Forbidden Reading

The section that I found most significant, or at least the one that elicited the biggest reaction, was the section on forbidden reading. I found myself immensely grateful that society as a whole has become more liberal about things that were so controversial and taboo centuries ago. The book-burnings across all different cultures and the elimination of the "old spirit" in favor of the new was shocking; the incredible lengths taken to censor reading material just because it no longer aligned with what the public was wanted to know or believe made me appreciate the right I have today to be able to read whatever I want without fear of penalty. I think it's important to be able to trace history via literature, and that wouldn't be possible if the book-burning tradition had remained so prominent and consistent an activity. I find that what irks me more than almost anything else is someone with a mind closed to many if not all cultures, belief systems, and ideas aside from their own. The quote by General Videla on page 289 cemented this disdain: "a terrorist is not just someone with a gun or bomb, but also someone who spreads ideas that are contrary to Western and Christian civilization." I think it's vital that people be able to try to know as much as possible about everything, and to have their minds absorb all different mentalities and beliefs and philosophies from every corner of the world-- otherwise their life is confined and sheltered and so limited that it's almost a waste in my opinion.