Meeting in the library

Jest or no, this

Unusual sight is telling of the

Xenophobic plight of

This world; when

Armies back

Parochial views, the

Outcome is a nation

Suffused with

Intolerance of free-

Thinking citizens. Some see

It as a kind

Of patriotism. Does it

Not join totalitarianism?

A children’s non-fiction collection just happened to end up this way, with books on military juxtaposed to those on religion. It got me thinking about all the wars throughout the history of our so-called civilized world. Is it indeed civilized when governments force their people to think in a particular way? That they disallow questions? That they conflate church and state? I hope our education system will continue to emphasize the importance of critical thinking, of empowering students, of encouraging resilience.