This document provides a detailed list of notable book burnings that have occurred throughout history, organized chronologically. It describes over 200 incidents of books being intentionally destroyed by burning, ranging from antiquity to the present day. The burnings involved a wide variety of literature from different cultures and eras, and were carried out for various religious, political and ideological reasons by authorities including emperors, kings, religious leaders, and occupying forces.
Near and Not Lost -- The International Memorialization of the Czech Holocaust...YHRUploads
Olivia Noble's prize-winning essay, "Near and not Lost-- The International Memorialization of the Czech Holocaust Torahs" appears in the Fall 2020 edition of The Yale Historical Review.
Teresa Vernon (Lead Curator, Romance Collections) & Dr Irene Fabry-Tehranchi (Curator, Romance Languages): ‘Highlights from the Library’s printed French collections’
Near and Not Lost -- The International Memorialization of the Czech Holocaust...YHRUploads
Olivia Noble's prize-winning essay, "Near and not Lost-- The International Memorialization of the Czech Holocaust Torahs" appears in the Fall 2020 edition of The Yale Historical Review.
Teresa Vernon (Lead Curator, Romance Collections) & Dr Irene Fabry-Tehranchi (Curator, Romance Languages): ‘Highlights from the Library’s printed French collections’
Following the enormous success of "Hitler: Hubris" this book triumphantly completes one of the great modern biographies. No figure in twentieth century history more clearly demands a close biographical understanding than Adolf Hitler; and no period is more important than the Second World War. Beginning with Hitler's startling European successes in the aftermath of the Rhineland occupation and ending nine years later with the suicide in the Berlin bunker, Kershaw allows us as never before to understand the motivation and the impact of this bizarre misfit. He addresses the crucial questions about the unique nature of Nazi radicalism, about the Holocaust and about the poisoned European world that allowed Hitler to operate so effectively. link downloas epub http://www.2shared.com/file/KHNFWgCR/0140272399_Hitler.html
(Medieval) Fragments in Special Collections, UCC LibraryElaine Harrington
Presentation given at "Fragments Symposium, UCD Humanities Institute, 17 October 2019. Symposium organised by Dr Niamh Pattwell and Dr Elizabeth Mullins, UCD.
Of the Protocols themselves little need be said in the way of introduction. The book in which they are embodied was first published in the year 1897 by Philip Stepanov for private circulation among his intimate friends. The first time Nilus published them was in 1901 in a book called The Great Within the Small and reprinted in 1905. A copy of this is in the British Museum bearing the date of its reception, August 10, 1906. All copies that were known to exist in Russia were destroyed in the Kerensky regime, and under his successors the possession of a copy by anyone in Soviet land was a crime sufficient to ensure the owner's of being shot on sight. The fact is in itself sufficient proof of the genuineness of the Protocols. The Jewish journals, of course, say that they are a forgery, leaving it to be understood that Professor Nilus, who embodied them in a work of his own, had concocted them for his own purposes.
Contract interpretation is the study of how courts determine the meaning of binding promises. The slides are designed for a five-week course of graduate-level student on how courts interpret agreements.
Contract interpretation is the study of the meaning of agreements. Understanding what an agreement means is prerequisite to determining whether contractual parties performed or breached their obligations. The presentation provides a high-level review or overview of the law of contract interpretation, including citations to key cases and concepts.
More Related Content
Similar to Technology of free speech and civil society
Following the enormous success of "Hitler: Hubris" this book triumphantly completes one of the great modern biographies. No figure in twentieth century history more clearly demands a close biographical understanding than Adolf Hitler; and no period is more important than the Second World War. Beginning with Hitler's startling European successes in the aftermath of the Rhineland occupation and ending nine years later with the suicide in the Berlin bunker, Kershaw allows us as never before to understand the motivation and the impact of this bizarre misfit. He addresses the crucial questions about the unique nature of Nazi radicalism, about the Holocaust and about the poisoned European world that allowed Hitler to operate so effectively. link downloas epub http://www.2shared.com/file/KHNFWgCR/0140272399_Hitler.html
(Medieval) Fragments in Special Collections, UCC LibraryElaine Harrington
Presentation given at "Fragments Symposium, UCD Humanities Institute, 17 October 2019. Symposium organised by Dr Niamh Pattwell and Dr Elizabeth Mullins, UCD.
