Friday, June 16, 2006

ALA RLG Resolution #1

I noticed this over at Heretical Librarian. There’s some book banning afoot in the Garden State:

“(TRENTON) - Assemblywomen Joan M. Quigley and Linda Stender today castigated political commentator Ann Coulter for vicious remarks made against four New Jersey September 11th widows in her new book "Godless: The Church of Liberalism."

No one in New Jersey should buy this book and allow Ann Coulter to profit from her hate-mongering. We are asking New Jersey retailers statewide to stand with us and express their outrage by refusing to carry or sell copies of Coulter's book.”

The Heretical Librarian says that “It is instructive, though, that ALA or other library organizations have yet to respond to this news.”

Heretical Librarian dude, you’re so crazy! It's purely an oversight on their part.

But you’ve spurred the Annoyed Librarian into action, and that ain’t easy! At least, unless you're a cat or a martini. You want the ALA to take a stand? Well, it’s taking a stand right now, baby! The Regressive Librarians Guild of the Annoyed Librarian Association has just passed its first ever resolution and it's about this very issue. Here it is:

Whereas, the Regressive Librarians Guild is the strongest supporter of intellectual freedom in the universe; and…

Whereas, intellectual freedom means the freedom to think like us; and…

Whereas, intellectual freedom also means the freedom NOT to have an intellect (so there!); and…

Whereas, Ann Coulter is an evil :-( right-wing fanatic and we approve only of good :-) left-wing fanatics; and…

Whereas, we do not like to read anything with which we disagree; and…

Whereas, we do not like other people to read anything with which we disgree;

Resolved, the Regressive Librarians Guild of the ALA fully supports the New Jersey Assemblywomen’s call to ban books we do not agree with; and be it further

Resolved, the Regressive Librarians Guild calls on libraries throughout the state of New Jersey and every other state NOT to purchase any books we do not agree with, including but not limited to books by that nasty Ann Coulter; and be it further

Resolved, the Regressive Librarians Guild recommends that if you find any people who have ever read a word by Ann Coulter or anyone else we disapprove of, you should do bad things to them.

Happy now?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy the ALA has taken a stand, because now I know what to think. Thank you, RLG.

Anonymous said...

Me too.

Anonymous said...

Ditto. On a serious note, it's more like a boycott rather than a ban. I bet if instead of Ann Coulter, it was, say, Michael Moore, he would be rushing to support the resolution. But, what else is new. Keep up the great work.

Anonymous said...

I've always avoided joining the ALA, because the members have ugly shoes.

Obviously, my bad.

Can I join your ALA?

Anonymous said...

Dear Annoyed Librarian,

You really need to practice your resolutions. If you're going to model them after the "Progressive" Librarians Guild they need to be full of goobledygook and have at least 10 "whereas's". Your resolution was clearly written and has only 6 "whereas's".

Anonymous said...

I second Anon! - Greg