[ha-Safran]: Censorship case
Early in August the Wall Street Journal ran an opinion piece about the decision of Random House to cancel publication of a novel about Aisha, the favorite wife of Muhammad, on the grounds that it could be offensive to some in the Muslim community. Radom House expressed regret that it cannot publish the book at this time. The publisher is quoted as expressing fear for the safety of Random House employees, booksellers, and others, should it publish this book. About ten days ago I emailed the ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom about this case of self-censorship due to intimidation, or fear of intimidation asking whether ALA has taken a stand or action on this issue. I haven't heard back, and I wonder whether anyone else has pursued this. The WSJ piece, titled You Still Can't Write About Muhammad can be found here: http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB121797979078815073.html Andrea Rapp Cincinnati, Ohio Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [ha-Safran]: Censorship of books in US prison libraries
HI, I am in Israel now so cannot make a phone call based on what I have just read. Gary Friedman is the chaplain of Jewish Prisoners Services International, based in Seattle where I live. He is the expert on Jews (and books) in prisons. I suggest that someone tri to contact him. Here is the main website: http://www.jewishprisonerservices.org/http://www.jewishprisonerservices.org/ Dina Tanners Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (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: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [ha-Safran]: Censorship of books in US prison libraries
This does seem another example of censorship that AJL might very well wish to comment on. Oversight of this process is crucial to maintain our constitutional rights. Note however, that the ADL has taken the position that the concern that some religious texts may be inflammatory and should be examined. Excerpts from The Jewish Week and a couple of other sources give the context of this debate and would enlighten this debate: The new rule follows release of a report last September by George Washington University and the University of Virginia that warned that American prisons had become a major breeding ground for Islamic terrorists. Three inmates at the federal prison in upstate Otisville a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim have filed suit against the federal Bureau of Prisons seeking to reverse the policy after it was implemented there late last month. Five Orthodox Jewish groups and the American Jewish Committee have all challenged the bureaus handling of this issue. In a letter this week to Harley Lappin, the bureaus director, the AJCs general counsel, Jeffrey Sinensky claimed that to arbitrarily cap the number of books available to inmates unjustifiably punishes those seeking both religious inspiration and texts that are essential for the proper observance of their faith. There are about 5,000 Jewish inmates in federal prisons around the country, according to the ALEPH Institute, which runs prison programs and arranges rabbinic visitation for Jewish inmates. More details and links from today's issues of Christianity Today http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/julyweb-only/128-22.0.htmlhttp://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/julyweb-only/128-22.0.html Steven Freeman, associate director of civil rights for the Anti-Defamation League, applauds the measures as limiting extremism in prisons. It's a legitimate concern that the government has in terms of what books are available to prisoners, he said. Hopefully that decision is made with some good discussion and good discretion about what is extremist and what is mainstream. The http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/11/america/NA-REL-US-Prison-Book-Ban.phpInternational Herald Tribune posted an Associated Press article covering the events at the Otisville prison. The Anti-Defamation League website has a post providing answers to questions concerning http://www.adl.org/civil_rights/prison_ex.aspprison extremism and the First Amendment. The BOP released a http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/0404/final.pdfreview on Muslim religious service providers in April 2004. One of the goals of the http://www.rutherford.org/Issues/ReligiousFreedom.aspRutherford Institute is to protect religious freedom. http://www.prisonfellowship.org/default_pf_org.aspPrison Fellowship is working to counter this censorship. The organization also works in prisons across the country to spread the gospel to inmates. Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (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: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
RE: [ha-Safran]: Censorship of Books in US Prisons
What can we do as an organization about this? I'd support sending a message to the appropriate persons. Marion Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (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: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [ha-Safran]: Censorship of books in US prison libraries
I assume that Christian books and Bibles were also removed. This would be a good thing for Jews and Christians to join together to resolve. Andrea Rapp Cincinnati Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (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: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: Censorship