Of the Protocols themselves little need be said in the way of introduction. The book in which they are embodied was first published in the year 1897 by Philip Stepanov for private circulation among his intimate friends. The first time Nilus published them was in 1901 in a book called The Great Within the Small and reprinted in 1905. A copy of this is in the British Museum bearing the date of its reception, August 10, 1906. All copies that were known to exist in Russia were destroyed in the Kerensky regime, and under his successors the possession of a copy by anyone in Soviet land was a crime sufficient to ensure the owner's of being shot on sight. The fact is in itself sufficient proof of the genuineness of the Protocols. The Jewish journals, of course, say that they are a forgery, leaving it to be understood that Professor Nilus, who embodied them in a work of his own, had concocted them for his own purposes.
Contract interpretation is the study of how courts determine the meaning of binding promises. The slides are designed for a five-week course of graduate-level student on how courts interpret agreements.
Contract interpretation is the study of the meaning of agreements. Understanding what an agreement means is prerequisite to determining whether contractual parties performed or breached their obligations. The presentation provides a high-level review or overview of the law of contract interpretation, including citations to key cases and concepts.
Corporations, Module III: Entrepreneurship, Lesson 1: Organizational ChoicesDuquesne University
When planning a new business, the first legal choice usually is "which entity to form?" There are many choices these days, but let's focus on the Top 4: General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Corporations, and Limited Liability Companies.
Corporations, Module III: Entrepreneurship, Lesson 4: Defective IncorporationDuquesne University
Incorporation provides a "limited liability" shield around investors and corporate officers. But what happens when incorporation goes awry? The issue of "defective incorporation" presents in three main ways, and this video explains how to spot that issue and analyze whether it will result in promoter liability.
Concerns about corporate influence over politics has been an American concern ever since corporations developed in America. Corporations' ability to concentrate massive wealth, their legal status as entities and in some sense "people," and their separation of ownership and control raise unique issues -- especially when considering the First Amendment right to free speech.
Corporations, Module I: Basics, Lesson 2: Agency and AuthorityDuquesne University
Agency principles that apply generally are found in the Restatement (Third) of Agency. These principles form the foundation of the authorization of corporation agents, too, although there are a number of special rules that pertain to corporation agency.
Corporations, Module IV: Authorization, Lesson 3: Legal OpinionsDuquesne University
Lawyers are often called upon to "opine" whether a corporate transaction is duly authorized and otherwise legal. When lawyers report their finding in a formal written manner, such a document is called a "legal opinion." The drafting of such a legal opinion is subject to very particular rules and requires an investigation into corporate authority known as "due diligence."
Corporations, Module IV: Authorization, Lesson 2: Board ActionDuquesne University
Directors individually have no power to bind a corporation. But, acting collectively at a board, the directors have the ultimate authority over corporate action. Lawyers are often called upon to determine whether such a board action was done properly, according to the "meeting rule." The process by which lawyers make this determine is called "due diligence."
Corporations, Module IV: Authorization, Lesson 1: OfficersDuquesne University
Corporations officers -- such as the Chief Executive Officer -- have authority to bind the corporation in ordinary transactions. But where does this power come from? And what are its limits?
Corporations, Module III: Entrepreneurship, Lesson 2: Incorporation ProcessDuquesne University
Incorporation -- the formation of a corporation -- is a relatively simple process. It only requires filing a few forms. But this simplicity is deceptive. There are many choices to make when forming a business properly, including: what type of business organization to create, where to form or incorporate the organization, how many shares of stock to authorize and issue, who to name as directors, etc. Additionally, there are several ways that incorporation can go wrong. Ultra vires actions can occur when the corporate purpose is defined too narrowly, and defective incorporation can occur when the filing is done improperly. Both can result in unintended legal liability.
Corporations, Module II: Policy, Lesson 3: Political ActionDuquesne University
Many laws have been passed over the years limiting the ability of corporations to participate in politics, but recent Supreme Court decisions have struck down many such laws. Corporations now enjoy new power to directly contribute to political campaigns. But has this changed politics? And, if so, for better or worse?
Corporations, Module II: Policy, Lesson 2: Social ResponsibilityDuquesne University
Corporations are both private and social institutions. They are owned by shareholders, but exist by virtue of state law. The debate on whether corporations should pursue "shareholder wealth maximization" or "corporate social responsibility" has gone on since at least 1932, and it continues to the present day. More than even, corporations purport that they can "do well by doing good," but many think these claims of CSR are really just "greenwashing" the SWM profit motive.
