Even Charlie Brown Isn't Safe

I am always struck by the benign sounding names the opponents of of free speech and freedom of religion assign themselves. In this case it's the "Arkansas Society of Freethinkers." It should be called the American Society of Me Thinkers. I could even suggest a slogan for them: "Think like me if you wish to be free." My first inclination was to be disappointed that the pastor caved in to pressure from anti free speech advocates but then I read his explanation that he did not wish "to put hard-working, sacrificial teachers and cast members in harm’s way,” In harm's way? Really? Getting stupid rulings from moronic judges isn't enough now, they need to make people who do not see things their way feel physically threatened enough to cancel a children's show. Welcome to 1933. All we need now are the brown shirts and spats. And piles of religious books for the bonfire. 

"We Didn't Start the Fire"

While driving into work last night I decided to take a break from the Christmas music on Lite FM and switched stations just in time to hear Billy Joel’s version of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” As he ticks off so many instantly recognizable events for a child of the sixties, I couldn’t help but wonder how many of today’s college students. The lyrics can be found here. While some names have retained their recognizable attributes I wonder how many could explain the reasons for their fame. Do you know a college student? Better yet, do you know a history major? It might be fascinating to see how many events or people from any one trope such as the one below without using Google.

Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball, 

 Starkweather Homicide, Children of Thalidomide 

Given how so many people events recounted in recounted in this song have influenced the society in which we live today, their responses might be a good indicator of just how likely we are to repeat the mistakes and tragedies of the past.