By Jim Heffernan
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the impulse that leads to the banning of books. I always thought our little green corner would be immune. I was wrong. We are nowhere near the frenzy in 1933 Germany. Back then, they burned thousands of books from “non-German authors”, authors like Albert Einstein, Karl Mark, Earnest Hemmingway and Jack London. It wasn’t just Berlin, it happened in 34 other German cities.
We’re only banning one book so far, “How The Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents”. No matter that it’s a highly respected book throughout the country. A certain faction here believes our youth should be protected from any literature that might stretch their minds a little too far.
Book banning is a growing phenomenon. In 2022, there were 2,532 instances of book banning. In 2023, there were 3,362 instances, a 33% increase.
I think the impulse that leads to the banning of one book in Tillamook High School and the book burning in 1930’s Germany is the same impulse — “othering”.
As long as humans regard other humans as “us” they are extraordinarily kind and benevolent. But as soon as we think of a different group of humans as “other”, we are capable of unspeakable cruelty and brutality.
Sadly, “othering” is a very seductive principle for a lot of people. I do it myself, but I always regret it when I recognize it. It’s burned into our DNA. Throughout history, kings, tyrants, and popes have used the concept of “othering” to justify massacres and genocide.
But we have another trait which runs counter to “othering”. I’m not entirely sure about what’s the best word for it. I’ve sort of settled on “including”, but I’ve not heard or seen that word used by others. Cooperating seems another option.
At heart, it boils down to the Christian maxim, “Love thy neighbor as thyself”. I think there’s a good reason that the phrase is mentioned 8 times in the Bible.
“Othering” leads to conflict and disunity. Every war that has ever been fought owes its existence to “othering”.
“Including” leads to human progress. Agriculture, science, and culture advance by the sharing of ideas and the acceptance of others. Without “including” we might still be isolated bands of hunter-gatherers ever wary of unknown perils and distrustful of strangers.
As always, discussion welcome at codger817@gmail.com