’Tis the season to think

I was alarmed when Sony canceled “The Interview” from theaters this week in response to the hackers who infiltrated Sony’s personnel system. I can’t help but think of the controlling fear behind the issue.

It is not so much that I think losing “The Interview” is such a great blow to American culture, but more so that it resonates that fear is the motivator. Not righteousness, not betterment, not freedom. But, fear. It is the wrong season for fear.

The Christmas season reminds us not to be afraid. The season is about the inspiring ideals of love, generosity, and humility. Beneath all of the commercial glittery kitsch, the season’s theme relies on forgiveness and the free will of man.

A decade after World War II, Ray Bradbury published his classic novel “Fahrenheit 451” as commentary on censorship, the Red Scare, and the increasing fondness for television. He never meant for it to be a story for Christmastime. Still, that is the novel the freshman English students at WHS have studied during this Advent season. And in reflection, I don’t think a better story could have been chosen for the here and now.

Bradbury writes with a palpable and rich figurative language. Strands of literary allusions weave the theme with references from the Bible to Plato. The book is an English teacher’s dream, and thus could be a freshman’s nightmare, if it weren’t all so true.

In the story the quintessential anti-hero, Montag, sets fires to books, until there are simply no more books left to burn. Fear dominates everyday life so much so that in the end society becomes de-sensitized and over-sanitized.

Sixty years after 451’s publication, we may not be able to explain “Mien Kampf” or who McCarthy was, but we can tell you all about Adam Levine’s #Redthumb campaign. And if we can’t tell you about Levine’s anti-texting slogan it won’t keep us from playing Trivia Crack on our phones.

It is exactly as Bradbury foreshadowed in his book. We play it safe by never stopping long enough to think. It seems as if we are void of free will because every free void of time fills with senseless sensations. We become violent over nothing.

I believe it is not too late to stop the madness. As crazy as it sounds, our youth still look toward us for guidance and direction. What we say, think, and do matters. If we don’t challenge our minds with opposing ideas, if we don’t question the value of nothingness, if we don’t stand up for what is not easy but right, neither will they. We must stop being motivated by fear, so that our fears do not become their reality.

So, during this year’s end, let’s drink a little less nog. Instead, let’s go outside with our kids and breath the fresh air, debate an idea, and read a difficult book. May we each strive to think beyond the lines of what we read and watch.

I urge all of us to commit to being present with each other this holiday season. Please, let’s promise to slow down long enough to fear not, and experience goodwill toward men.

Emily Forstner teaches English and journalism at Wasilla High School.