On My Soapbox October 14, 2007

I have so much to catch up on, post-wise! This one’s going to get a little political in parts, just so you know. You may not agree with me, and that’s fine. But I still think some of this stuff merits comment.

A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing

Banned Book Week was a couple weeks ago, but since many of you might not have realized that, I still think it’s worth discussion. Most people know what a huge reader I am - I rarely go anywhere without a book of some sort, and am almost always in the process of reading two or three. I can’t imagine a world without books. I have learned so much about the world and about myself from the things I have read over the years. So I was pretty fascinated to read this piece that lists the Top 100 Banned Books from 1990-2000, as listed by something called The Office for Intellectual Freedom. I’m proud to say I’ve read 38 of the 100 … and my strong non-conformist spirit only makes me want to check out the other 62! I mean, come on! Huck Finn? To Kill a Mockingbird? In the Night Kitchen and Where’s Waldo? Have people lost their minds??? Check out the list and let me know how appalling you think these choices are.

Why Legislation Is Beside the Point

I don’t know which side of the line you’re in the abortion debate, but this article really gave me pause. It basically concludes that abortion is just as common in countries where it is not legal as in those where it is. It doesn’t matter whether the countries or the people are rich or poor, and about half of all procedures performed are not safe. What does this tell me? Exactly what people knew before Roe v. Wade … that legislation isn’t going to make a damn bit of difference … all it’s going to do is push things underground and into back alleys. Now you may be adamantly pro-choice, you may be vehemently anti-choice … but really, what it comes down to is this. Do you think women should have to die for their choices?

The Gay Bomb

This one is so bizarre that you just know it has to be true! (the story is actually a few years old, but this was the first I’ve heard of it.) According to this article, a watchdog group (which also happens to be headquartered right here in lovely Austin, TX) uncovered a proposal by the U.S. military to “create a hormone bomb that could purportedly turn enemy soldiers into homosexuals and make them more interested in sex than fighting.” Leaving aside the absurdity of even thinking something like this would work, the very idea is completely hilarious. I wonder if it would work in Iran, where there aren’t any gay people. ;-)