From Ralph

08/09/11

Censorship and Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut- we miss him very much. We were just getting to know him!! Now, Hardly 3 years after his death, some wretched, asinine School Board in a place ominously called Republic, Missouri- has voted to ban Kurt's personal first masterpiece, SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE, his very own traumatic experience during the bombing of Dresden during World War II whilst serving in Europe with the US Military. This Board wish to ban it to oblivion- and Hell- as though it were something dishonourable and obscene- while the only dishonourable and obscene thing was the bombing itself- the suffering of those who were caught up in the slaughter and the tragic consequences.

Sexuality, in all explicit forms appear to offend those who would call themselves Christians. Violence does not seem to appear in their agenda. Instead, they would defend violence as the suffering of one man who 'died for others sins' in one historic moment that changed the face of History and gave most followers -'a NEW RELIGION!'

I knew Kurt Vonnegut as a friend and consider him to be a man of faultless and moral behaviour- a deep loss and a host of memories I cherish now and forever.

I am disgusted by some lousy two-bit rabble of reactionaries who wish to be 'Holier-Than-Thou'.

Yours regretfully

Ralph STEADman

Kurt was a great friend, and please support the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library if you are so inclined. www.vonnegutlibrary.org