Ian S. Thompson – 1/1/06

This page was last updated on January 3, 2006.

No place for censorship; Ian S. Thompson; Beaver County Times; January 1, 2006.

As background, Mr. Thompson is/was a Penn State student whose fields of study are/were English and international politics. If you’ve read Mr. Thompson’s letters since at least mid-2004, you know he’s a full-blown socialist who tends to resort to name-calling and unsupported talking points.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“In a speech at Dartmouth College in 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower - a Republican for those who may not be up on their history - urged his audience not to join the ranks of ‘book burners,’ further remarking, ‘Don’t think you are going to conceal thoughts by concealing evidence that they ever existed.’”

[RWC] What difference does it make that President Eisenhower was a Republican? Note how Mr. Thompson resorted to name-calling right off the bat by writing about book burners.

“Sadly, more than 50 years later, some continue the quest to ban and conceal that which they label ‘smut’ and offensive to notions of ‘traditional’ morality.

“I have found the ongoing debate in our community over efforts to ban a certain book to be a deeply disturbing but fitting reminder of the current regressive period in our history.

“Part of the responsibility of art, of which books and literature are a part, is to challenge that which is labeled ‘traditional’ and sometimes that means disturbing or offending. People, high school students included, need to be free to think and question and debate. What value is there in an education that attempts to hide and conceal ideas?

“Moralistic censorship has no place in an enlightened society. The answer to ideas that we do not agree with is not less, but more. Everyone is always free to challenge that with which they disagree, but no one and no group should be free to deprive others of the liberties that once made this country such a unique and special place.”

[RWC] I have to admit I haven’t followed this issue closely, but it’s my understanding the issue is what’s appropriate for the age of the students. I don’t believe in censorship, but I do believe schools have the responsibility to make sure the material they use is appropriate for the age of the students. Parents surely have the right to make their positions known on this topic.

“Lyndon Johnson said in 1964 that books and ideas were the ‘most effective weapons against intolerance and ignorance.’ That was as true then as it is today.

[RWC] Why didn’t Mr. Thompson feel compelled to tell us Lyndon Johnson was a Democrat?

“The would-be censors of Beaver County and beyond would do well to learn from it.”