For those of you who are unaware, I recently got into a huge blog-fight with a friend of mine on her blog. Her post, entitled “Ban Books…..yeah….fu** you!!!” was essentially an expletive-laced, rant about how backwards and dangerous Sarah Palin is for ‘banning’ books from her local library. She concludes, in a moment of exasperation, “What century is this crazy as* bi*ch living in?”
Being the good friend that I am, I thought some illumination was necessary. I proceeded to explain to her that:
What’s wrong with certain books being banned by library staff anyway? Surely even YOU would ban certain books if you were a librarian… for example, I doubt you would get a hustler subscription for your local library…
Librarians MAKE EDITORIAL SELECTIONS TO THEIR BOOK CATALOG ALL THE TIME. That’s why you have any given book in your library is BECAUSE of a conscious choice to PUT IT THERE.
This obviously was not convincing enough for her as she proceeded to say:
What the hell do you mean? Please tell me which power enumerated in the Constitution of the US or in Alaska’s laws give that idiot that right to ban books… I’d love to see Sarah Palin even begin to comprehend a casebook, lmao!!! She can’t handle children’s books in the local library, without getting offended. What a simple minded fool.
Banning books, wanting to teach a non science like creationism in schools, knowing nothing about how the constitution or goverment works, time and time again showing that she thinks she can be the arbiter of values for people who have the right to choose those things for themselves, I consider that i huge fuc**ng issue.
But I guess that’s why I’m a libertarian Joel, I believe in freedom, and people’s right to choose for themselves, and not have some half wit poorly educated blow hard tell me what I can or can’t do.
I’m sure you are getting the picture here; my logic didn’t make a dent. But, being the good friend I am, I concluded I just hadn’t explained it clearly enough:
libraries are not protected by the first amendment you IDOT. People are. Go ahead… explain to me how the constitution prohibits taxpayers from voicing their opinions about how their tax dollars are spent… LIBRARIES do not have first amendment rights!!!!!
Freedom of expression isn’t at issue here. Local communities can decide what they want in their library and what they DON’T want. Why is Palin unable to voice her opinion about what is in her community’s libraries??? Why should HER OPINION about this be stifled? You want to talk about stifling… let’s talk about the assumption SHE CAN’T GIVE HER INPUT. This is Orwellian doublespeak here.
[T]his whole thing is basically an argument that non-religious people are better-suited to decide what we should be learning at our local library than religious people. This is al basically just an attack on Christians and christian beliefs…
This was about as much as I could take. After a few more exchanges of (mostly) personal attacks, I felt my time would be better spent on other things).
However, just yesterday an article appeared in the American Thinker that really drew my attention back to this discussion. The author takes a somewhat different angle on this whole “book banning” issue and, from my point of view, lays it to rest.
Among the many accusations against Sarah Palin was that she banned books. Though debunked, that charge highlights a deeper issue, which is Rule By the Discreet Elite. In this case the Elite is librarians, yet another group credentialed by left-leaning institutions…
When a mayor or parent or just anyone in the community tries to do such a thing, it is called censorship, book-banning or book-burning. When a librarian does it, it is called “selection.”
If a book is removed from a public library, it is not “banned,” it is simply not provided free of charge at taxpayer expense. And if a book is not even removed from the library, but merely taken off its prominent display shelf, it is not banned or censored at all, it is simply not promoted by your local government.
But let’s get back to considering the stocking of public libraries with books. The Library of Congress has about 21 million catalogued books…. That means that just about any library you or your child uses has less than 0.1% of all books in it. Someone must have censored 99.9% of them!
When you choose what books go into a library, you are also choosing what books will not go into that library, since you simply can’t fit them all in. So why are librarians considered the one and only ones who can make such decisions? Concerned citizens can’t. Parents of children who use the school library can’t… That’s censorship. But librarians not only do it, they do it every day. It’s considered their job.
The real question is not which books should be stocked and not stocked at your local library, but who decides.
At the end of the blog fight, my friend tried pinning me with the question: “So is it okay to ban then or not? YES OR NO? Answer the question Joel!!” — to which my response is, well, I think local communities should decide which books to carry and vise-versa. I think that an institution that survives solely by the taxpayer expense should reflect the taxpayer’s values. Libraries SHOULD NOT be used as a tool by which an elite who think they “know better” about what children should be reading to force their ideas and values on to the community as a whole. My friend’s solution to this problem is “don’t fuc***g read [the book]“. While this is certainly a rational solution, it pre-supposes that the book SHOULD be there in the first place! This is a self-contradictory argument and therefore unacceptable. One cannot logically criticize one person for demanding something be pulled while simultaneously demanding it be shelved. It is a clever trick, but in the end, it is no better of an argument. Face it Priscilla, you lost this round!
It really hurt my feelings when you called me an IDOT. I’m sure what that is but I think it’s something very bad, wah!!
Hey go check out the new video I just posted about Sarah Palin, did you see her interview with Katie Couric!!! LMAO!! Now she’s an IDOT, gahaha.
Sarah Palin is so backwards Joel, none of your attempts at spin or mock intellectual superiority will change that, you are making yourself look dumb, and your so called “logic” is only logical to you.
