Never. Because who decides? Where does it stop? When you burn books you are trying to silence thoughts and ideas and even when those thoughts and ideas are objectively evil we need to understand them if only to stop them propagating through vulnerable populations that are susceptible to misinformation and lies. The answer is to teach critical thinking, not turn certain thoughts into a martyr or a disease whose existence then flourishes, hidden in the dark corners until the infection can no longer be treated without killing the patient.

As a lifelong reader and lover of books it breaks my heart to see people say that they don’t want to mention the books they read and enjoy for fear of the hateful comments they receive in response. Expository or explicative responses offering counter viewpoints is one thing but vitriol is another. There is just no excuse for trying to shame someone for reading. Offer other options. Recommend other authors. Encourage people to expand their choices… but really, if you have to be an asshole to express your point, you’ve lost that literary high ground you think you occupy.

I feel exactly the same way. Luckily I discovered, no joke, two glasses of wine or beer made it much more tolerable. I think it slowed my brain down enough to not keep it trying to skip ahead to the point. Just a suggestion.

I have imagined it, and voted to abolish the death penalty. I don’t want any person to lose a loved one, not a victim and not the families on either side who did nothing to deserve such a loss. But, a system that allows an anti-social narcissistic defendant with two natural life sentences who admits they are guilty to repeatedly revictimize everyone else involved is no solution either.

I agree but that said, I sat through a five hour commutation hearing with the Oregon parole board today listening to my family member try and stumble his way through attempting to sound repentant for blowing the the head off a six month old baby and killing her mom. Hearing the victim’s family speak is the most painful experience of my life and I cannot imagine their pain. They shouldn’t have to keep rehashing this crime every two years. None of us should. It’s agony.

So many. Gold Dust Woman, The Chain, Go Your Own Way… Listening to Fleetwood Mac right now and remembering Christine in the middle of all the Stevie/Lindsay drama and how she just seemed like the backbone of stability and quiet talent.

Reminds me of the laughing hyenas in The Lion King!!