Mastodawn

We cannot have a society half slave and half free; nor can we have thought half slave and half free. If we create an atmosphere in which men fear to think independently, inquire fearlessly, express themselves freely, we will in the end create the kind of society in which men no longer care to think independently or to inquire fearlessly.

Henry Steele Commager (1902-1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1949-11-05), “What Ideas Are Safe?” Saturday Review

More about this quote: wist.info/commager-henry-steel…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #henrycommager #fear #freeexpression #freedomofspeech #freedomofthought #freethinking #independence #inquiry #intellectualfreedom #oppression #questioning #thoughtcontrol

ALA Editions | Neal-Schuman Mar 6

Now shipping! Designed as a real-world reference, the newest edition of OIF's "Intellectual Freedom Manual" offers clear, up-to-date insights on protecting intellectual freedom, fighting censorship, safeguarding privacy, and many other key IF topics. https://alastore.ala.org/ifm11

#ALA #AmericanLibraryAssociation #LIS #MLIS #libraries #librarianship #InformationScience #library #intellectualfreedom #censorship #bookbans

WIST Quotations Mar 2

A quotation from Henry Commager

We do not need to fear ideas, but the censorship of ideas. We do not need to fear criticism, but the silencing of criticism. We do not need to fear excitement or agitation in the academic community, but timidity and apathy. We do not need to fear resistance to political leaders, but unquestioning acquiescence in whatever policies those leaders adopt.

Henry Steele Commager (1902-1998) American historian, writer, activist
Essay (1965-12-18), “The Problem of Dissent,” Saturday Review

More about this quote: wist.info/commager-henry-steel…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #commager #henrycommager #acquiescence #agitation #apathy #censorship #criticism #dissent #intellectualfreedom #resistance #silencing #timidity #academicfreedom

Commager, Henry Steele - Essay (1965-12-18), "The Problem of Dissent," Saturday Review | WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations

Kula: Library Futures Academy Feb 26

Books about race, gender, sexuality, colonial history—these are among the most challenged titles in Canadian schools and libraries. 🚫📚

This week is Freedom to Read Week (Feb 22–28), and our colleagues at UVic Libraries have created a display that puts those books front and centre—because the best response to a challenge is to read the challenged books! ✊

Stop by McPherson Library to have a look. 👀

📷 Photos by: @Dieter_Boolean

@LibrarianshipCA
@bookstodon
@books

#FreedomToReadWeek #IntellectualFreedom #CdnLib #Libraries #UVic #Kula #KnowledgeDemocracy #yyj

Kyiv Independent Daily Headlines Feb 1

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Russian officials call for more powerful weapons to attack Ukraine as temperatures drop -- "Russians are to blame," Moldovans react to mass power outage after Moldova-Ukraine line malfunction -- Meet Olha Kobylianska, the Ukrainian author who redefined women’s freedom -- Poland closes airspace after Belarusian balloon incursion ... and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/02/sunday-february-1-2026/

Brewminate Jan 14

📚⚡ Education systems often reward obedience, not insight.

Albert Einstein’s struggles with rote learning and authority reveal a long-standing tension between classrooms and intellectual freedom.

History still warns us.

#Education #History #IntellectualFreedom #Brewminate

https://brewminate.com/against-the-classroom-albert-einstein-education-and-intellectual-freedom/

Albert Einstein’s School Struggles and Intellectual Rebellion

How Albert Einstein’s struggles in school shaped his rejection of authority, his scientific method, and his non-theistic view of the universe.

Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas

Just Jim Jan 8

Lies about #libraries

First, libraries #indoctrinate

It's sad and infuriating that #mistrust of local #government, #books, #literacy, #education, #community #empowerment, etc. are out there for #exploitation

#ALA #intellectualfreedom

https://www.oif.ala.org/lies-about-libraries-part-one/

Steve Dustcircle 🌹Jan 5

The Structural Necessity of #ThoughtControl: Why #Theocracy and #IntellectualFreedom Are #Logically Incompatible

This paper argues that #theocratic #governance and #intellectual #freedom are not merely in tension but logically incompatible.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5975597

The Structural Necessity of Thought Control: Why Theocracy and Intellectual Freedom Are Logically Incompatible

This paper argues that theocratic governance and intellectual freedom are not merely in tension but logically incompatible. The argument proceeds in three stage

N-gated Hacker News Dec 18

📚 Ah, the annual "Top 52 Banned Books" list is here to remind us that nothing screams intellectual freedom like banning books from schools! 😂 With over 22,000 instances, it's almost like free speech is just a quaint concept from ye olde history books. 🔥 Apparently, the administration's idea of "free expression" is simply a five-alarm fire. 🚒🔥
https://pen.org/top-52-banned-books-since-2021/ #bannedbooks #intellectualfreedom #freespeech #censorship #education #HackerNews #ngated