Back to School We Go

 BACK TO SCHOOL WE GO

Once again our little urchins are enclosed in the halls of learning.  It is now time, again, to make doubly sure that they do not learn of anything that is actually happening in the world or with whom it is happening.  You know, for example, the Russians are killing thousands of Ukrainians, the Israelis are killing thousands of Palestinians, the Myanmar army is killing thousands of Rohingyans.  

As you can see, all is well on the planet.  And oh! don't forget the coastal cities of the world will soon be under water and it's going to be really hot.  We don't want to worry their little brains with all these issues; no dejected kids here - - not necessary.  As long as we have them educated enough to read an how-to-manual and operate a computer we're good.  And let's not forget the continuing effort of book banning.  Possibly we could have a book burning for homecoming  Now that would be interesting.  The students can pick out the ones they want to burn.   I say give every kid three choices from the school library.  Hopefully there are that many left to burn by the time the legislature is finished with its efforts.

Now you might say I'm overreacting.  Well, there are plenty of precedents for this sort of thing.  The libraries of Babylon and Alexandria were burnt to the ground. The Nazis burnt all the books written by Jews.  One religion or another has been banning and burning books since books have existed.  Our federal government banned books from being sent through the U. S. Postal Service.  Nothing new here: a long and enduring celebration of destroying the word.  Many of us probably didn't realize just how dangerous words are; very dangerous indeed especially in the minds of those in charge.  

As we know all too well, especially by proponents of banning and burning, words create ideas and ideas create trouble; you can't control ideas unless you control books.  Very simple really and there are always those who want to limit the ideas floating around in the heads of our little urchins especially.  And since ideas cause trouble; no  new ideas please.  Only those ideas that meet with the approval of those who seem to be in charge will be tolerated; and if we can't keep them out of books stores and off the internet, we can at least keep them out of the school and local library.  No good can come from our children actually understanding the history of our country or giving some thought to why the Russians are killing Ukrainians, Israelis killing Palestinans, or the Myanmar army killing Rohingyans.  These things simply do not help them get jobs.

So once again, we must renew our efforts of limiting what our little urchins are exposed to.  We are making progress but it is not now the time to relax our efforts.

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo

Et Tu Babe

 ET TU BABE

It is now time to consider whether ET TU BABE by Mark Leyner is a Book for Bigots.  Interestingly, the main character in this work of fiction is Mark Leyner himself who transcends most of our ideas of wealth, power, popularity, and personal attributes.  After half a century of reading books, this is a new one - - the author as main character. 

If one looks at the reviews of the book reflected by a cursory Google search, one does not see much of an analysis:  such epithets are used as "cyberpunk", "rabid egotism", "exhilaratingly bizarre", "exhaustingly funny", "hilarious", "hyperglandular", "extravagant", and "kaleidoscopic" all of which would superficially suggest the book worth reading by anyone who reads novels.  This normally excludes Bigots since Bigots don't normally read novels (with the possible exception of Goldilocks) in the event they might run across a character that does not meet with their approval.  And in this case, they certainly would not approve.

I do not characterize ET TU BABE with any of the above.  It is a novel, since it is designated as such by those in the trade, only with the understanding that there is no other term that is appropriate to describe it.  Mr. Leyner, the fictional Mr. Leyner, has everything that any human being could imagine in the genre of superhero but a superhero totally self-indulgent.  One reaches the end of the book without the slightest inclination to be acquainted with him or anyone like him.

But more to the point, the author relates in one section of the book:  'Dr. Williams handed Todd a glossy brochure entitled "The Auto-Erotic Repetitive Motion Disorder Association of America"'.  Now this suggests right off that this is not a book for bigots - - autoeroticism is not normally a general topic of conversation for Bigots at meal time or while watching the Disney Channel.  In addition, since the main character is insatiable, all-wealthy, all-powerful, and all-popular with amazing personal attributes, sex is easy to come by and constantly appearing in one form or another making it verboten for all Bigots and those besotted with Bigotry, since sex, above all things, does not exist and not to be spoken of in their world.

As with most modern American literature in novel form, it is a book that would be subject to banning and burning by Bigotry and could not possibly be allowed to grace the library shelves of  our public schools.  What the intent of the author was in writing the book and structuring it as he has, is uncertain.  But one is left after reading it, not particularly caring for anyone portrayed in it.  One must gather that this was the intent; and consequently, a book that might actually have a beneficial effect on those who are  allowed to read it - - the characters here are not people you may want to emulate and as far as I can tell, have no admirable traits whatsoever.

At any rate, ET TU BABE is a candidate for banning and burning.  No erstwhile Bigot could possibly come to any other conclusion; the circumstances and references in it would cause serious discomfort.

Richard E H Phelps II

Mingo