FAHRENHEIT 451

TITLE AND ORIGINAL BOOK BY RAY BRADBURY

This short tale by Peter Vuono

     On June 21st I was reading one of my favorite comic strips-"Baldo" In it one of the protagonists-Gracie- told her pal that June 21st was the longest day of the year and that they would have to take advantage of it. The two proceeded to lie under a tree and comfortably start reading- from a book!
Long before this, the famed comedian, George Carlin, noted that our technology is better than ever but we,"  communicate less". Nobel Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai, was shot in the head by those that didn't think she should be allowed to go to school and finally, many foreign countries such as North Korea, dictate what can be put into  print. Now, right under our noses, it's happening here and WE are to blame.
     I'm reading Ray Bradbury's immortal "Fahrenheit 451" again. It's a futuristic tale where firefighters now are assigned to not put out fires but to BURN BOOKS. The protagonist, Guy Montag is examining his conscience and having many doubts about his duty as he sees a woman immolate herself rather than allow the firemen to torch her books. Few of us will see the re-make movie or read the book and most of us will NEVER  fathom the message.
     Everywhere one goes, every person is out there with earplugs in and phone on. How delighted I would be to see a kid waiting for a bus and reading a book. How delighted I would be to see a kid NOT  crossing a cross walk with plugs in and phone on. How delighted I would be to see my local library open more than two times a week.
    Bradbury had many masterpieces but THIS one has a stern warning that we are not heeding. I once heard it said that reading is "dreaming with one's eyes open" Unfortunately for America, the dream is over.