Tom Sawyer Was Out In The Rain Last Night
An original mixed media painting
9" X 12" unframed
Those viewers who may be somewhat familiar with this blog,
may have seen this painting previously. It is one from my series of book
paintings which I have shown here in the past decade or so. I chose a
book painting today as another reminder for everyone to think about all
of our individual rights which are being taken away from us by autocratic
state legislators and governors. Everything that we do in our own personal
lives, to help us determine our future health and advancement, is under a
constant threat of being taken away from us by the Republican tyrants
who have gained full power in so many of our states. Perhaps the sadest
part of this new reality, is the fact that we have the Trump Supreme Court
which gives these idiots permission to abuse our personal rights as they like.
The latest example here in my state is a law which restricts freedom of
choice in our libraries. The kinds of books libraries can buy and make
available to readers, are now limited to those which these right-wing politicians
see as appropriate for their children. Any one parent has the power to block
what the children of all the other parents can see and read. Failure to comply
with this law results in loss of funding for the library.
Libraries have always been the bedrock of American democracy, from
our beginnings. They were the places where we could go to get the full
information we needed to help us conduct our lives for our own best benefit
and for the best benefit of society in general. These Republican efforts to stifle
truth and factual information, is a further example of the way they are grooming
this cult of ignorance, to help them stay in power. I am reminded again of
Socrates famous words that proclaim ignorance to be the world's greatest
evil, and knowledge to be the world's greatest good. Nothing has changed
in over two thousand years.
My advice to all readers now, is simple. When you go to the library, go
directly to those restricted sections, which contain the books which have
been given limited access, due to Republican political command. That is
the area where you are likely to find some of the best books in the library.
Take those books home and read them. They will expand your mind and
help you see the world in new colors and whole new dimensions.
Don't let anyone tell you what you are not allowed to read. It is a
knowledgeable citizenry which eventually removes tyrants from their
positions of power.
Eugene P. McNerney
