Stuff White People Like is being released in book stores today. It’s also available from the following online retailers:
In Canada:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stuff-White-People-Like/15412733774
A few years ago a friend relayed to me how he had written a term paper about how awful and traumatizing Walt Disney movies of old were to young children... You know, a single white girl being the bitch and cooking and cleaning to seven old men that she shacked up with... Didn't chew her food properly and choked on an apple... was poisoned... etc etc etc. Also, I rememer in 1995 how the Lee County School Board decided to stop allowing students to choose to be tested for HIV at school health fairs. At the meeting, the issue had been decided so no dialogue was effective. And as usual, one cutesy wootsy 17 year old christian girl got up and said that as "Christian" it insinuated she was having sex. Blah, blah, blah. Had she not attended probably a large acceptable Christian money making church but was perhaps from a sect deamed a cult such as Mormon/LDS, or Jehova WItnesses, they would have not cared at all. Well, today, that chick has probably fallen off the "fundamentalist" wagon and working as a stripper. A sort of "porn again fondlementalist." It is a shame that the Christian moralist fail to educate their children on the sins of the world and how to avoid them, not just cover them up. And it is the same group of bible thumping preacher billy bob followers that fail to follow and actually know that the Bible explicity warns and displays worldly behavior. The Bible correlates well with archeology and evolution, but since reading Isiah is too complex, they stick to Malachi to keep their cash flow and Paul to keep their zealousness. The school board had no interest in perhaps someone chronically molested that felt a serious need to have access to testing. No, not in our school. Lee county is molestor free. What, ABCNightline? Oh well, sorry.. we missed one.
The following, while billed and swept under the table as censorship minimalis, is still an example that parents provide their children with their education. And some parents that choose to shield their children thus making them easy prey force ALL parents to blind their children. Read on... and when you are done, go read a prior blog on this site from freelancer Lockwood Ridge on "The Success Of Cho". Need we protect our kids from reality further? And remember, the conservative moral majority and George Bushies run FOX News. The Network for NASCAR Nitwits that tune in to hear what they want to hear, not what they ought to hear.
A reader submits for review...
My anti-book ban activism finally made some dust blow around in the Lee county school system, but the conservative local Fox news station hedged the issue to remain "family friendly" and suppress my argument by turning against the NCAC (The NCAC was working with the principal of the elementary school, who may need to remove the book because of this one, narrow-minded, parent. Up next... weather, sports, and a book burning! Here's what Fox said:
Posted: Feb 7, 2008 09:18 PM
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"Thank you for covering this important story. This is a troubling topic for our intellectual freedom in our public libraries. I hope that Fox news agrees with me. However, I am inclined to believe that Fox news does not want to examine both sides in this persistent debate."
I hope this story accomplishes what Gregory asked for. I welcome more emails. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me.
MARISA MENDELSON
1/23/2008
Re: The Amazing Bone book ban
Dear Marisa Mendelson:
Thank you for covering this important story. This is a troubling topic for our intellectual freedom in our public libraries. I hope that Fox news agrees with me. However, I am inclined to believe that Fox news does not want to examine both sides in this persistent debate. The banning of the book, The Amazing Bone, due to its barbarous nature, is not a reasonable solution for protecting children. It is simply Censorship. Mrs. Barry's pain does not appear to be with the Sunshine elementary school's library alone, but with everyone who passes through the door of all libraries; both institutional and public, child and adult. I do not wish to raise swords with her, but to, instead, bang pots and pans that will, alternatively, help people understand that the solution is not to destroy literature whenever a group of people view it as acute to violence. But to undertake benign possibilities that reward both sides.
The challenges that I have to face surround comparisons between what is appropriate literature in today's society and that of the past. Such a remark is both ignorant and against the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when, and if, that remark becomes reality. In lieu of banning this book from every public library, Mrs. Barry could become the advocate of intellectual freedom through the application of educational material and objectives of our schools. This is not Censorshipit is planning. And it can be achieved without effectuating the destruction of any books in the public libraries; there lies the act of intellectual freedom. PABBIS, or Parents Against Bad Books In Schools, lists a few circumstances when a book may be deemed inappropriate for a young audience. Their guideline, as I view it, allows for objectionable literature to remain in the public library system, but not in the school:
In considering what is a good/bad book consider the following:
· Age appropriateness.
· What are the educational goals/objectives and does the [sic] book achieve them?
· Is the book relevant to the curriculum, standards of learning, program of instruction?
· Is this particular book necessary? Are other books without bad content equal or better in doing the job? Which ones were considered? (http://www.pabbis.com)
Furthermore, if Mrs. Barry wishes to juxtapose this book with the Virginia shootings (which is illogical because that would be like comparing a mentally unsound individual with a nurtured and supervised one) then I ask her: who is she protecting: my child from her child? Thank you.
And here's an excerpt from the NCAC. The NCAC wants to work with the school and save the book, but Mendelson continues to target knives and guns, and avoid my central argument:
Hi Gregory,
Thanks for all of this information - it is very helpful. I spoke with the school principal, Jeff Robbins, this morning. He told me that the policy is to have a review committee consisting of media specialists, parents, etc review the book for use in the school. Then, if the parent objects to the committee's decision, he/she can appeal to the district school board. 'The Amazing Bone' is currently being reviewed by a committee, which will meet again on February 8th.
I'm planning to send some of our printed materials and online resources to Mr. Robbins, with copies he can distribute to the committee members and/or the parent who objected to the book. From our phone conversation, he sounded receptive and welcomed the offer of NCAC's resources and guidance. My hope is that the review committee will decide to keep the book, but I plan to keep following this case, regardless of the committee's decision, because the parent could decide to appeal to the school board. [...]