Corporations, Module III: Entrepreneurship, Lesson 1: Organizational ChoicesDuquesne University
The first step in business planning for lawyers is often deciding which legal entity to form. Common choices include partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies. Sole proprietorships, professional corporations, and limited liability partnerships also play a role in this "alphabet soup" of organizational choices.
Each U.S. state creates its own corporate law, and entrepreneurs can choose to incorporate in any state. This choice creates a market for corporate law, a unique dynamic that may be good or bad for shareholders, stakeholders, and society at large, depending on whether the market for corporate law is a "race to the top" or a "race to the bottom."
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
Safalta Digital marketing institute in Noida, provide complete applications that encompass a huge range of virtual advertising and marketing additives, which includes search engine optimization, virtual communication advertising, pay-per-click on marketing, content material advertising, internet analytics, and greater. These university courses are designed for students who possess a comprehensive understanding of virtual marketing strategies and attributes.Safalta Digital Marketing Institute in Noida is a first choice for young individuals or students who are looking to start their careers in the field of digital advertising. The institute gives specialized courses designed and certification.
for beginners, providing thorough training in areas such as SEO, digital communication marketing, and PPC training in Noida. After finishing the program, students receive the certifications recognised by top different universitie, setting a strong foundation for a successful career in digital marketing.
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
6. A Short List of Notable Book Burnings in History
1 Antiquity
1.1 Destruction of Ebla
1.2 Destruction of Mari
1.3 Destruction of Alalakh
1.4 Destruction of Ugarit
1.5 Library of Ashurbanipal (by Babylonians, Scythian's and Medes)
1.6 A scroll written by the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah (burnt by King Jehoiakim)
1.7 Protagoras's "On the Gods" (by Athenian authorities)
1.8 Democritus' writings (by Plato)
1.9 Zoroastrian scriptures and Persian Royal Archives (by Alexander the Great)
1.10 Chinese philosophy books (by Emperor Qin Shi Huang and anti-Qin rebels)
1.11 Books of Pretended Prophecies (by Roman authorities)
1.12 Jewish holy books (by the Seleucid monarch Antiochus IV)
1.13 Aeneid (unsuccessfully ordered by Virgil)
1.14 Roman history book (by the aediles)
1.15 Greek and Latin prophetic verse (by the Emperor Augustus)
1.16 Torah scroll (by Roman soldier)
1.17 Sorcery scrolls (by early converts to Christianity at Ephesus)
1.18 Rabbi Haninah ben Teradion burned with a Torah scroll (under Hadrian)
1.19 Burning of the Torah by Apostomus (precise time and circumstances debated)
1.20 Epicurus's book (in Paphlagonia)
1.21 Manichaean and Christian scriptures (by Diocletian)
1.22 Pagan religious writings and works of philosophy and science (by resurgent
Christians)
1.23 Books of Arianism (after Council of Nicaea)
1.24 Library of Antioch (by Jovian)
1.25 "Unacceptable writings" (by Athanasius)
1.26 The Sibylline books (various times)
1.27 Writings of Priscillian
1.28 Etrusca Disciplina
1.29 Nestorius' books (by Theodosius II)
2 Middle Ages
2.1 "Book of the Miracles of Creation" (reportedly destroyed by Saint Brendan)
2.2 Patriarch Eutychius' book (by Emperor Tiberius II Constantine)
2.3 Japanese books and manuscripts (during power struggle at the Imperial court)
2.4 Repeated destruction of Alexandria libraries
2.5 Iconoclast writings (by Byzantine authorities)
2.6 Qur'anic texts with varying wording (ordered by the 3rd Caliph, Uthman)
2.7 Competing prayer books (at Toledo)
2.8 Abelard forced to burn his own book (at Soissons)
2.9 The writings of Arnold of Brescia (in France and Rome)
2.10 Nalanda University
2.11 Samanid Dynasty Library
2.12 Buddhist writings in the Maldives (by Royal dynasty converted to Islam)
2.13 Buddhist writings in the Gangetic plains region of India (by Turk-Mongol raiders)
2.14 Alamut Castle
2.15 Ismaili Shite writings at Al-Azhar (by Saladin)
2.16 Destruction of Cathar texts (Languedoc region of France)
2.17 Maimonides' philosophy (at Montpellier)
