The idea that anyone would deliberately destroy physical objects like books, artwork, sculptures, films, architecture, etc. is horrifying. However, the idea that anyone would destroy the beauty, the ideals, the history, the culture, the sense of continuity, the ideas, the language, or the sense of ourselves contained and reflected in these artifacts is unthinkable. In fact, just thinking of this type of cultural, social, historical erasure, this act of censorship, this IDENTITY THEFT, fills me with white-hot rage! Yet this very type of theft is not a new concept, nor is it one invented by Bradbury or others of his ilk. In fact, censoring ideas is a very old concept. However, wherever we find censorship, we also find those who were and who are willing to oppose those who attempt to destroy or to hide knowledge and ideas, often at great risk to themselves.
One such group who (recently restored to the public consciousness after an almost 70 year period in the shadows) worked industriously during World War II to oppose the thieves of artistic masterpieces was referred to as "The Monuments Men." This group of men (and some women!) were sent to the forefront of the fighting in an attempt to recover precious art (and other significant pieces) stolen from museums, churches, historical sites, and individual homes in areas of Europe that had been annexed by Germany. Hitler intended to house these trophies in his planned Furhermuseum in Austria. Not only was this group responsible for the recovery of thousands upon thousands of priceless items, more importantly they represented a refusal to submit to the theft of history, a refusal that I view as tantamount to an act of anti-censorship. Moreover, this great group worked tirelessly after the war to restore these pieces to their rightful owners wherever possible. If you are interested in reading more about these events, you can visit "The True Story of the Monuments Men" at Smithsonian.com. Alternatively, you can view the film The Monuments Men - directed by and starring George Clooney for Columbia Pictures, 2013.
One such group who (recently restored to the public consciousness after an almost 70 year period in the shadows) worked industriously during World War II to oppose the thieves of artistic masterpieces was referred to as "The Monuments Men." This group of men (and some women!) were sent to the forefront of the fighting in an attempt to recover precious art (and other significant pieces) stolen from museums, churches, historical sites, and individual homes in areas of Europe that had been annexed by Germany. Hitler intended to house these trophies in his planned Furhermuseum in Austria. Not only was this group responsible for the recovery of thousands upon thousands of priceless items, more importantly they represented a refusal to submit to the theft of history, a refusal that I view as tantamount to an act of anti-censorship. Moreover, this great group worked tirelessly after the war to restore these pieces to their rightful owners wherever possible. If you are interested in reading more about these events, you can visit "The True Story of the Monuments Men" at Smithsonian.com. Alternatively, you can view the film The Monuments Men - directed by and starring George Clooney for Columbia Pictures, 2013.
In "The Sieve and the Sand," Faber's speech regarding his own guilt and feelings of collusion includes the passage:
'Do you know that books smell like nutmeg or some spice from a foreign land? I loved to smell them when I was a boy. Lord, there were a lot of lovely books once,
before we [emphasis added] let them go.' Faber turned the pages. 'Mr. Montag, you are looking at a coward. I saw the way things were going, a long time back. I
said nothing. I'm one of the innocents who could have spoken up and out when no one would listen to the "guilty," but I did not speak and thus became guilty myself.
And when finally they set the structure to burn the books, using the firemen, I grunted a few times and subsided, for there were no others grunting or yelling with me,
by then. Now, it's too late.' (78)
This passage bears a striking similarity to Martin Niemoller's quotation that begins, "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out - / Because I was not a Socialist..." (Martin Niemoller: "First they came for the Socialists"). Niemoller, a Protestant pastor, goes on to describe the effects that occur when no one stands up to injustice. For the full reference, visit "Martin Niemoller: 'First they came for the Socialists'" posted on United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
'Do you know that books smell like nutmeg or some spice from a foreign land? I loved to smell them when I was a boy. Lord, there were a lot of lovely books once,
before we [emphasis added] let them go.' Faber turned the pages. 'Mr. Montag, you are looking at a coward. I saw the way things were going, a long time back. I
said nothing. I'm one of the innocents who could have spoken up and out when no one would listen to the "guilty," but I did not speak and thus became guilty myself.
And when finally they set the structure to burn the books, using the firemen, I grunted a few times and subsided, for there were no others grunting or yelling with me,
by then. Now, it's too late.' (78)
This passage bears a striking similarity to Martin Niemoller's quotation that begins, "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out - / Because I was not a Socialist..." (Martin Niemoller: "First they came for the Socialists"). Niemoller, a Protestant pastor, goes on to describe the effects that occur when no one stands up to injustice. For the full reference, visit "Martin Niemoller: 'First they came for the Socialists'" posted on United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.