Re: VERY OT: On Censorship.
>>"Timothy" == Timothy R Butler <tbutler@uninetsolutions.com> writes:
Timothy> Hello,
Timothy> I want to clear up a bit of confusion about my statements.
>> So you're going to dictate how tax money is spent, based on your
>> minuscule contribution to the whole? My tax dollar is in there, too.
>> You want to deny me the benefits of my contribution?
Timothy> No. Let me put it another way, perhaps, that would be
Timothy> better. If you want your library to carry Mein Kampf (which
Timothy> I now regret using as an example), I suppose I can't argue
Timothy> with that - however, you should donate the book, and not
Timothy> expect (potentially) my tax payment to buy the book for you.
I see. You contribute tax dollars, and you want to have
control over the books that are bought. I contribute tax dollars, I
suppose I should get similar control. Who, then, gets to control what
books get bought? There would likely be some constituency offended by
any of the potential books being bought, so we buy nothing for public
libraries?
>> Actually, it probably does. It is likely in a restricted area, or on
>> fiche or disk. It, like Playboy, Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated
>> are major periodicals and any quality library will stock them.
Timothy> No, I'm pretty sure I can say it does not 'round here. I'm
Timothy> not sure about in your neck of the woods.
I am glad I have access to a more full featured poblic library.
Timothy> I don't believe in teaching by showing madmen's
Timothy> works. They are, often times convincing, and many a person
Timothy> could be lead into believing their thoughts - I don't want a
Timothy> bunch of bin Ladens being made even by a fraction with my
Timothy> money.
Ignorance is what ideologues thrive on -- and you, sir, seem
to be advocating precisely the ignorance that fosters
fundamentalism.
Timothy> However, as I have said before, I'm not dictating what
Timothy> anyone reads privately. But, just like my city hall can't
Timothy> have a Nativity scene out front without fearing litigation
Timothy> (isn't that censoring?), I'm not so sure that my library
Timothy> should have radical Islamic documents.
Why single out islam? Radical Christian doctrine drove the
crusades, and radical Hindu jingoism is running rampant in
Ayodhya.
Timothy> To sum things up - I do not believe in Talbanic (is that a
Timothy> word?) censorship. I believe that a library or other public
Timothy> or private institution has a right to censor what they have
Timothy> under their direct control (how about the kids that get in
Timothy> trouble at school for having shirts with Christian sayings
Timothy> on them?).
Or who are prevented from exercising their religion for the
lack of a blood altar at schools.
Indeed. And the
manoj
--
Nondeterminism means never having to say you are wrong.
Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> <http://www.debian.org/%7Esrivasta/>
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