Posted on 08/19/2010 5:51:38 PM PDT by dynachrome
"Colored people don't like 'Little Black Sambo.' Burn it. White people don't feel good about 'Uncle Tom's Cabin.' Burn it. Someone's written a book on tobacco and cancer of the lungs? The cigarette people are weeping? Burn the book. Serenity, Montag. Peace, Montag. Take your fight outside. Better yet, into the incinerator. Funerals are unhappy and pagan? Eliminate them, too. Five minutes after a person is dead he's on his way to the Big Flue, the Incinerators serviced by helicopters all over the country. Ten minutes after death a man's a speck of black dust. Let's not quibble over individuals with memoriams. Forget them. Burn all, burn everything. Fire is bright and fire is clean."
Earlier this week, Ray Bradbury – now 90 – said, "I think our country is in need of a revolution." As you can imagine, his comments caused quite a stir. He didn't stop at calls to revolution, either. He went on to say, "There's too much government today. We've got to remember the government should be by the people, of the people and for the people." He also complained that we have "too many cell phones" and "too many Internets." We need to rid ourselves of some of these machines, he declared.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
Bradbury ping!
Get rid of the internet? Senile ol’ coot!
Revolution already happened. What is needed is a counter-coup.
14” TVs were in vogue in 1952. He wrote about Montag’s wife whining for another video wall.
He wrote of seashells that played constantly, foreshadowing the ubiquitous ear buds.
He talked about censorship at a time when Hollyweird accused Republicans of the most foul abuses, in loud contrast to their own continuous censorship.
Quite a writer, in the best sense of the word.
Ray Bradbury is truly one of the greats.
Naw. Just stop freeping 24/7 or you will go blind!
What I found amazing after re-reading Fahrenheit 451 recently is that the book is banned by many libraries and schools. Sort of prophecy, huh? Bradbury was certainly way ahead of his times. Just a thought
*Bradbury bump*
I met him several years ago, and he was still sharp, but a little frail, which would certainly be expected at that age.
Maybe what he was saying was that the Internet is not the center of the Universe. I’ve worked in technology for my entire career but I am not a slave to it. My wife and I marvel about what the hell people talk to each other about over the phone all of the time. No doubt, they are exchanging important ideas, concepts, debating, etc.
Many of the “tools” are becoming “timewasters”. They are becoming an end in themselves, and are no longer tools for accomplishing other things. Somehow, there was reasonably comfortable life and successful communication before everyone had a mobile phone. And, you could “disappear”.
That old man is great.. my wife has a five or six page letter from him she keeps very safe.. she wrote him in high school and he wrote her back this massive letter encouraging her to write and such.. it is one of her most prized possessions.. I have a feeling she would give up me before she gives up that letter.
I will try to find that letter and post some of it or scan it.. it is really encouraging and interesting.
Don't have enough info to revise my opinion, but... he'll always be one of the SF brights.
And with the tub overflowing, do the Republicans have the stones to pull the plug. I don't think so.
F451 is an absolutely prescient book.
The Revolution is coming. Our model shouldn’t be Germany under the Welmar Republic but the Spanish Republic that went Soviet—that lead to a terrible Civil War and Franco. The USA and turn Marxist—then swing right to become a Fascist. The only question—who will become “The Leader” Who do you think? I have a few in mind.
A. Sarah Palin Odds 20 to 1
B. newt Gingrich Odds 33 to 1
C. Glenn Beck Odds 50 to 1
D. Gen. McCristal Odds 10 to 1
E. Mitt Romney Odds 40 to 1
F. Donald Trump Odds 60 to 1
Yesterday I went to a conference with Rep Kevin Brady from Woodlands, TX as a speaker - an oil industry conference. It was scary, he said that the Progressives are determined to shut down the oil and gas industry completely by whatever means, and if we are not at the table, we are on the table, in Washington. You are right about Beltway.
He’s pissed because 0bama is cutting funding for the space program.
But anyone who thinks that the federal government is too big has my support!
I just hope I am as clear headed as Bradbury when I hit 90.
Hell, I hope I hit 90 !!!
Amen! Very well said, and true...
He didn’t like the film, and he certainly wasn’t ever a “hard” sci-fi writer, but...
I remember watching the film when I was a kid (yes, I read the book first) and commented to my mom about the absolute impossibility of the “interaction” as seen in the movie. With flat-screen TV’s and the processing power available these days, it would be absolutely and completely doable. I suppose this is a triumph of imagination over knowledge.
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