From in the fairy tale asylum:
Where they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people.
(Heinrich Heine)
It’s Banned Books Week. Have you clung to a banned book recently? Have you reviewed one?
Ridiculous pursuits, matters solemn and less so
Ridiculous pursuits, matters solemn and less so
From in the fairy tale asylum:
Where they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people.
(Heinrich Heine)
It’s Banned Books Week. Have you clung to a banned book recently? Have you reviewed one?
Nance says
Today, on your site, I found the bread crumbs left by Fairy Tale Asylum and discovered that Q Squirrel is writing again! Now, I have to figure out tumblr and catch up on Squirrel and, yes, write that review. Suddenly, I have a purpose in life.
marta says
I’ve started reading a translation (or interpretation) of the Koran. I don’t know if that has been banned exactly, but I know folks have threatened to burn it.
In regards to Banned Books Week, have you seen Safe Libraries ( http://www.safelibraries.org/pushers.htm ) which–if you read down far enough–says something about Banned Books Week being propaganda. And anyway, it certainly opens up some lively (if dangerous!) discussion.
The Querulous Squirrel says
I was just reading the Wikipedia list of banned books and discovered Black Beauty was once banned in South Africa because they thought it was about a black woman.
John says
Nance: That you were able to get all that from a 25ish-word post humbles me. So much for the 1000-w0rd ginormous norm around this joint.
I’ve had a Tumblr account for a while. I don’t have any idea what to do with it.
marta: I got a translated/interpreted copy of the Koran, too. It’s hard to imagine that someone hasn’t at least challenged it somewhere, just standing on blind principle.
The Safe Libraries site made my teeth hurt. I see from their blog that their own name for this week is National Hogwash Week.
Squirrel: Clear thinking whichever way one turns, hmm???
SafeLibraries - Are Children Safe in Public Libraries? says
@marta – thank you. And thank you for reading it all.
marta says
@SafeLibraries – Are Children Safe in Public Libraries? – Ah. You’re welcome. I admit to not agreeing with some things and agreeing with others. And it seems all discussions are helped by reading/listening to another point of view.
SafeLibraries - Are Children Safe in Public Libraries? says
@marta – funny you should say that and that I just read this. You see, I just blogged again on the ALA. Topic? How the ALA does not read/listen to another point of view. Instead, it ridicules. It ridicules parents for merely complying with materials reconsideration policies. Then it uses Banned Books Week as the vehicle to spread its message of ridicule. Really, I wish I did not have to say these things about the ALA. I wish it would read/listen to another point of view.
John says
marta: I feel like I’m eavesdropping on your first conversation with That Guy.
@SafeLibraries: Thank you for stopping by to contribute your point of view. You’re not going to score many converts on a blog whose author, and most of whose readers, are readers and writers eager to see their favorite books on the shelves of libraries, yes, even school libraries. (And most of whom are at this point wearing weak smiles, checking their watches, and looking out of the corners of their eyes for the EXIT sign.) But again, thank you for having alerted us to your point of view.
Miriam Forster says
I love this. LOVE. It’s so true.
SafeLibraries says
Please read this:
Why the OIF Can’t be Taken Seriously, by Annoyed Librarian, Library Journal, 6 October 2010.
John says
SL: Thanks for the link. Provocative reading!
(Btw, I’ve never found arguments which point to the literal wording of the US Constitution or its amendments to be very persuasive. Such arguments pretend that 200+ years of Supreme Court rulings — and the lower-court proceedings which lead up to them — are just like a bunch of Op-Ed columns, toothless and uninformed. Of course, being human, the justices of the court(s) can make mistakes. So can their critics, for the same reason, although the critics’ opinions apparently are never subject to being overturned.)