Freedom Of Speech - and - The Raven Is Lost In The Woods

   

                                                             The Raven Is Lost In The Woods

                                                              An original acrylic painting on primed panel

                                                              8" X 10",  unframed

                                                                      ( Click on image to enlarge.)

     This little painting is one from a series of book paintings I did a few years ago.  I'm not

sure whether or not I considered it finished at that time.  It has a more somber tone than 

some of the other works in the series, but perhaps that is appropriate.  It does seem to fit 

in well with the coming season of ghosts and goblins.  I recall that, around this time of 

year, Mr. Poe was fond of giving readings of his famous, eerie poem, as an entertainment 

for guests. 

      There is no particular reason why this book of poems should become lost in a gloomy,

dark woods, just as there is no reason for any books to become lost, but they do.  Things

do get lost.  But the real problem comes when books are deliberately taken away from us, 

by ignorant, small-minded politicians, who believe they have the right to take away our 

freedom of speech, and the freedom to read what other people want to tell us.

     I noticed this week, that the last week of September is designated as Banned Book 

Week.  I don't know how many people may have seen that reminder, and found 

themselves some good, banned books to read, but I hope there were many who did so.  

It seems to me that it is always the semi-illiterate folks among us, who inevitably try to 

censor what we are reading, as soon as they gain the political power to do it.  They don't 

actually read the books they take away from us.  If they did read the valuable information 

they try to destroy, they might actually learn something.  They are simply determined to 

prevent anyone from reading about people whose lives are too uncomfortably, different 

from their own lifestyles and beliefs.   They are unable to overcome their prejudices and 

fears, of anyone who they see as somehow unworthy of full participation in society, with 

the full freedoms of self determination, whether because of their race, country of origin, 

religion, sexual orientation, or a variety of other differences, which  they deem as 

somehow not fully acceptable.  

     These stupid autocrats gain their positions of power because the voters who put

them in office. are just as illiterate and prejudiced as they are, if not more so.  But 

the day may come when those voters  finally realize that if you take away the rights

of a few of us, you take away the rights of all of us.  When they feel the pain of lost,

personal freedoms themselves, they may well say, like Mr. Poe's raven, "Nevermore!"

                                                             Eugene P. McNerney