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My daughter was sent home from school the other day with a letter from his teacher saying he had been doing their homework and could study the matter. When confronted, my daughter said she was suffering from Bibliophobia, or a fear of books. I guess it's a better excuse than "My dog ate my homework".
When I I was young, I was well known for my ability to look down to anyone without laughing first. My daughter seems to have inherited this unique capability as well. Even Bibliophobia can say with a straight face, much less use it as an excuse for why not do my homework … or my taxes correctly.
My daughter told me that in reality condition was a very real and very serious, even had seen a video of it on YouTube. Note to self: investigate what this "YouTube" is that everybody keep talking.
However, as Dr. Phil will most likely advise, I demanded to look fear in the face and tackle it head on. I was not so sure this was going to fly with her after our little "I'm scared of thunder and I sleep in bed with you – no, go face your fears – Accident ray" but gave it a shot anyway and asked him to do a "book report" on Bibliophobia … a little ironic, eh?
I said I was to do the research so I had as a child. No Internet, no Google, Wikipedia is not. No, old man broke the Encyclopaedia Britannica kept in the attic dust and made to face his fear. "There is no Internet," he cried in horror. "This is child abuse, I am a text message to the authorities!"
Note to self: Google what this "text" is that we always hear.
I must admit I was quite surprised with what came after Social Services had left and she got to write his report. Certainly made me think more Bibliophobia than I thought it possible, or more precisely, the definition of Bibliophobia.
In the dictionary, Bibliophobia is defined as a fear of books. My daughter thought a better definition would be: fear of what books can do. After hearing his explanation of why, I told Mr Webster himself would probably agree that it was a more precise definition. She said the his master's name was Mr. Thorne, Mr. Webster did not … again with a straight face.
I dropped the comment for the moment and focused on the report. It began with a quote from George Orwell in his book 1984 … "Who controls the past controls the future, who controls the present controls the past."
She went to explain how almost all conquering army and the regime through recorded time had destroyed libraries full of history and culture with zealous efficiency. Were, really … "Fear of books" containing the history of civilizations conquered.
In 1562, a Franciscan Friar ordered Spanish troops in Mexico burned thousands of Maya hieroglyphic books and effectively erased in a day almost the entire record of a civilization, in order to pave the way for Christianity.
In 1914 the German army after invading the Belgian city of Leuven, burned the towns magnificent library of over 300,000 volumes and over 1,000 illuminated manuscripts, irreplaceable on the floor in any act of military importance.
In 1975, the Cambodian leader Pol Pot ordered the destruction of almost all Cambodia's manuscripts and monuments. The Khmer The Khmer Rouge went so far as to examine ordinary citizens for tell-tale marks left on the nose glasses Reading, a crime punishable by death.
And most recently, the Taliban wiped and erased almost all written evidence that Afghan culture is not fundamentalist.
I realized that this little exercise of mine had a profound impact on my daughter. Even asked if he could keep an encyclopedia in his room she said she had a comforting smell. I said it was mold, but he understood how he felt .. what was new for me she was yearning for, Ahh, the irony without end of my life.
I apologize for my approach to this article light matter, but it is necessary for me to find humor in life. Phobias are a form of disorder anxiety of which I am intimately familiar, and he clearly has something more than "face your fears" to overcome them.
Force myself into an elevator or climb on the roof of my house has only irritate the kind of down in the fire station … cat seems to get better treatment than humans when stuck in high places!
Anyway, if you would like to see the YouTube video referenced or view a complete list of phobias, of which there are hundreds, can go to my website. And yes, as technically challenged as I am, I have a website … thank my daughter lazy Bibliophobic.
Myla Madson runs a successful family counseling center in the United States and after overcoming scriptiphobia, aka fear of writing, spends her two spare minutes a day pursuing a writing career. For more unique perspectives from the mind of Myla Madson, go to http://www.MylaMadson.com/bibliophobia
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