Nothing threatens authoritarianism like a quiet place to explore knowledge.

Image by sekihan via CC

"If psychological warfare planted the seeds for the culture war, the key to ending it might lie in that history, too. In 1948, when an Army psychological operations expert produced a guide to psychological war, it included instructions on how to achieve postwar psychological disarmament. “The free circulation of books” was key.

"In the culture war, libraries with free access to a full range of books can light the way toward psychological peace. They provide us with a mental model for a public sphere in which Americans debate each other as equals to reach a resolution or compromise." - Annalee Newitz

ARTICLE: Libraries Can Help End the Culture Wars. That’s Why They’re Under Fire

(Thanks to my friend and collaborator in supporting our local library, Jeanne Canteen, for the reference.)

Nothing threatens authoritarianism like a quiet place to explore knowledge.

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Current fears about the erosion of democracy offer an opportunity to examine the false myths of American democracy—and the psychological work required to confront and engage with their legacy.