I will be honest, I didn’t read this before I posted the last comment, so I just went back and read it.
First of all, I think it’s cute and typical of your kind to take out little bits and pieces of the entire argument when you could just as easily have provided a link and if someone chose to look into it further they can go there, read it themselves, and draw their own conclusions rather that to read your biased parsings here which are laughable and ridiculous, but kinda cute and funny too
As my book writing friend and I both tried to explain to you, since you obviously aren’t aware of how public libraries work, when a library does not have a book that I am looking for, I can request it and they will either purchase it, or borrow it from a library that has it. Being the bibliovixen that I am, I have requested obscure and perhaps even what Sarah Palin might consider “bannable” books and have never been denied. Do you see the difference between a library not having a book because perhaps they are not aware of what everyone might want, but the library is willing to obtain it, and someone going into a library and removing books they think are not fit for others consumption?
I’m sorry Joel, that you are trying so hard to make a point that is just plain stupid, no offense, cause I like you and you are a good guy and all…but you really just need to quit already. You make no sense, and oh yeah don’t forget, the economy is fundamentally strong!!!
Yeah!!
Please… I didn’t mis-represent your position… (granted, I used a few of the more inflammatory portions… but I feel you got a fair shake… right?). And besides… I DID provide the link for people who really are curious!
I’m holding off my judgment of Sarah Palin until AFTER her debate with Biden. She may very well disappoint… but lets face it; the media is out to get her so I can understand her being on the defensive. And if you don’t believe me, just visit the site:
http://www.supportsarahpalin.us
It was worth it to come here just to see the word “bibliovixen .” LMAO
The reason Palin shouldn’t be making inquiries into banning books is because she is supposed to conduct herself from a higher standard. If someone came to her as mayor and said, “Sara, when you’re done playing with your crayons, I totally wish you would ban Joey has Two Daddies and Huck Finn” and she made the inquiry, fine. This woman made the inquiry because of a close-minded outlook generated by her narrow version of religious belief/dogma and found a way to do the ol’ public sector passive aggressive firing when the librarian told her to get stuffed and mounted…like the moose on her mantle.
And I am the reason my library now carries books by Chuck Pahlaniuk, just about the most offensive writer in modern fiction.
A Nadeau! Welcome to my blog! Good to have you.
Isn’t it GREAT that the library responds to stuff YOU want in the library! Imagine that! Libraries responding to the requests of their members and taxpayers. Funny how you applaud when libraries make decisions you agree with… huh?
but, of course, that’s just the point. when libraries make decisions you don’t agree with… well… how DARE THEY! Obviously, you have different opinions about what books should be carried than Palin. What makes your opinions any better???
Because I can read? Because I know something about literature and don’t consider the Bible the best book ever written? Because I refuse to wear my hair in a beehive, no matter how adorable I would look? Take your pick, my friend!!!
gah!! it was worth me bugging you to come over here and comment just to read all of your comments here, but my fave is “get stuffed and mounted like the moose on her mantle”, hahaha:)
joel-you still aren’t making any sense!! i have actually not heard of in recent memory of any library banning books? Sarah Palin is not “the library” or a “librarian” for that matter, and as witnessed in her Katie Couric interview, she’s barely literate, gosh darn tootin” she didn’t get no fancy edumacation at one of them there elite east coast skools.
For the record, I love the bible and it is one of my favorite books, i think it’s been terribly misaligned by people like Palin who don’t understand the FREEDOM contained therein…it’s not supposed to be a weapon to manipulate people through fear and to garner votes so one can win an election….
It’s not??? Damn!!! Back to the Koran, I guess!
Priscilla, although I cannot be sure, I have a feeling your conception of biblical ‘freedom’ isn’t entirely accurate… (and I know because I used to think exactly like you). I want to highly recommend a sermon from an awesome pastor on this issue… it’s 30 min long, so I’ll understand if you don’t have time. I really think you’ll love it… he brings up supreme court decisions, and about 4 different philosophers… it’s not your typical sermon.
[link to audio]
Priscilla, perhaps I’m TOTALLY missing something here… but how has Palin used the bible as a WEAPON? Seriously, (I’m not kidding) explain.
But perhaps that question dodges the issue… Doesn’t EVERYBODY use their principles as a “weapon” (it’s only a ‘weapon’ when you disagree though, isn’t it.)? Isn’t that the whole POINT of government!? If you BELIEVE in liberty, you try to make your society as free as possible (vice versa with belief in the good of government). If you have no morals, you try to make society as accommodating to your lifestyle as possible. If you have strong moral opinions, you desire society to match those principles you see as benefitial and good.
So WHAT SPECIFICALLY about Palin’s principles, her VIEW OF THE BIBLE is so despicable to you?
how has Palin used the bible to GARNER FEAR AND WIN AN ELECTION???? You’re MAD!
Joel, I’m morally quite conservative…I think religion is for self control, not for controlling and brain washing others…
Did you watch that video I posted on my blog? Go watch it, then we’ll talk.
I’m not mad, I’m in a good mood
I’ll check out the link
Thanks for trying to get me saved again, lol.
I meant “mad” as in… CRAZY!
How dare you!!!!