2.18 The Talmud (at Paris), first of many such burnings over the next centuries
2.19 Rabbi Nachmanides' account of the Disputation of Barcelona (by Dominicans)
2.20 The House of Wisdom library (at Baghdad)
2.21 Lollard books and writings (by English law)
2.22 Wycliffe's books (at Prague)
2.23 Villena's books (in Castile)
2.24 Codices of the peoples conquered by the Aztecs (by Itzcoatl)
2.25 Gemistus Plethon's Nómoi (by Patriarch Gennadius II)
3 Early Modern Period (from 1492 to 1650)
3.1 Library and archives of the Novgorod Republic (by Ivan III and Ivan IV)
3.2 Decameron, Ovid and other "lewd" books (by Savonarola)
3.3 Arabic and Hebrew books (in Andalucía)
3.4 Arabic books and archives in Oran (by Spanish conquerors)
3.5 Catholic theological works (by Martin Luther)
3.6 Lutheran and other Protestant writings (in the Habsburg Netherlands)
3.7 Scandinavian Runic and other Medieval manuscripts (During Swedish and Danish
Reformation)
3.8 Tyndale's New Testament (in England)
3.9 The Bibliotheca Corviniana (by Ottoman Army)
3.10 The works of Galen and Avicenna (by Paracelsus)
3.11 English monastic libraries (during the Dissolution of the Monasteries)
3.12 Servetus's writings (burned with their author at Geneva, and also burned at
Vienne)
3.13 The Historie of Italie (In England)
3.14 Religious and other writings of the Saint Thomas Christians (by the Portuguese
Church in India)
3.15 Maya codices (by Spanish Bishop of Yucatan)
3.16 Cluny Abbey's library (by Huguenots)
3.17 Monastic library in Utrecht (by militant Protestants)
3.18 Arabic books in Spain (owners ordered to destroy their own books by King Philip
II)
3.19 "Obscene" Maltese poetry (by the Inquisition)
3.20 Arwi books (by Portuguese in India and Ceylon)
3.21 Bernardino de Sahagún's manuscripts on Aztec culture (by Spanish authorities)
3.22 Books from the Bibliotheca Palatina (by Catholic troops)
3.23 Luther's Bible translation (by German Catholics)
3.24 Uriel da Costa's book (By Jewish community and city authorities in Amsterdam)
3.25 Marco Antonio de Dominis' writings (in Rome)
4 Early Modern Period (1650 to 1800)
4.1 Books burned by civil, military and ecclesiastical authorities between 1640 and
1660 (in Cromwell's England)
4.2 Socinian and Anti-Trinitarian books (by secular and church authorities in the Dutch
Republic)
4.3 Earl of Worcester's library (by New Model Army)
4.4 Book criticising Puritanism (in Boston)
4.5 Manuscripts of John Amos Comenius (by anti-Swedish Polish partisans)
4.6 Quaker books (in Boston)
4.7 Pascal's "Lettres provinciales" (by King Louis XIV)
4.8 Great Fire (London)
4.9 Hobbes books (at Oxford University)
4.10 Muslim and Jewish books (during capture of Buda by Austrian troops)
4.11 Swedish National Archives
4.12 Mythical (and/or mystical) writings of Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (by rabbis)
4.13 Protestant books and Bibles (by Archbishop of Salzburg)
4.14 Catholic books at Scalan Seminary in Scotland (by British soldiers and Protestant
militias)
4.15 Plays of the John Warburton collection
4.16 Amalasunta (by Carlo Goldoni)
4.17 The writings of Johann Christian Edelmann (by Imperial authorities in Frankfurt)
4.18 Voltaire's Doctor Akakia (by Frederick the Great)
4.19 Books that offended Qianlong Emperor
4.20 Anti-Wilhelm Tell tract (Canton of Uri)
4.21 Books of Voltaire (by French authorities)
4.22 Vernacular Catholic hymn books (at Mainz)
4.23 Cluny Abbey's library (in the French Revolution)
4.24 The Libro d'Oro (in the French-ruled Ionian Islands)
4.25 Egyptian archaeological finds (threatened burning by French scholars)
5 Industrial Revolution period
5.1 "The Burned Book" (by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov)
5.2 Musin-Pushkin's library (In Great Moscow Fire)
5.3 Records of the Goa Inquisition (by Portuguese colonial authorities)
5.4 Original Library of Congress Collection (by British troops)
5.5 The Code Napoléon (by German Nationalist students)
5.6 William Blake manuscripts (by Frederick Tatham)
5.7 Count István Széchenyi's book (by conservative Hungarian nobles)
5.8 Early braille books (in Paris)
5.9 Library of St. Augustine Academy, Philadelphia (by anti-Irish rioters)
5.10 Libraries of Buddhist monasteries (during the Taiping Rebellion)
5.11 Chinese literary works (By Anglo-French troops in Beijing)
5.12 "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (by Union General Benjamin Butler)
