Free press, unless it pisses off the religious wackos
30 March 2006 by Ron
Border’s Books and Waldenbooks have decided to take a stand against free expression by declining to carry the April-May issue of Free Inquiry. Why? Because it contains cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that provoked deadly protests among Muslims in several countries. (Two Chains Reject Magazine With Muhammad Cartoons). From the AP piece:
Borders and Waldenbooks stores will not stock the April-May issue of Free Inquiry magazine because it contains cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that provoked deadly protests among Muslims in several countries.
“For us, the safety and security of our customers and employees is a top priority, and we believe that carrying this issue could challenge that priority,” Borders Group Inc. spokeswoman Beth Bingham said.
The magazine, published by the Council for Secular Humanism in suburban Amherst, includes four of the drawings that originally appeared in a Danish newspaper in September.
“What is at stake is the precious right of freedom of expression,” said Paul Kurtz, editor in chief of Free Inquiry. “Cartoons often provide an important form of political satire. . . . To refuse to distribute a publication because of fear of vigilante violence is to undermine freedom of press — so vital for our democracy.”
“We absolutely respect our customers’ right to choose what they wish to read and buy and we support the First Amendment,” Bingham said. “And we absolutely support the rights of Free Inquiry to publish the cartoons. We’ve just chosen not to carry this particular issue in our stores.”
I guess Barnes and Noble is getting my business from now on.
30 March 2006, on 8:48 am
I’d like to be outraged, but in truth I don’t blame them. Look at all the death threats the originators received. They have a point when they say they are worried about the safety of their customers. Some Muslims around the world have proven that they are violent, irrational and bloodthristy – over cartoons.
I don’t blame them.
But of course, I’ll be shopping at Barnes and Noble only as well. Because, while the precaution does make sense, it gives power and validity to the psychotic assholes and shows them that their tatics do work. It enables “terroristic” behavior and rhetoric.
30 March 2006, on 8:52 am
Yeah, America land of the free and home of the brave except when the oppurtunity to live up to those ideals presents itself.
30 March 2006, on 9:08 am
Random – prezactly.
Esp when it might pose a threat to profits!
30 March 2006, on 9:43 am
To say on one hand that you respect freedom of expression, then with the other hand refuse to distribute such an expression does as Lya said above give “…power and validity to the psychotic assholes and shows them that their tatics do work…”, as well as show a great deal of hypocrisy.
But, I don’t think the claim of safty fears is reasonable, especially in this country, because our largest source of terroristic acts is Christian fundamentalists which would no doubt like making fun of someone else, and therefore have no reason to harass, shoot at, burn, or try to blow up any of these bookstores.
30 March 2006, on 10:29 am
Hey kids! Contact Info:
Questions or comments about a visit to one of our Waldenbooks or Brentano’s stores? Email: ccare@waldenbooksstores.com.
For general questions or comments regarding Borders store experiences, please send email to ccare@bordersstores.com.
or:
Borders Group, Inc.
100 Phoenix Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734.477.1100
this is what I wrote:
”
This decision to not carry the current issue of Free Inquiry gives power and validity to the current and would-be terrorists and shows them that their tactics can (and do) work. I’m sure they appreciate your support.
I’m also sure you can appreciate why I will seriously reconsider shopping in your stores.”
30 March 2006, on 10:54 am
I’m happy to see a corporate entity bend over and take it in the ass. I guess this means if we bitch and complain loud enough (i.e. burn stuff) GM and Ford will get their shit together.
///just kidding
////fuck you Waldenbooks, you always sucked anyway.
30 March 2006, on 12:33 pm
The more I think about their decision, the less it makes sense. Waldenbooks and Borders are everywhere. If all of their stores are carrying this magazine, how could “the terrorists” possibly do anything about it. Logistically, there’s no way. I think what they’re really avoiding is what a place that sells books and periodicals should at its heart be about: they’re avoiding being a marketplace of ideas and debate because we’ve let this country become a place where when debates or arguments are started, you can expect a charge of “helping the enemy” or being un-American. On a personal note, that sucks for me, because Borders generally has a better variety than Barnes and Nobles. But, like MArcus said, fuck you Waldenbooks, you’ve always sucked!
30 March 2006, on 4:15 pm
I hate to be the bearer of cold hard facts, but, WaldenBooks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Border’s. So, that really means that instead of some “groundswell of support” for some PC stupidity, one corporate dipwad in Ann Arbor, Michigan is demonstrating why BAs do not belong in decision making positions.
30 March 2006, on 10:07 pm
I never buy books anymore at my local Borders because I can get them cheaper and more selection on Amazon anyway. But since it is just 5 minutes from home, I do go down there and read through all my favorite magazines. Funny thing is, Free Inquiry is one of the few mags I will actually buy and take home because I find myself reading it from start to finish. Fortunately, I just subscribed last month and should be getting my Apr/May issue in the mail soon.
Way to stand up for free speech you cowards. No wonder your atheism section has at most three books in it. You’ve just taught all the religious extremists out there that they just have to raise some hell and you’ll cave to their demands. The little old lady who runs our local library down the street has more balls than you do.
30 March 2006, on 10:31 pm
Cowards and sissies. They just prove that fear is the great motivator.I guess if you are upset about something you can threaten to blow up someone or something.I think they should sell the issue just to find out where the terrorists live. Better a bookstore than something else.
31 March 2006, on 12:24 am
Hey kids! Contact Info:
Thanks Lya. That’s awesome.
It’s just one dismaying outrage after another these days, isn’t it? So many pinheads to write angry letters to, and so little time….
31 March 2006, on 12:43 am
I love your note Lya. Basically slamming them with Bush rhetoric: your decision only proves that the terrorists have already won!
31 March 2006, on 5:01 pm
KR: The more I think about their decision, the less it makes sense. Waldenbooks and Borders are everywhere. If all of their stores are carrying this magazine, how could “the terrorists” possibly do anything about it. Logistically, there’s no way.
Exactly. They’re just afraid of “offending” someone in a way that might affect their sales.
Idiots. I went to a workshop with two published authors just the other evening where they told us that the “only bad publicity when it comes to the publishing world is none at all.” Even negative publicity invariably raises sales!
1 April 2006, on 1:05 am
Eve, I agree, their sales are the main concern. But again, how much would they really lose. I think what offends me the most about this is giving into the current bullshit culture of fear that got Bush reelected. That and the censorship issue.