Nazi Book Burnings
Last Friday, the Royal Holloway University of London Library, announced that it would be taking measures to 'decolonize' its collection of books. The library said that in an effort to combat 'structural racism' in British society, it would be removing certain titles from its collection. In a statement, the library said:
"We've taken time to reflect on our role in this and recognise that we must do more to combat systemic racism and support the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) community. With this in mind, we've created a reading list of resources to help you to understand the struggle against racism...Going forward we will be sharing details on the steps we are taking to decolonize and diversify our collections, make our services more inclusive and tackle racism and discrimination. Now is the time for lasting change."
While book burning was a craze in Nazi Germany and was often led by student activists, the actions of libraries like the Royal Holloway, look more akin to book binning. There is of course, nothing new in British libraries eliminating reading material that was considered not conducive to the tastes, of what is nowadays, dubbed by some, the 'woke' left who object to reading material that is not in line with socially liberal causes, such as feminism. During the 1960's and 1970's, many looney-left London authorities, discreetly destroyed thousands of books that were considered 'sexist', 'imperialist', 'colonialist', 'homophobic and racist.'
While it is not altogether clear what 'decolonizing' literature actually means, or what is likely to be censored, or how objective it is likely to be, it looks like Kipling is destined for the dustbin, and other famous English writers such as Dickens, Thackeray, Waugh and Orwell, might also be in serious peril of being thrown down the memory hole.
At a time when statues are being toppled and thrown into the drink, many movies and television programmes that are now considered offensive to the trendy-left, are also being purged of their content, so as to not offend left sensibilities and the so-called 'BME Community'.
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1 comment:
I'm sorry that the author of this has taken the click bait. Attacks on our 'history' have become the main device by which the ruling class and their lackey press is attacking Black Lives Matter. ALl you are doing with this stupid story is playing into the hands of Johnson, Priti Patel and the far Right.
I don't know what 'decolonising' a book collection is but it's stupid to suggest that it's the equivalent of 'book burning'. I doubt and hope no book will be destroyed. Historians don't destroy texts because they aren't anti-racist. They are evidence of past racism. THey may be confined to special collections or come with a warning to people but no historian destroys evidence because of present views. We are interested in all past evidence.
Use of the term 'loony left' is particularly atrocious. This was the term of the Sun and others to attack Ken Livingstone and those who wanted to see an end to homophobia, British rule in Ireland and so on.
It is clear that you or your correspondent is following on from the Brexit nationalism to encompass other areas.
Yes there were a few fascists out this weekend 'defending' their statues. In Brighton alone there were 20,000 young kids out to demonstrate their opposition to fascism and racism. That to me is what is important.
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