And The Cartoon Controversy Continues

[elaine]

Via Dispatches from the Culture Wars

"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."


http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2006/03/more_caricature_cowardice.php

Personal safety over principle? I understand the desire of the bookstores to protect their employees, but since I don't work for either company, I'll probably head to Barnes and Noble on my lunch break for free speech solidarity.

[drkitten]

Via Dispatches from the Culture Wars

"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."


http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2006/03/more_caricature_cowardice.php

Personal safety over principle? I understand the desire of the bookstores to protect their employees, but since I don't work for either company, I'll probably head to Barnes and Noble on my lunch break for free speech solidarity.

Well, given that Barnes and Noble refused to stock the Satanic Verses when it came out, citing the same concerns.... I think you may be letting your principles run away with you.

[elaine]

Well, given that Barnes and Noble refused to stock the Satanic Verses when it came out, citing the same concerns.... I think you may be letting your principles run away with you.

I had no idea.

[casebro]

If a newspaper can put it's dispensers anywhere it wants under freeedom of the press, how can a bookstore refuse to disptribute any particular book?

[drkitten]

If a newspaper can put it's dispensers anywhere it wants under freeedom of the press, how can a bookstore refuse to disptribute any particular book?

For the same reason that a newspaper can also not put its dispensers anywhere it doesn't want to.

I can publish anything I like. You can carry it, or not, as you see fit, in your own store.

[elaine]

If a newspaper can put it's dispensers anywhere it wants under freeedom of the press, how can a bookstore refuse to disptribute any particular book?

Freedom of the press is a reference to what the government may and may not do, not what private individuals and companies choose to do.

[Charlie Monoxide]

Did you ever try to buy Bruce Springsteen's latest CD when it came out last year at a Starbucks? You know Starbucks, those trendy, hip, non-establisment coffee sellers who also sell hip, trendy music CD's.

It seems a reference to a prostitute and anal sex in one of Bruce's songs didn't sit well with Starbucks management. I guess they feared the hordes of jebus-lovers might stop buying coffee there.

Charlie (pain in the ass) Monoxide

[BPSCG]

It seems a reference to a prostitute and anal sex in one of Bruce's songs didn't sit well with Starbucks management. I guess they feared the hordes of jebus-lovers might stop buying coffee there.Or maybe the management was simply offended by songs about prostitution and anal sex.

Or are only Jesus lovers offended by that kind of stuff?

[Hagrok]

Would Starbucks sell a Springsteen CD in the first place? Most of the CD's I've seen there are compilations of artists...

Then again, I live in Albuquerque.

[sackett]

...It seems a reference to a prostitute and anal sex ... didn't sit well with Starbucks ....

You have a lot of cheek, posting a bun that bad.

I mean a BUM that bad – No, dammit, a PUN, a pun.

[Charlie Monoxide]

You have a lot of cheek, posting a bun that bad.

I mean a BUM that bad – No, dammit, a PUN, a pun.You know, I really didn't intend it to be a pun. Good one for catching it!

Charlie (subconcious pun creator) Monoxide