links provided.

http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20010326bookburn2.asp
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/1735623.stm

What should I do with my books that are so well read that they are falling apart? Am I allowed to at least recycle them? :D

What should I do with my books that are so well read that they are falling apart? Am I allowed to at least recycle them? :D

Consume them.

Hmmm, I missed that one. But some of the other articles appear to be somewhat legitimate. Can anyone tell me if it is so? Links provided.

http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20010326bookburn2.asp
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/1735623.stm

They seem pretty real, but I see nothing wrong with these book burnings. They werent trying to round up all harry potter books and burn them, they were burning their own books and cd's as a symbol of the things they are no longer going to allow in their lives. There is nothing wrong with that (unless you want to gripe about the environmental hazards of burning). The type of book burnings that are wrong are those that seek to eliminate a certain point of view, not those that seek to express your own feelings.

Phh... People burn Harry Potter books all the time. People say he "summons evil demons"! HA! First of all, demons are cool. Second, I don't recall him "summoning" anything. What are they talking about?

Phh... People burn Harry Potter books all the time. People say he "summons evil demons"! HA! First of all, demons are cool. Second, I don't recall him "summoning" anything. What are they talking about?

I seem to recall Harry Potter summoning a spirit being (Patronus) in The Prizoner of Azkaban (and again in The Goblet of Fire where he also communes with the dead).

No dont burn books, shoot them! Like my uncle with his 8th grade French book. France, shotgun, shotgun, Fance.

Yeah! Don't burn books! Put them in liquid nitrogen and hit them with hammers! It looks much cooler!

lol.

Here's an interesting question for you all, though:

If you HAD to burn books to keep warm, what type of books would you burn first?

"Fire-Starting for Dummies" *scratches head*

Well once you started the fire you wouldn't need it anymore. So probably that would be the second book. The first would probably be political propaganda like Michael Moore or Ann Coulter.

lol.

Here's an interesting question for you all, though:

If you HAD to burn books to keep warm, what type of books would you burn first?Pulp paperbacks from the last 20 years. They are replaceable.

Bibles and various religious texts. Not to be a dick, but because I've recently turned atheist and I've got loads of 'em.