In Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury's classic dystopian novel – the main character, Montag, is a fireman. In this future world, firemen don't put out fires – they start them. Books are the primary target, on account of their ability to communicate ideas.
Short THREAD. 1/5
Ideas are dynamite. Ideas can explode nations and topple rulers. But when an idea becomes total, when it insulates itself from criticism, when it treats the questioner as a blasphemer – a "thisist" or a "thatophobe" – it is all the more necessary to confront that idea. 2/5
The weak idea requires a legion of draconian footsoldiers to police and patrol its borders.
The strong idea needs no army or Praetorian guard.
All it needs is someone willing to speak it – regardless of the consequences.
3/5
In Fahrenheit 451, the exiles of the book-burning dystopia carry the torch of knowledge by memorising classic works word for word. They then burn the books themselves, so as to evade the hounds, the despots, and the cultural philistines. 4/5
They can burn books but they can't burn songs.
End. 5/5
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