That’s what I said recently at a discussion of how we could protect ourselves from the executive order to neuter diversity, equity and inclusion programs in our society. It seems that there is an AI program that measures DEI influence in an agency, charity or federal program by searching out specific words. I was proud of my organization that stood up against what I am going to characterize as bullying by saying we will not abandon our principles while we will also monitor how this all plays out. For many charitiies, federal grants are involved – that means money and funding.

It was really unbelievable to me that we were even having a discussion. But it doesn’t stop. Yesterday a headline in The Forward read: “Military Schools Remove a Book about Ruth Bader Ginsburg Because of ‘Equity Ideology” “A children’s picture book on Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been pulled from the shelves of U.S. military schools. ‘No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’ was just one of several books removed from the shelves at Pentagon schools last week. ‘Freckleface Strawberry’, a picture book by actress Julianne Moore about a girl who struggles to accept her freckles, was also pulled, as was ‘Becoming Nicole‘, a biography of transgender activist Nicole Maines.

It starts with the books. Images from book burning in Berlin float in my mind. Piles of books considered subversive because they were written by Jews become bonfires. Words written in German, in Hebrew, in Yiddish, in French, in English become smoke and ashes. And we know where all that lead.

I am not suggesting that’s where we are but I am worried about what this country is becoming. Not the ‘never again’ thing; but a society which cannot tolerate differences. The Forward journalist proposes that the Ginsburg book might have been pulled because of the Executive Order which requires schools to teach “how the United States has admirably grown closer to its noble principles throughout its history” and urges “celebration of America’s greatness and history.” Apparently Ginsburg’s struggle for women’s rights and social justice are not a part of America’s greatness. Apparently all those who believe we can be better than we already are are wasting their time and breath. Apparently as a society we are where we are supposed to be. That leaves little room for growth. That leaves little room to learn from the past. That leaves little room for books that challenge us and help us grow. That leaves little room for different opinions or ideas. It is scary to think what we are becoming.

I could go on but I can’t. Not today, not when the news from Israel this afternoon is that the Bibas family is coming home in coffins.  It’s hard not to cry.

PS – the image of the clown at the top of this blog is painted on what was then called “The Forvetz” – from when The Forward was still printing in Yiddish. Eileen and I have a pair of them – one where the clown is “happy” and this one. I’ll let you decide what all that means.