Writing is a basic freedom. A most fundamental one. One very indicative, as a litmus test, of the health of a society's mental state. It's protected by the Constitution, which is of course itself a written document, the model of one. Writing separates us from beasts and extremism and overbearing religious power and unjust laws. Writing is the vehicle by which we criticize society. Where books are burned, watch out. They burn some other guy's book, they'll burn yours. And whatever it is is not the book's fault, it's in the way people read it.

My friend Pierre over there at http://popov1121.wordpress.com/ has got it. Do check it out.