Here is an analogy which might help us better understand and interpret the Patricia Polacco imbroglio. Several years ago AJL invited a scholar to speak at the annual conference. This gentleman, who I might add is a fine scholar and a good man, happens to be a Christian who was born a Jew. His talk was well attended and he gave a charming and erudite presentation. But suppose (theoretically speaking) that a month or two before the conference, someone found out that he had plans to make well-meaning but inappropriate (bordering on proselytizing) comments about his personal decision to convert during his presentation. After trying to gain assurances (without success) from the speaker that this would not occur, the conference committee might well make the decision to cancel his talk. I don't think any of us would call this censorship.
While I have great admiration for Patricia Polacco as a writer and as a person, and while I might disagree with the decision to cancel her talk, I don't think it can rightly be called censorship. Was the decision wrong? Perhaps. Was the decision heavy handed? Probably. Was it censorship? No. Mark Stover Mark Stover Head of Reference Services San Diego State University Library 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-8050 Voice: (619) 594-2131 Fax: (619) 594-3270 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
