Yay for literacy!

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So, I'm reading this book. And I'm fascinated by it, captivated by it.

And it's not Twilight. I've read that already. Remember?

It's a little ditty called Fahrenheit 451. Perhaps you've heard of it? It occurs to me that many people have probably already read it as required reading for a class or something. But I never have. And DUDE! It sets my brain a'spinnin.

I am not quite halfway through it and there are so many quotes that speak to the times we live in (that alone is amazing since the book was first published 50 years ago. That's right, fifty! Five oh!) - the questions we ask ourselves, the choices we make. As society speeds up, makes itself more convenient, caters to every minority, spreads the wealth and shortens our attention spans, we lose. A little here, a little there. Ground, personality, choice, money, freedom, opinion.

"If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war.

Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy."

You know what I think? It's not better to shut up and sit down, it's better to stand up and sing - whatever your song may be.



p.s. go read the book if you haven't

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