Post AWBm0i4iRLiHanLwSe by alienghic@octodon.social
(DIR) More posts by alienghic@octodon.social
(DIR) Post #AWBm0i4iRLiHanLwSe by alienghic@octodon.social
2023-05-30T18:09:55Z
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Anyone have any resources targeting a 6th grade reading level answering the question why republicans and/or conservative christians want to ban books with LGBTQ characters?Kid asked me to read politics, so thought I'd read about the debate over how much access to social media and phones teens and tweens should have.But unfortunately one of the worries about the internet control legislation is informed by the current wave of republican book banning.So kid asked obvious question "why do the christians want to ban books about LGBTQ people".And I feel the answer "they're a bunch of meany headed jerks" lacks depth.
(DIR) Post #AWBm0iy17jwuMJE6eu by mansr@society.oftrolls.com
2023-05-30T18:29:45Z
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@alienghic It's hard to say for sure, but it's possible that they're doing it because they can and because it will make book bans seem like a normal thing when they go after the next category, and the one after that, and so on.
(DIR) Post #AWBn4DYvvXrM4Viurw by alienghic@octodon.social
2023-05-30T18:41:34Z
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@mansr There's hints that patriarchal authoritarian movements really love banning information about LGBTQ people.As an example, one of the famous photos of Nazi's burning books was from them destroying one of the first queer friendly research institutes studying sex and gender.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institut_f%C3%BCr_SexualwissenschaftMore recently as Hungary or Russia became more authoritarian, they also increased their efforts to restrict information about LGBTQ people.And attacking information about LGBTQ people seems to be part of a process of also trying to restrict women's rights to be independent.
(DIR) Post #AWBnRgKj7k1zxnGcEK by kingannoy@octodon.social
2023-05-30T18:45:48Z
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@mansr @alienghic It's not thát hard to say right.The right strongly identifies with the traditional gender roles, LGBTQI people show that these are not fixed or required. This undermines the right's worldview.The right needs a scapegoat, someone to fear, someone to blame, someone to "other". Currently that is (amongst others) LGBTQI people.Children's books about this subject will teach kids to empathise with, allow them to identify as, and normalizes LGBTQI people. This takes power away from the right, because it's much harder to scapegoat someone you know.There is probably more, but I think this is a good starting point.
(DIR) Post #AWBqUtktycK8K4jfCS by mansr@society.oftrolls.com
2023-05-30T19:20:02Z
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@kingannoy @alienghic That much is clear, but it only really answers the question of how, not that of why.
(DIR) Post #AWBqmmi4uW0tgSwZGa by alienghic@octodon.social
2023-05-30T19:23:15Z
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@mansr @kingannoy Yeah I was beginning to think the answer of "why" is really hard, and it's much easier to answer who is doing it, who their allies are, how they're going about it, and how others who disagree are responding.
(DIR) Post #AWBtrB86MOYmRPu1dQ by kingannoy@octodon.social
2023-05-30T19:45:46Z
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@alienghic @mansr Sorry, I don't mean to be pedantic, maybe I just misunderstand you. I think I answered the "why". The "how" of book banning is through legislation, right?The "why" is because LGBTQI people, just by existing, are a threat to the worldview the right/ the church is pushing.They show that the traditional gender roles are limiting for both women ánd men. And that we have freedom to break with them, if we wish.The books are banned because the books explain what it's like to be LGBTQI, and knowing about something, makes it harder for someone to convince you it's bad.If you want to convince someone to act against their own interest, it will be a lot easier if they don't know the truth.
(DIR) Post #AWBtrBnDtVSAUx8rjM by mansr@society.oftrolls.com
2023-05-30T19:57:39Z
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@kingannoy @alienghic I think we're talking about different levels. Yes, banning books is part of a strategy to enforce their version of old-fashioned Christian norms. But why are they so hell-bent on doing that? That is the real question.
(DIR) Post #AWC45wxaK8nINdfLE0 by alienghic@octodon.social
2023-05-30T21:52:22Z
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@mansr @kingannoy @vorlon @troglodyt Replying to the people who tried to offer an answer to my question.My personal best guess for the motivation to crush information about LGBTQ and mistreatment of ethnic minorites is because Republicans are doing increasingly poorly among younger voters.There's currently a huge overlap between the Republican party and the conservative christians, to the point where being republican may actually be a religious identity.As an example"How is it that evangelical Christianity has become, for too many of its adherents, a political religion?"https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/10/evangelical-trump-christians-politics/620469/Among the conservative christians they are currently panicking over their declining influence over american politics and culture. (In the sense of going from being the majority to another minority.However that panic and effort to destroy access to alternatives is in itself a turn off to younger voters."'Allergic reaction to US religious right' fueling decline of religion, experts say"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/05/americans-religion-rightwing-politics-declineSo this theory is they're trying to restrict access to information that makes them look bad, because they know that younger voters are turning on them because of it.
(DIR) Post #AWC5VMKfEA88GT8n2m by kingannoy@octodon.social
2023-05-30T22:08:10Z
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@mansr @alienghic If I understand you correctly, what you are asking is: "why are they (Christians) so hell-bent on enforcing their version of old-fashioned Christian norms?". This feels a little like asking why bakers bake so many breads. If they wouldn't enforce those Christian norms, would they even be Christians?But I can still suggest some reasons: because they think it's the right thing to do, according to their interpretation of the bible? Because it gives them power over others? Because they've been told by people before them this is how it should be?But more generally, rules are important in religions. Very few religions without some kind of restrictive rules have survived. Imagine there is a religion, that says you are free to do what feels good, where is the urgency in passing that on go your kids? Now a religion where you go to hell if you don't follow the rules, there's some stakes to do it right, that gets passed on through the ages.