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| Home Front: Culture Wars |
| Borders And Waldenbooks Folds, Won't Carry Magazine |
| 2006-03-30 |
| Borders and Waldenbooks stores will not stock the April-May issue of Free Inquiry magazine because it contains cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that provoked deadly protests among Muslims in several countries. "For us, the safety and security of our customers and employees is a top priority, and we believe that carrying this issue could challenge that priority," Borders Group Inc. spokeswoman Beth Bingham said Wednesday. The magazine, published by the Council for Secular Humanism in suburban Amherst, includes four of the drawings that originally appeared in a Danish newspaper in September, including one depicting Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban with a lit fuse. Islamic tradition bars depiction of Muhammad to prevent idol worship, which is strictly prohibited. "What is at stake is the precious right of freedom of expression," said Paul Kurtz, editor-in-chief of Free Inquiry. "Cartoons often provide an important form of political satire ... To refuse to distribute a publication because of fear of vigilante violence is to undermine freedom of press — so vital for our democracy." Bingham said the decision was made before the magazine arrived at the company's stores. Borders Group, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., operates more than 475 Borders and 650 Waldenbooks stores in the United States, though not all regularly carry the magazine. "We absolutely respect our customers' right to choose what they wish to read and buy and we support the First Amendment," Bingham said. "And we absolutely support the rights of Free Inquiry to publish the cartoons. We've just chosen not to carry this particular issue in our stores." The cartoons, which were reprinted in European and American papers in January and February, sparked a wave of protests around the Islamic world. Protesters were killed in some of the most violent demonstrations and several European embassies were attacked. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #11 A shame, I used to like going to Borders. |
| Posted by: DMFD 2006-03-30 23:18 |
| #10 The Amazing Randi (the magician who debunked that Israeli spoon bender) I remember that, got him on video bending the silverware when he thought nobody was looking, then called attention to the bent spoons later. Hard to claim you're psychic when you got video proving he's just another fake. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2006-03-30 21:10 |
| #9 Mr. Wife's great uncle used to give us a subscription to that magazine every year for Christmas, alternately with the Skeptical Enquirer (which did a lot of interesting debunking studies). We'd let it slide for a couple of years, but I think I need to start again. Both magazines have interesting web sites -- although I b'lieve it's Free Inquiry that sometimes goes over the top atheist... and had an entire issue full of articles arguing strongly against responding to the 9/11 attacks at the time. The Amazing Randi (the magician who debunked that Israeli spoon bender) is on their board of directors, as I recall. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-03-30 17:59 |
| #8 "For us, the safety and security of our customers and employees is a top priority, and we believe that carrying this issue could challenge that priority," I'll assist in that desire by staying far enough away as possible in order not to create an attractive crowded target. There's always Amazon for my business. |
| Posted by: Omaiting Shineper6088 2006-03-30 17:12 |
| #7 Perhaps someone should have a look to make sure that they aren't selling anything that would be found offensive by Christians, Jews, Athiests... Or, for that matter, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Communists, Socialists... Americans, Mexicans, Japanese, Canadians, Italians, Chinese, Taiwanese, Ethiopians, Russians, Koreans... What the hell, just close the stores. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2006-03-30 17:08 |
| #6 Sadly, my preferred grocery store is next to a Borders, making them entirely too convenient to boycott. The nearest Borders is an hour's drive away, and there *aren't* any independent bookstores around. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2006-03-30 12:15 |
| #5 "For us, the safety and security of our customers and employees is a top priority, and we believe that carrying this issue could challenge that priority," Borders Group Inc. spokeswoman Beth Bingham said Wednesday. And, Benjamin Franklin replied, "Those who would trade their freedoms for security will end up with neither." While, actually, I don't feel this is a true 1st Amendment issue (as relates to government dictating what can/can't be said), it would be nice to see such a big company stand up for America. I mean, good grief, I gotta think they wouldn't have sold that many anyways, but now, their stand will make me stay away from their stores, as well as drive many to look elsewhere for copies of the cartoons themselves. I mean, our press has basically self-censured themselves from printing the actual cartoons themselves, and those who aren't internet savvy need a way to see what all the brew-ha-ha was about. Shame on Borders. |
| Posted by: BA 2006-03-30 12:05 |
| #4 And so, what could just as easily have been a unified front crumbles like so much dried bovine fecal matter. Fortunately, I do not shop at either store so boycotting them will be more pleasure than pain. I become increasingly angry that, when the initial demands for apologies over the cartoons were made, the White House did not simply publish several pages of Arab cartoons that are so derogatory towards the West. A demand for reciprocity should have been made, then and there, without the least backing down. Instead, Europe, the White House, America's broadcast and newspaper media and too many corporate entities have cowered in the face of a gigantic threat to our free speech. All of them should be deeply ashamed. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-03-30 11:27 |
| #3 Sig HEIL, Borders and Waldenbooks!!! Put on those Brownshirts and bow down and worship Adolf mohammed and your islamic masters. Why don"t you just throw them in the streets and burn the magazines? Maybe you should start banning Jooooooooooos, or maybe make them wear a "Star of David" when they come in the store? Piss on mohammed and allan. |
| Posted by: anymouse 2006-03-30 10:29 |
| #2 I don't blame the booksellers, who justifiably are concerned about the "deranged" taking out their vile against innocent employees. It's not the booksellers at fault. It is the radical Islamists who are at fault. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-03-30 10:00 |
| #1 Makes me wonder what other literature they have self censored for my safety. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2006-03-30 09:10 |