I write with concern following these articles published in sequence in The Seattle Times:
“President Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden” (May 8, Nation);
“US poets laureate criticize Trump’s firing of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden” (May 9, Nation);
“Trump administration fires top copyright official days after firing Librarian of Congress” (May 11, Nation).
The Trump administration is continuing a purge of committed civil servants, shrinking departments that serve the public good. It is removing areas encouraging dissent and independent thought, of education and knowledge and critical thinking.
Removing U.S. history books from our military academies is also a grave concern.
This is a figurative form of book burning by discouraging or removing the intellectual, deeper thinking necessary to a democratic society.
If voters were unaware of these restrictive and plainly un-American actions, they now know. To paraphrase, first they came for the librarians. Who is next?
Charlene Kahn, Seattle