5.13 Libraries in Confederate cities (during Sherman's March to the Sea)
5.14 Edmond Potonie's papers (by French Police)
5.15 On the Ancient Cypriots (by Ottoman Authorities)
5.16 Library of Strasbourg (in German bombardment)
5.17 Library of the Louvre (during suppression of the Paris Commune)
5.18 "Lewd" books (by Anthony Comstock and the NYSSV)
5.19 Turkish library at Turnovo (by the Russian Army)
5.20 Pedigrees and books of Muslim law and theology (By the Mahdi in Sudan)
5.21 Emily Dickinson's correspondence (on her orders)
5.22 Ivan Bloch's research on Russian Jews (by Tsarist Russian government)
5.23 Italian Nationalist literature (by Austrian authorities in Trieste)
5.24 Early edition of Dubliners (by publisher)
6 World War I and interbellum era
6.1 Leuven University Library (by World War I German Army)
6.2 Books in Serbian (by World War I Bulgarian Army)
6.3 Valley of the Squinting Windows (at Delvin, Ireland)
6.4 George Grosz's cartoons (By court order in Weimar Germany)
6.5 Irish National Archives (in Civil War)
6.6 Plunkett family records (in Civil War)
6.7 Margaret Sanger's Family Limitation (by British court order)
6.8 Yakov Blumkin's autobiography (by Soviet authorities)
6.9 Jewish, anti-Nazi and "degenerate" books (by the Nazis)
6.10 Theodore Dreiser's works (at Warsaw, Indiana)
6.11 Works of Goethe, Shaw, and Freud (by Metaxas dictatorship in Greece)
6.12 Books, Pamphlets and Pictures (by Soviet authorities)
6.13 Pompeu Fabra's library (by Franco's troops)
7 World War II
7.1 Leuven University Library (by World War II German occupation troops)
7.2 Jewish and Polish libraries at the Dąbrowa Basin, Poland (by Nazi occupiers)
7.3 Chinese libraries (by World War II Japanese troops)
7.4 Works in the British Museum (by German bomber planes)
7.5 Publishers and booksellers in Paternoster Row, London (by German bomber
planes)
7.6 National Library and City Archives in Naples (by German troops)
7.7 Jean Genet's Our Lady of the Flowers (by French prison guard)
7.8 Jewish books in Alessandria (by pro-Nazi mob)
7.9 André Malraux's manuscript (by the Gestapo)
7.10 Various libraries in Warsaw, Poland (during World War II)
7.11 Books in the National Library of Serbia (by World War II German bomber planes)
7.12 Douai Municipal Library
7.13 Books in German libraries (by World War II Allied bomber planes)
7.14 The Biblioteca Palatina in Parma (by World War II Allied bomber planes)
7.15 Library at Brussels Palace of Justice in Brussels, by retreating Nazis, Sept. 4 1944
8 Cold War era and 1990s
8.1 The books of Knut Hamsun (in post-World War II Norway)
8.2 Post-World War II Germany
8.3 Books in Kurdish (in north Iran)
8.4 Comic book burnings, 1948
8.5 Books by Shen Congwen (by Chinese booksellers)
8.6 Judaica collection at Birobidzhan (by Stalin)
8.7 Communist and "fellow traveller" books (by Senator McCarthy)
8.8 Memoirs of Yrjö Leino (By Finnish government, under Soviet pressure)
8.9 Wilhelm Reich's publications (by U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
8.10 Mordecai Kaplan's publications (by Union of Orthodox Rabbis)
8.11 Hungarian Revolution of 1956
8.12 Archives of Edmond Charlot (by OAS)
8.13 University of Algiers library (by OAS)
8.14 Brazil, military coup, 1964
8.15 Religious, Anti-Communist and Genealogy books (in the Cultural Revolution)
8.16 Siné's Massacre (during power struggle in "Penguin Books")
8.17 Beatles Burnings – Southern USA, 1966
8.18 Writings of Bohumil Hrabal (by both Communist regime and dissidents)
8.19 Leftist books in Chile during the Pinochet dictatorship
8.20 Book burning caused by Viet Cong in South Vietnam
8.21 Burning of Jaffna library
8.22 The Satanic Verses (worldwide)
8.23 Oriental Institute in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1992)
8.24 National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992)
8.25 Abkhazian Research Institute of History, Language and Literature and National
Library of Abkhazia (by Georgian troops)
8.26 The Nasir-i Khusraw Foundation in Kabul (by the Taliban regime)
8.27 Morgh-e Amin publication house in Tehran (by Islamic extremists)
9 21st century
9.1 Abu Nuwas poetry (by Egyptian Ministry of Culture)
9.2 Iraq's national library, Baghdad 2003
9.3 Harry Potter books (in various American cities)
9.4 Inventory of Prospero's Books (by proprietors Tom Wayne and W.E. Leathem)
9.5 New Testaments in city of Or Yehuda, Israel
9.6 Non-approved Bibles, books and music in Canton, North Carolina
