Book Vigilantes

 BOOK VIGILANTES

We have an incidence of book vigilantes in a neighboring community - - Pella.  For those not familiar, Pella is in Iowa southeast of Des Moines inhabited mostly by descendents of Dutch immigrants.  These were protestant immigrants who found themselves at odds with Catholic members of Dutch society and decided to immigrate in the name of religious freedom which so many religious sects did. 

A new group has formed and become active in Pella and surrounding environs who I shall name "The Book Vigilantes".  The members of this group are mobilizing to ensure that certain books are not contained on the shelves of local libraries.  Unfortunately, the members of this new sect, for I will call it a sect, are not easily distinguishable from the remainder of the population.  This needs to be remedied.

My suggestion is that members of "The Book Vigilantes" don masks or some other recognizable symbol to set themselves apart from the general public.  Possibly masks like the Lone Ranger's mask, a rather inconsequential mask not too overpowering.  Hoods such as the Klan might be a little too much although some of their rhetoric would seem to indicate that a hood might actually be more appropriate.

The idea is, of course, to set these "Vigilantes" apart so that I, for instance, will know one when I see one.  I think this is important.  I certainly don't want to engage in a conversation with some stranger to find out in the middle of it that he or she belongs to "The Book Vigilantes".  It's quite important that I give no indication that reading books is an enjoyable and interesting method of passing some hours; or for that matter, that I have ever read one.

It simply would not be tolerable to attempt to explain the necessity of reading to people who don't do it.  It is something they can't possibly grasp and if they don't read, which most assuredly the "The Book Vigilantes" don't, it wouldn't be worth the effort to explain its benefits.  It's not like they would be willing to sit down with King Lear and spend a couple of hours with the King and his troubles.  Simply not worth the effort.

This, of course leads to the conclusion that "The Book Vigilantes" simply need to go home and mind their own business and don't worry if one of their kids should pick up an objectionable book.  The kid won't read it anyway.  And if my kid wants to read one of the "Banned" books, I would say go for it and once you read it we will discuss it. 

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo