US Naval Academy Cancels Author’s Lecture on Book Bans, Sparking Controversy | CNN Politics

The US Naval Academy recently canceled a lecture by author Ryan Holiday. The reason? Holiday refused to omit critical slides about the academy’s controversial decision to remove over 380 books from its library.

Holiday is an established writer and philosopher, who has spoken at the academy multiple times since 2019. His upcoming lecture was supposed to focus on wisdom and leadership. However, just an hour before his presentation, he received a call asking him to leave out any mention of the book ban. He declined, stating that he couldn’t teach midshipmen about courage while remaining silent on such a significant issue.

The academy’s book removal aligns with an executive order from the Trump administration aimed at eliminating “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) content from educational institutions, including military academies. Banned titles include Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and other books addressing gender and race issues. Analysts argue that this reflects a troubling trend toward censorship within military education, raising questions about future leaders’ ability to think critically.

Holiday expressed concern about the impact of this censorship on students. He believes leaders must be independent thinkers, capable of grappling with challenging ideas. Drawing parallels to history, he noted American officials like James Stockdale, a Vietnam War hero who studied Marxism not because he subscribed to it, but to understand his adversary better.

Interestingly, public sentiment around this issue is mixed. On social media, some defend the academy’s actions as complying with policy, while others fear it inhibits intellectual growth. Recent surveys show that a significant portion of the public believes that educational institutions should foster open dialogue, even on tough subjects. A Pew Research study indicated that 63% of Americans think colleges should expose students to diverse viewpoints, indicating a growing awareness of the importance of critical thought in education.

Additionally, the Naval Academy has faced criticism in the past for perceived censorship, highlighting a pattern that could have lasting effects on military leaders. The broader context includes recent educational policies across Defense Department schools, where certain books and courses have been banned or under scrutiny, igniting legal actions from organizations like the ACLU.

In conclusion, the cancellation of Holiday’s lecture and the academy’s book removals underline a significant tension between policy compliance and intellectual freedom. As military leaders of tomorrow are educated, the balance between these two forces will shape the future of military thought and action.

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