For months, Popular Information has documented how thousands of books have been removed from the shelves of Florida school libraries or have otherwise been made unavailable to Florida students. These actions were taken in response to new laws and regulations championed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R). But last week, DeSantis held a media event where he complained about the "
I'm hoping that some teacher somewhere finally says ENOUGH! and complies with Rhonda Santis' book ban as follows. Leave all the banned books on the shelf organized by offensive subject matter. Cover the shelves with chicken wire to prevent access to the books. Atop the shelf place a sign "Books Governor DeSantis is afraid of". Put small cards on each subject group that in one word labels the offense. The law will have been complied with, the books are no longer available to students. But every middle and high schooler who sees that shelf will be rushing to Amazon to get copies. I think the ACLU would take the teacher's case.
Ron DeSantis is offering a fact sheet. Unfortunately, his facts are alternative facts. In the modern political landscape where policy positions seem to be valued for their contribution to theater above all else, stunts like this are key to DeSantis's popularity in Republican circles. This showmanship, however, overshadows the real damage he and his cronies can do. Revolting stuff.
For those interested, here’s a link to an article by PEN (an association of poets,playwrights,novelists,essayists,editors & publishers) that lists all 176 books that have been removed from the shelves of schools in Duvall County, FL.
I made a quick list of some of the books that stood out to me:
A book about Roberto Clemente called “Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates”
A book about Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
“The Life of Rosa Parks”
“Henry Aaron’s Dream”
“Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa”
“Thank you Jackie Robinson”
A book about rock legend Carlos Santana, “When Angels Sing”
A book about Harriet Tubman, “Before She Was Harriet”
These are all books about people from minority communities who made major contributions to our country. Why does Florida not want students to learn about them?
I suggest that any teachers who get fired or charged with crimes in Florida pack up their families and move to Michigan We have a teacher shortage. And we won’t judge what you want to teach.
Banning black and gay people here but allowing the literal Nazis to display hate on downtown buildings is now Ron DeSantis Florida and I HATE IT HERE NOW
I am reminded every time I hear what new authoritarian stance that deSantis and his ilk undertakes, that mental health really is the third rail in human health discussions. We need widespread Public Service Announcements (at a very minimum) to educate the public about personality disorders and dangers to any society that fails to address them. Toxic Narcissism, for example, has been front and center with Trump, Putin, Erdogan, KimJung Un, deSantis, Netanyahu, and many, many others who want to not only be THE center of attention, but to wield power, unconditionally. These are ruthless, and dishonorable dictators who must be recognized and retired
We know he has been having goosebumps since he was well received in Iowa. DeSantis hears bells ringing for him. IMHO he will get worse with lies and behaviors including over use of the word Woke and banning more books and a host of other reprehensible facist activities
He sees himself as a Savior to the far right. One scary scenario is this monster could be president.
What jumps out at me when reading about DeSantis' book ban is that the man probably grew up getting the crap beaten out of him by his parents for masturbating while reading books that may have had sexual references in them. DeSantis possibly had no normal childhood experiences of learning about sexuality and exercising his natural impulses and curiosity. Instead, he learned to associate sexuality with evil, sin, guilt and shame.
Common enough even nowadays, and the entire book banning, LGBTQ hating and misogynistic movement is made up of people just like him.
Time to cut your losses, and get more creative on where to attract new reader. Dump Twitter. Ghost Musk. Even if we succeed in muzzling Murdoch, we'll still have his spiritually demonic spawn Musk. We need to ALL do our part and sacrifice whatever it takes to muzzle and stop them. Every tweet you make is tacit support for that unstable white supremacist. Cancel twitter, go through your withdrawal, and emerge stronger, better, and more broadly appreciated. Do not engage the wealthy troll... on his own turf no less! What are you thinking?
I'm hoping that some teacher somewhere finally says ENOUGH! and complies with Rhonda Santis' book ban as follows. Leave all the banned books on the shelf organized by offensive subject matter. Cover the shelves with chicken wire to prevent access to the books. Atop the shelf place a sign "Books Governor DeSantis is afraid of". Put small cards on each subject group that in one word labels the offense. The law will have been complied with, the books are no longer available to students. But every middle and high schooler who sees that shelf will be rushing to Amazon to get copies. I think the ACLU would take the teacher's case.
