Tuesday, January 11, 2005

It's not censorship!

"Library officials in two southern Mississippi counties have banned Jon Stewart's best-selling "America (The Book)" over the satirical textbook's nude depictions of the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices."

These people didn't "ban" anything. They just refused to purchase the book for their libraries, which is their right and responsibility. They can't buy every new book that hits the market, nor should they. They're expected to use judgment about the needs of their communities and what will serve them best. If they don't want to serve as a vehicle for Comedy Channel humor, I see no reason why they should. I'm sure there are lots of other books they didn't purchase. Why aren't they being "banned" as well? Well, nobody pointed out fake nude photos in them. Since when is a sense of decorum and respect for national institutions a crime?

Where did we get the idea that freedom requires that everybody rush to the lowest level of discourse or provide public platforms for stuff like this? Where is it decreed that tax monies are required to be spent to enrich tacky comedians?

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