Speak out against injustice
To the Editor:
“Why do we have to read this stuff anyway?” That question, from a student in the high school literature class I was teaching, is still swirling in my mind. We were reading a selection from the writings of 16th century philosopher, Niccolo Machiavelli. His works promote governing through deceit, violence, manipulation and control. For Machiavelli, total power can be achieved through evil acts and violent means.
My answer then, is still my answer now. We have to read “this stuff” so that we can recognize it if it happens in our country and speak out against it.” We read “this stuff” so that, as students of history and literature, we understand that controlling the contents of libraries is a step to controlling the minds of readers. We read it to be vigilant about the ways in which justice is implemented. Is it fair and impartial or vindictive and manipulative?
We read it so we can evaluate our leaders and discern the means they are using to govern in a democratic nation. We read it so that we are outraged when a student, exercising free speech, is arrested by masked guards or a father is sent to a Salvadoran prison without access to justice.
We read it so we can shout, “Look, America, do you see any deceit, violence, manipulation and evil tactics being used to achieve total control? If so, where is your voice? Where is your outrage?
Betty Mantsch
Clinton
