Rightwing groups across US push new bans to limit ‘obscene’ books in libraries
Rightwing groups across US push new bans to limit ‘obscene’ books in libraries
Critics say bans would hinder rights as proponents would impose their beliefs on others who don’t share their views
Summary
Rightwing groups across the US are driving a wave of legislation to restrict books in school and public libraries, targeting content deemed “sexually explicit” or “obscene,” often affecting LGBTQ+ and race-related titles.
Texas leads with 31 bills and 538 book bans in the 2023–24 school year.
Proposed laws, like Texas Senate Bill 13, shift book selection power from librarians to parent-led advisory boards.
Critics, including librarians and legal scholars, warn these efforts amount to censorship, risk violating First Amendment rights, and reduce access in underserved communities.
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Still bad, but servitude =/= slavery.
7 in the Bible is usually a symbol for completeness. The 70*7 specifically is meant to be "unending".
It is very likely to really be a 7 years limit to debts.
And I would love if the Bible-thumping politicians proposed this debt limit for modern times, but they are all just hypocrites.
7 in the Bible is usually a symbol
It is very likely to really be a 7 years limit
Is it just me, or these don't seem to jive with each other.
Still bad, but servitude =/= slavery.
My friend, biblical scholars disagree with you. Your holy book is very clear on this subject, and I would implore you to do a little research before saying shit like this.
I did study theology, but I certainly need a refresher.
Yes, the servitude can be considered a form of slavery, but I think it can be useful to distinguish as it's quite different from the more modern chattel slavery.
And I don't think it's valid today, these laws in the Bible were written in and for a specific context of time and place, and the commandments of love supersede it.
Until 300 years ago when slavery was considered OK, the biblical law on it would still be VERY progressive.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-19
The words of Jesus himself.
Until 300 years ago when slavery was considered OK, the biblical law on it would still be VERY progressive.
Not true. The bible was explicitly used by plantation owners in the Southern US to justify chattel slavery, and keep their slaves in line. They printed versions of the bible with all suggestions of concepts like freedom removed.
You keep telling yourself that what's in the bible is different than slavery, but it is not. Your book gives explicit rules on how to treat your slaves, how to punish your slaves including beating them and how much you're allowed to beat them (make sure it's not so bad that they can't recover in a few days!) It gives explicit rules on how you are to treat your Jewish slaves compared to Gentile slaves. How much slaves should buy and sell for.
You're going to lose this argument. The only out is, "actually, slavery is OK" and I've literally seen Christians say this in order to justify their awful book.
He fulfilled the law, and did not have slaves.
The example of His own actions is to read the law with the perspective of protecting the weak, the "lesser", the vulnerable.
You should maybe ask yourself why you're so eager to defend this.
You know what would be a great way to protect slave? Perhaps the best way? To take the (very fucking easy) step of saying "hey don't own people."
But instead he talked about slaves all of the time, and seemed to have no problem with them. Taken from wiki because I'm lazy:
The Bible says that Jesus healed the ill slave of a centurion[94] and restored the cut off ear of the high priest's slave.[95] In his parables, Jesus referenced slavery: the prodigal son,[96] ten gold coins,[97] unforgiving tenant,[98] and tenant farmers.[99] Jesus also taught that he would give burdened and weary laborers rest.[100] The Passion narratives are interpreted by the Catholic Church as a fulfillment of the Suffering Servant songs in Isaiah.[101]
When questioned about the hierarchy of his followers, Jesus responds that "Whoever would be first among you must be your slave." (Matthew 20:27).
Does not sound like the words or behavior of someone who wants to stop people from being slaves. Which is, seriously, like the lowest fucking bar on the planet.
You know what it reads like to me? A book that was written by people, of its time. And at that time, as you said, slavery was common practice. So the people who wrote it didn't' even consider that it should be on the table.
I don't know if you edited or my app cut part of your text.
"You know what it reads like to me? A book that was written by people, of its time. And at that time, as you said, slavery was common practice. So the people who wrote it didn’t’ even consider that it should be on the table."
Exactly!
Also, Jesus said that in His kingdom the king is slave to all, and slaves are elevated to the importance of kings; even if a law allows it, it makes no sense for His followers to engage in it.
I'm not trying to defend slavery in the Bible, for the context those laws were written it was progress; but it also contains enough that made people 300 years ago start thinking "maybe slavery is not good".
Jesus' message is not for those who would have the power to own slaves; that last verse looks like a weird translation, it's supposed to mean that his followers are not to seek positions of power, but to act as slaves to each other.