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   George Takei :verified: 🏳️‍🌈🖖🏽 (georgetakei@universeodon.com)'s status on Wednesday, 22-Mar-2023 00:08:35 JST George Takei :verified: 🏳️‍🌈🖖🏽

   So far, in 2023, the United States has seen 116 mass shootings, at least 10 of which have taken place in schools. According to EdWeek, there have been 154 school shootings in the U.S. since 2018, 51 of which took place in 2022 alone—the most ever recorded in a single year.

   Yet instead of making any effort to restrict access to firearms, the Republican Party is working overtime to ban something they deem much more dangerous. Books.

   The latest book bans have a decidedly White Christian nationalist spin, and now teachers and librarians find themselves in the GOP crosshairs. That's today's subject in #TheBigPicture: https://thinkbigpicture.substack.com/republican-legislation-book-bans-censorship

   • Embed this notice
     ElleDawgg (She/Her) (lowie@universeodon.com)'s status on Wednesday, 22-Mar-2023 00:19:30 JST ElleDawgg (She/Her)

     in reply to

     @georgetakei

     This generation of children is growing up in the trauma of active shooters, watching their friends get shot and active shooter drills but can’t read a positive book about a butterfly.
     We are in the UpsideDown.
     ???

   • Embed this notice
     Absolem Philosopillar ? (absolem@universeodon.com)'s status on Wednesday, 22-Mar-2023 00:45:11 JST Absolem Philosopillar ?

     in reply to

     @georgetakei
     When I think of book bans, I think of Germany during the rise of the Nazi party, I think of China during the rise of Maoism, and Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution which precipitated the rise of the USSR.

     I never thought it would be here. But here we are in 2023. I mourn the loss of the United States of America. As it is being replaced by the new USA (the Union of Stupid Assholes).

     In America a gun has more protection under law (2nd Amendment) than books (1st Amendment). It is obvious which the elites fear most. They are fine with idiots armed to the teeth. But someone who reads and thinks scares them shitless.

   • Embed this notice
     @batyalee (batyalee@universeodon.com)'s status on Wednesday, 22-Mar-2023 05:43:40 JST @batyalee

     in reply to

     @georgetakei Excellent piece about #librarians fighting back. https://newrepublic.com/article/170920/conservative-book-bans-libraries-fighting-back

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     Rhombus Ticks (rticks@universeodon.com)'s status on Wednesday, 22-Mar-2023 20:32:10 JST Rhombus Ticks

     in reply to

     @georgetakei BoTh SiDeS aRe ThE sAme . o . O .

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     George Takei :verified: 🏳️‍🌈🖖🏽 (georgetakei@universeodon.com)'s status on Wednesday, 22-Mar-2023 22:14:11 JST George Takei :verified: 🏳️‍🌈🖖🏽

     in reply to

     • trask??

     @trask ?

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     trask?? (trask@ohai.social)'s status on Wednesday, 22-Mar-2023 22:14:12 JST trask??

     in reply to

     @georgetakei

     Damn straight.

     “As a child, I was tough enough to endure years behind a barbed wire fence because of my race. Surely it’s not too much to ask other students simply to learn about that dark chapter of history?”

   • Embed this notice
     George Takei :verified: 🏳️‍🌈🖖🏽 (georgetakei@universeodon.com)'s status on Wednesday, 22-Mar-2023 22:14:31 JST George Takei :verified: 🏳️‍🌈🖖🏽

     in reply to

     • FredRock

     @fredrock Truly...

   • Embed this notice
     FredRock (fredrock@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 22-Mar-2023 22:14:32 JST FredRock

     in reply to

     @georgetakei It's mind boggling and infuriating.