Authorities, especially rulers in countries that fear the spreading of dissent and free thought, have always practiced censorship, sending dissenters off to prison, gulags, and in many cases, to their deaths. Voltaire had to flee France due to some of his satirical writings; now dissenters like Vladimir Kara-Murza in Russia and Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi in China face lengthy prison sentences.
And repressive regimes just don’t go after the prominent but also people like Alexei Moskalyov, a hard working father whose daughter reflected his anti-war sentiments in Russia, now detained in Belarus, another pinnacle of autocracy.
We here in America think how terrible this is, but we should not congratulate ourselves too quickly. The Salem witch hunters are alive and well, throwing out books and trying to fire teachers who do not agree with their narrow views of the world. Free thought and dissent are essential to the functioning of a democracy. Only those who fear that their children might think differently want to shut down the free exchange of ideas.
Prayer for the Day
Confronted by ideas some do not understand,
Political leaders are called upon to censor ideas;
Frustrated because the world no longer reflects old values,
Many seek the stability of an imagined past.
Help us to have new insights, unafraid of questions
And welcome a future that is open to all.
In the name of the One who always asked questions,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is the hallmark of an authoritarian regime.
- Potter Stewart, Supreme Court Justice, dissent U.S. v. Ginzburg (1915-1985)
Let children read whatever they want. If parents and kids can talk together, then we won’t have as much censorship because we won’t have as much fear.
- Judy Blume, novelist, Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret, among others
Therefore, thus says the Lord God,
See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a sure foundation;
“One who trusts will not panic.” And I will make justice the line,
And righteousness the plummet;
Hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.
Isaiah 28: 16-17