9.7 Bagram Bibles
9.8 2010–11 Florida Qur'an burning and related burnings
9.9 Operation Dark Heart, memoir by Anthony Shaffer (by the U. S. Dept. of Defense)
9.10 Gaddafi's Green Book
9.11 The burning of the library in the Institut d'Égypte in Cairo
9.12 Suspected Colorado City incident
9.13 Qur'ans in Afghanistan
9.14 Manuscripts in Timbuktu
9.15 Anti-Climate change book at San Jose State University
9.16 National Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2014)
9.17 The Hindus: An Alternative History (under court order in India)
9.18 ISIS book burning
9.19 Harry Potter and other books
9.20 Zhenyuan, China
Editor's Notes
One January 6, 2021, a riotous mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. Now many are debating what role social media played in this event, and whether we need to regulate social media. You will have to answer such questions for yourself, but I’d like to give you a little historical context so you can better understand how this issue fits into the arc of world history.
In about the year 1440, a German goldsmith named Johannes Gutenberg developed a printing press for the mass production of books. This invention increased the power and reach of written words—and it changed the course of history.
The printing press made books cheaper and easier for common people to read. In 1534, Martin Luther published a complete Holy Bible, translated into the vernacular German. Now common read for themselves what Jesus said to his apostles. The printing press democratized access to the Word of God.
And it democratized influence of public opinion. Luther widely published his “95 Thesis,” publicly attacking the Catholic Church and setting off the Protestant Reformation. William Carter and others responded by printing and distributing pro-Catholic books and pamphlets.
Both sides tried to burn the other’s books.
Book burning is somewhat of a trend in history.
As is censorship. Governments set up “licensing” regimes to scheme to suppress scandalous, seditious and libelous books. Poet John Milton responded by writing a polemic against this censorship. His 1644 piece “Areopagitica” was one of the first significant arguments for freedom of the press. Milton's pamphlet was based on the notion that reason and fact could be used to question tradition and challenge supposed "truth."
In 2021, truth is a once again subject of debate, because once again communication technology has evolved. Social media is a printing press on hyper-steroids. Now, anyone can send a message to virtually everyone in the world within seconds. The result is a lot more communication. But is there a lot more truth?
On Twitter, the primary social media platform, you can follow #MeToo and #BlackLiveMatter, or #StopTheSteal, and #FlatEarth. You can find “your truth” and build a community of followers who agree with your views. But are social media users finding “the truth” online? Do we even believe there is Truth anymore?
On January 6 because a large number of armed people decided their truth was that the Presidential election was rigged, that Mike Pence was obligated and empowered to stop it, and that when he failed to do so the Second Amendment empowered a well-armed militia to take back to stolen Capitol. You might note the protestor’s shirt says, “Trump 2020: FUCK Your Feelings.”
So, here we are again, from free speech to lies and violence. Now what? Should government take efforts to license the use of social media? Should we impose liabilities on platforms for “scandalous, seditious, and libelous” tweets? Are truthful voices being drowned out by too much false free speech?
Perhaps you think that the Capitol Riot proves that the Government needs to prevent the corruptive effects of speech.
Yet our free speech tradition is strong. As Milton argued, "If we think to regulat Printing, thereby to rectifie manners, we must regulate all recreations and pastimes, all that is delightful to man.” Milton questioned whether human licensors could make effective judgments, or whether the possibilities of their error or corruption is too great.
Twitter is the new printing press. Social media is the new political pamphlet. And we are in the midst of a new technological revolution, where free speech and civil society once again hand in the balance. If you hold a smart phone, the future is literally in your hands. I challenge you to use this power wisely.