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Resisting
Censorship
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Seaghan O Murchu • 5 April 2006
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Thanks
again for continuing to publish the cartoons and profiles
of those signatories of the Manifesto
for free speech. I wanted to add for your readers
that this publication of the cartoons and their context
grows in importance when contrasted, for example,
with the decision announced a few days ago by those
in charge of the book chains Borders and Waldenbooks.
These retailers refuse to stock the current issue
of the rather ironically titled (at least placed beside
the decision taken by these two purveyors) magazine
'Free Inquiry' under the guise of protecting the
safety of their stores and employees. Why? 'Free
Inquiry' has also published the controversial
cartoons. A table of contents and selected articles
from this April/May 2006 issue can be seen at: http://www.secularhumanism.org/fi
Certainly, this disappointing reaction by Borders
& Waldenbooks should give pause to those of us
who have patronised these merchants either on the
Net or in their 'bricks & mortar' versions. This
capitulation by Borders & Waldenbooks to censorship
under the cover of protecting property and workers
makes, therefore, the decision of 'The Blanket'
to disseminate the cartoons--and even more crucially
the wider discussion that they have sparked among
free-thinkers with a background in Islam--all the
more worthwhile.
Maith
thu!
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The
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The
right to be heard does not automatically include the
right to be taken seriously.
- Hubert H. Humphrey
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