In Defence Of Knowledge
September 29th 2006 20:21
When starting this blog I never had any intention of getting political (so I’ll keep this short). But when our government begins banning books, from universities no less, I just have to say something. I received a combined statement, via my local writers association, from the Council of Aust. University Librarians, ALIA, Aust. Society of Authors and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions condemning the forced removal of two books – Join the Caravan and Defence of the Muslim Lands – from the University of Melbourne Library. Now, you can read this statement for yourself on the ASA site, (and I suggest that you do) which basically points out the obvious.
By banning these books, we are suppressing information. It may not be constructive information, and I have no doubt it is more than likely destructive, (which is why they have banned them) but as this statement points out, all the more reason for the information to be accessible. Especially to those who wish to study it.
If we do not know what their theory is and how it has been derived, how are we ever going to address it? And has history not shown us that by suppressing this sort of information all we are doing is sending it underground, making it even more desirable?
I shutter at any talk of banning books, regardless of its content. To read is to learn, to learn is to know, to know is the beginning of knowledge. How have we got where we are today? Through knowledge. Hang on – there may be a problem with that, because from what I’ve seen lately – we’ve gotten absolutely nowhere!
If we do not know what their theory is and how it has been derived, how are we ever going to address it? And has history not shown us that by suppressing this sort of information all we are doing is sending it underground, making it even more desirable?
I shutter at any talk of banning books, regardless of its content. To read is to learn, to learn is to know, to know is the beginning of knowledge. How have we got where we are today? Through knowledge. Hang on – there may be a problem with that, because from what I’ve seen lately – we’ve gotten absolutely nowhere!
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