'Moms for Ignorance' might as well ban the Bible, Of Mice and Men while they're at it

I may be getting this wrong, but seems to me I read a newspaper story about a group calling themselves Moms for Ignorance. They attended a school board meeting somewhere, hoping to deny children's access to certain books. Again, perhaps I've gotten the group's name wrong. But let me proceed.

I've some suggestions for this group as it marches nobly on pursuing its lofty goal of keeping youngsters safe, free from disturbing reading that might poison or otherwise destroy students' innocence. In other words, perhaps I might help in promoting the group's goal of advancing ignorance, that is, telling others what they should not read.

My personal childhood testimony might help the group's cause. When around ten years old I sat at my parents' antique secretary desk perusing the Bible, because with only three TV channels, none at the moment held my interest. Since I was reared to revere the Bible, I sat turning pages and happened upon a story in Genesis about Lot. So I read to see what might happen. Surely a swell and sterling account. But the further I read the more concerned I became as Lot fled into the hills to hide with his two darling daughters. The sweet things got him drunk and "lay with him" (biblical for had sex with him) and got pregnant. As a young lad I wondered if I might have been the first one to have read such a thing. In the Bible! Incest loud and clear.

And the time God told Abraham to kill his son Isaac — with a knife on an altar. Of course an angel intervened just as the father raised the knife. So everything turned out fine for the wide-eyed son, but what was poor Isaac thinking? Reading this story as a kid, I decided to cut wide swaths around my dad, keeping him away from knives. I don't want innocent sons today reading about their dads visiting death upon them, with God's blessing. Do you?

Thus, to give Moms for Ignorance a heads-up, the group might want to ban the Bible, knowing the book is not all bad, but one indecent part is surely worthy of banning the whole blooming thing. At least that's how I understand the group operates.

I suppose that's why Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men should be kept out of the hands of young students, because you know how the story ends, with Lenny getting shot and all. Moms for Ignorance, do your duty! And Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye reveals racism at its worst, rape, incest and infant mortality. What's to be learned from that? Stamp out the book, Moms.

A cautionary tidbit. Rumor has it that a large group is forming called Moms for Academic Freedom. This activist group could tear to shreds all Moms for Ignorance stand for. Be on the lookout as this group believes education is best served when free expression is allowed to exist in this information age. Consider all the harm that can be foisted upon the innocent when free expression runs rampant. Word is out that Moms for Academic Freedom will fill school board meetings and public library administrative gatherings. Word to the wise: Be prepared.

If Moms for Academic Freedom gain power and hold any sway over public schools and libraries, then The Handmaids Tale might infest our sacred and innocent culture, wresting from Moms for Ignorance's hands all that's right and decent. "Keeping minds closed" is their rallying cry! And should never be abandoned. Vigilance. Continue squelching, quashing and otherwise destroying anything smacking of academic freedom. Young lives are at stake.

Michael Pulley lives in Springfield. He can be reached at mpulley634@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 'Moms for Ignorance' might as well ban the Bible