“But the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.” ~John Stuart Mill
Do not believe everything you think. A wise friend of mine shared with me that his Life List includes changing his beliefs on something that he always held as the truth. This idea sparked reflection about my own truths. Which thoughts are worthy of belief and which ones should be questioned? I have been conditioned on what to think not necessarily on how to think even though the ability to think is essential to humanity. Consequently, many of the messages in my head are not my own. I suspect that I am not alone in holding truths that are created by others’ messages (language) that have become ingrained into my thoughts without any questioning of these beliefs. Fortunately, as human beings, we have the intellectual prowess to think critically and re-examine our truths and the truths of others.
Truth and the freedom to express truth are central to Banned Books Week celebrated from September 26th until September 30th. During this week, we honor the privilege to think, read, and write. According to the American Library Association, the week is important for raising awareness of “intellectual freedom — the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular.” With this freedom, we have a responsibility to challenge ourselves and each other to discover the truth, if there is just one.
Whether for vulgar language or sexual or violent content, the banned and challenged books cause offense because they violate another person’s idea of the truth. Yet, is censorship the most productive way of handling truths that contradict our own? Have not our greatest inventions and social changes come from individuals who have the courage to take action on ideas and truths that may seem crazy or unpopular?
The challenging and banning of books recognized in Banned Books Week are just an example of how the truth is told or suppressed. This course will allow us to explore what constitutes the truth and whose truth is the truth. Do words put in motion, whether floating in our heads, on paper, or in the air, create the truth? Does the truth change? If so, what role does language play in the process of change as we research, analyze, question, and dialogue about ideas that may or may not be true?
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Telling or Banning the Truth
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I loved this post. I often think of this.. "Why do I think this way as opposed to another?" And more often than not it's because I was told something by someone when I was younger and simply never questioned it. For me that is a huge part of learning and growing, questioning what we believe to be true. Do you censorship has it's place in society? And who do you think should decide what should be censored?
ReplyDeleteYour questions are very important, Jordyn. I see a very limited role of the government in censorship. Exceptions to this liberal view would be any activities, such a child pornography, that physically, mentally, or emotionally endanger children. However, defining such activities is challenging as is discovering and stopping them. Otherwise, the free exchange of information and ideas is critical.
ReplyDeleteJessica Swan