Much of the dispute regarding censorship seems to emanate from the word itself. As rich as is the English language, it nevertheless fails from time to time to provide an accurate word for the occasion. Censorship is one such word. There is an old Jewish anecdote about a judge presiding over a case where divorced parents argue as to who should have custody of their child. The mother explains at length why she should have custody and the judge says You are right. The father then explains why he should have custody of the child and the judge says to him You are right. The clerk to the court then intervenes and tells the judge that he cannot say that both sides are right, whereupon the judge exclaims You are also right! So it is with the censorship discussion so far. The trouble arises from the wide definition of the word which can be used equally for censoring for good and evil purposes. Most will agree that censorship for the common good is acceptable, although many would dispute what is for the common good. Different words need to be found to describe more accurately the many forms of censorship in existence. Who will take up the challenge? Plato used the word in the following context And shall we just carelessly allow children to hear any casual tales which may be devised by casual persons, and to receive into their minds ideas for the most part the very opposite of those which we should wish them to have when they are grown up? We cannot. Then the first thing will be to establish a censorship of the writers of fiction, and let the censors receive any tale of fiction which is good, and reject the bad; and we will desire mothers and nurses to tell their children the authorized ones only. Yoel Sheridan mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED][EMAIL PROTECTED] www.tenterbooks.com 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
Re: [ha-Safran]: Censorship
I am no attorney, but I think Andrea Rapp, thank goodness, is correct about the constitutional protection of free speech applying only to restraints of the government. Mr. Katz's examples of segregated restaurants, etc. have nothing to do with speech. Shmuel Ben-Gad, Gelman Library, George Washington University. And in the place where there are no men, strive to be a man. --Pirke Avot 2:6 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
Re: [ha-Safran]: Censorship
.Otherwise, having segregated restaurants, lunch counters, etc. wouldn't have been found unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court so many years ago. === Did the Supreme Court do that? Maybe you are right, but as one old enough to remember the 1960's, I think it was legislation passed by Congress, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, rather than a Supreme Court decision, that desegregated public accommodations. Many legislators felt that the act was not constitutional, and ultimately I believe it was the commerce clause that was cited and interpreted to cover these private establishments, Andrea 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
Re: [ha-Safran]: Censorship
Abigail Yasgur's suggestion for an informal conference session on the topic of how free speech affects various organizations and individuals, as well as non-government bodies would be informative. It's an important subject that all librarians working in the USA need to be clear about. I strongly suspect that Andrea Rapp's the constitution's constraints apply to government bodies only, not to parents, stores, publishers, and so on is incorrect, her civics class notwithstanding. Otherwise, having segregated restaurants, lunch counters, etc. wouldn't have been found unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court so many years ago. B'shalom, Bernard. Bernard Katz, former head, Special Collections and Library Development McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph author, descriptive bibliog. of L.M. Montgomery's books (in progress) and founding treasurer, ALJ - Ontario Chapter Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (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: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [ha-Safran]: Censorship
Actually, it was the publisher, McGraw Hill, that invited her in the first place and then asked her not to come. The issue is whether a publisher that sponsors programs like SRA and canned reading can accept criticism from one of their authors who feels strongly that literacy is other than sounding out words. The International Reading Association disavows all knowledge of the situation. Suzi Dubin Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (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: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [ha-Safran]: Censorship and rights
I think anyone can censor - e.g. parents censor their children's reading, history textbooks censor constantly (see Diane Ravitch's The Language Police). But censorship by a bookstore or by a parent does not amount to denying a person his consitituional rights, since the constitution's constraints apply to government bodies only, not to parents, stores, publishers, and so on. Or so I was taught in Civics class, back in the days when they had Civics classes. Andrea Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (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: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [ha-Safran]: Censorship
At 02:05 PM 5/14/2006, you wrote: Below is a message to librarians, media specialists, and educators that author/illustrator Patricia Polacco has posted. It has been - and deserves to be - widely disseminated. Polacco's website contains some additional comments about this disturbing issue. But, then, a very disturbing turn of events transpired. My staff started receiving phone calls and emails from this firm in Ohio requesting that I furnish them with a detailed written outline of what I intended to include in my speeches. I assumed, of course, that this was asked so that a synopsis of my content could be included in a printed brochure furnished to the conferees. I am not sure that Linda wanted to start a debate, but let me put my two cents in. First I am against censorship. I have even written about the dangers of censorship. However, the description of this event hardly seems to be censorship or an issue of free speech. Let me give you another example, a Jewish day school hires an entertainer who has a reputation of being an excellent comedian, but also tells off color jokes when in Las Vegas. The school puts into the contract that the nature of the show and specifies that no jokes should be off-color or in any way offend the observant Jewish audience. The school asks for copies of the jokes and stories in advance to make sure the terms of the contract are being observed. The comedian is hired help and has no grounds to claim academic freedom of speech. Once Patricia Polacco learned of the agenda of the hiring