Again, I would remind everyone that this is what a GOVERNOR DeSantis is doing.
Can you imagine what a PRESIDENT DeSantis would do?
Ron DeSantis is offering a fact sheet. Unfortunately, his facts are alternative facts. In the modern political landscape where policy positions seem to be valued for their contribution to theater above all else, stunts like this are key to DeSantis's popularity in Republican circles. This showmanship, however, overshadows the real damage he and his cronies can do. Revolting stuff.
For those interested, here’s a link to an article by PEN (an association of poets,playwrights,novelists,essayists,editors & publishers) that lists all 176 books that have been removed from the shelves of schools in Duvall County, FL.
https://pen.org/banned-books-florida/
I made a quick list of some of the books that stood out to me:
A book about Roberto Clemente called “Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates”
A book about Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
“The Life of Rosa Parks”
“Henry Aaron’s Dream”
“Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa”
“Thank you Jackie Robinson”
A book about rock legend Carlos Santana, “When Angels Sing”
A book about Harriet Tubman, “Before She Was Harriet”
These are all books about people from minority communities who made major contributions to our country. Why does Florida not want students to learn about them?
I suggest that any teachers who get fired or charged with crimes in Florida pack up their families and move to Michigan We have a teacher shortage. And we won’t judge what you want to teach.
I recently read of 182 teacher vacancies somewhere in Florida. Other than Florida ideologues, who will actually teach the children and young adults?
Judd, you and your crew are saving the nation one fact at a time.
To be fully informed is to be fully armed!
Banning black and gay people here but allowing the literal Nazis to display hate on downtown buildings is now Ron DeSantis Florida and I HATE IT HERE NOW
I am reminded every time I hear what new authoritarian stance that deSantis and his ilk undertakes, that mental health really is the third rail in human health discussions. We need widespread Public Service Announcements (at a very minimum) to educate the public about personality disorders and dangers to any society that fails to address them. Toxic Narcissism, for example, has been front and center with Trump, Putin, Erdogan, KimJung Un, deSantis, Netanyahu, and many, many others who want to not only be THE center of attention, but to wield power, unconditionally. These are ruthless, and dishonorable dictators who must be recognized and retired
Thank you. Don’t stop! Floridians may be drowning in Desantis koolaid, but there are cracks in the armor. After all, they ARE drowning...
Great report, Judd. We need to call out every one of his prevarications. He is a dangerous man.
Both McCarthys are so proud of Meatball Ron, the one who’s all ready in hell and the one who’s headed there.
We know he has been having goosebumps since he was well received in Iowa. DeSantis hears bells ringing for him. IMHO he will get worse with lies and behaviors including over use of the word Woke and banning more books and a host of other reprehensible facist activities
He sees himself as a Savior to the far right. One scary scenario is this monster could be president.
Here’s a group here in Florida that is fighting back AGAINST book bans. It’s my feeling the majority of Floridians are against these bans.
https://www.momsrising.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-book-bans-in-florida
Thanks for keeping the pressure up on DeSantis and his Nazi henchmen/henchwomen.
What jumps out at me when reading about DeSantis' book ban is that the man probably grew up getting the crap beaten out of him by his parents for masturbating while reading books that may have had sexual references in them. DeSantis possibly had no normal childhood experiences of learning about sexuality and exercising his natural impulses and curiosity. Instead, he learned to associate sexuality with evil, sin, guilt and shame.
Common enough even nowadays, and the entire book banning, LGBTQ hating and misogynistic movement is made up of people just like him.
Time to cut your losses, and get more creative on where to attract new reader. Dump Twitter. Ghost Musk. Even if we succeed in muzzling Murdoch, we'll still have his spiritually demonic spawn Musk. We need to ALL do our part and sacrifice whatever it takes to muzzle and stop them. Every tweet you make is tacit support for that unstable white supremacist. Cancel twitter, go through your withdrawal, and emerge stronger, better, and more broadly appreciated. Do not engage the wealthy troll... on his own turf no less! What are you thinking?