agency, she had two choices, attend and alter the speech or not attend. It would have been much worse if she were cut off in the middle of the speech and publicly embarrassed. Perhaps she is totally right in her criticism of the no child left behind? If one has a philosophical disagreement with an employer, one should either convince them of the error of their ways or shut up. Censorship is when a governmental body or a public agency decides what the public may or may not read or hear. A private company paying the bill can dictate the messages they want to publicize. Parents guiding their children to the best materials is not censorship. Organizations choosing the content of those who give speeches to their membership is not censorship. At worse SRA/McGraw Hill Company deceived Ms. Polacco. At best it was just a lack of communications. Daniel Stuhlman Chicago, IL 60645 dstuhlman @ stuhlman biz http://home.earthlink.net/~ddstuhlman/liblob.htm Librarian's Lobby http://stuhlman.biz Home page 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
RE: [ha-Safran]: Censorship
Linda, thank you for sharing this with us. I will certainly pass it on to our teachers! Etta 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
[ha-Safran]: Censorship
Below is a message to librarians, media specialists, and educators that author/illustrator Patricia Polacco has posted. It has been - and deserves to be - widely disseminated. Polacco's website contains some additional comments about this disturbing issue. Linda Silver, President SSC Urgent Notice To All Educators, Librarians, and Media Specialists Regarding the cancellation of my appearance at the IRA in Chicago for May 2 and 3, 2006 A few months ago I was approached by The Buchanan Associates in Dublin, OH to appear at the International Reading Association Conference in Chicago on May 2 and 3, 2006. I was to be part of 5 events. Speeches, 'meet and greet' and book signings. I was happy to accept the invitation which, I assumed, was coming from the I.R.A. and my publisher. It is always such an honor for me to speak and interact with teachers and librarians from around the country. But, then, a very disturbing turn of events transpired. My staff started receiving phone calls and emails from this firm in Ohio requesting that I furnish them with a detailed written outline of what I intended to include in my speeches. I assumed, of course, that this was asked so that a synopsis of my content could be included in a printed brochure furnished to the conferees. You can imagine my astonishment when I finally called this firm and learned that this was not the reason. They requested my written outline because their 'client' wanted to make sure that I would not discuss my deep concern about NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND MANDATE...as well as my concern that there is a link between this mandate and the SRA/McGraw Hill Company who manufactures, prints, and profits from the sale of these tests to school systems all over our country. It was then that I closely reviewed all if the emails (I had not up until this time because I had been doing school visits and was not home until now) I then realized that the client that this firm referred to, but never names, was indeed, SRA/McGraw Hill! I also learned from the Officials of the IRA that SRA/McGraw Hill was indeed sponsoring the event that I had been invited to. I was shocked! This firm insisted that my speech be upbeat, non-controversial, and non-political...I countered with the fact that the plight of the American teacher is far from upbeat and they are caught in the vice grip of the most controversial and political LIE that has ever been perpetrated on the American teacher. I was also quite mystified as to why SRA/McGraw Hill would even select ME and invite me to be a part of their program knowing how strongly I feel about this entire situation. My speeches certainly do inspire teachers...I truly believe they are among the last hero's we have in our country...but I always mention the destructive path that is laying wasted to our schools and that is the No Child Left Behind Mandate! I did mention to them that I considered this broaching censorship and a violation of my freedom of speech. Finally, after receiving numerous emails from this 'firm' that got more and more 'insistences'...I finally sent them a written refusal to alter my speeches in any way, Certainly I can moderate their length, but I refused to alter the content. I made them aware if they truly had a problem with this, then they could un-invite me to be part of their event. Needless to sat, SRA/McGraw Hill cancelled my programs within the hour! My main concern here, is that I very much fear the conferees will be led to believe that it is I who cancelled this event. The cancellation was the choice of SRA/McGraw Hill and was generated by a blatant attempt to CENSOR my remarks and the content of what I say to teachers, which is a clear infringement of my constitutional right to freedom of speech. I pride myself on being an advocate for America's teachers as well as being one of the most reliable speakers at conferences in our country. My lawyers and I have set a formal request to SRA/McGraw Hill through their representative, The Buchanan Associates in Dublin, Ohio, to post the following signs outside of each venue at the conference where I am scheduled to speak. DUE TO PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SRA/McGRAW HILL AND PATRICIA POLACCO, SRA/McGRAW HILL HAS CHOSEN TO CANCEL ALL OF PATRICIA POLACCO'S APPEARANCES AT THIS EVENT Call anyone you know that was either going to attend my events, or that did and were disappointed and tell them why this happened. I am very disturbed by this on may levels. It seems that we Americans are losing, by leaps and bounds, our constitution guaranteed rights. I am insulted and very offended not only on my own behalf, but also because of these various organizations that seek to profi from the misery for our teachers and school children. Profits and money seem to matter much more that truly making changes to our educational systems that would truly help our children. I have to admit that I have a certain amount of pride in taking this stand on your behalf.
