Does she actually think living across the Bering Strait from Russia constitutes foreign policy expertise? Does she really take the parable of Adam and Eve as literal truth? How, exactly, does one field dress a moose? And why would one want to?
My first question, though, would not be one of those. I'd simply ask which books she wants to ban -- and why.
Yes, there's a list of titles floating around the Internet right now, but it's a fake. It is, however, established fact that our would-be vice president has in the past tried to pull books off library shelves.
The New York Times reports that as a member of the City Council of Wasilla, Alaska, Palin complained to colleagues about a book called Daddy's Roommate, described in promotional material as being ''for and about the children of lesbian and gay parents.'' Laura Chase, who ran Palin's campaign for mayor, explained that the book was harmless and suggested Palin read it.
Chase told The Times that Palin replied she ``didn't need to read that stuff. It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn't even read it.''
Later, as mayor, Palin reportedly asked the town's librarian three times whether she would agree to remove controversial books from the shelves. Three times, the librarian refused. Palin fired her, but eventually bowed to public pressure and gave the woman her job back.
''I'm still proud of Sarah,'' said Chase, ``but she scares the bejeebers out of me.''
And in that context, it seems apropos that next week is Banned Books Week.
As you doubtless know, that's the week set aside each year by the American Library Association to bring attention to attempts by some of us to regulate what others of us may read. The ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom reports that it has seen 9,700 ''challenges'' -- a challenge is defined as a formal written request to remove a book from a library because the content offends or is deemed inappropriate -- since 1990. Chillingly, the office suggests that's probably an undercount. It estimates that for every challenge reported, four or five are not.
So Palin has company, to say the least.
Count among that number the woman from a Cuban exile group who bragged to a Miami Herald reporter how in 2006 she checked out and kept an elementary school library book she felt painted too rosy a picture of life on that communist island. Like Palin, she thought she had good reason. Would-be book banners always do.
I'm reminded of how someone challenged me the other day on my contention that anti-intellectualism has overtaken this land. I mentioned by way of example Palin's Bible literalism, but really, there's so much more. There's the ''Jay Walking'' segment on Leno. There's this notion that ''elite'' is a four-letter word. There's the White House's censorship and politicization of science. There's the recent survey which found that more people can name all five Simpsons than all five freedoms enumerated in the First Amendment.
And there's this: as many as 50,000 incidents since 1990 in which a book was forced to justify its existence. We're talking books like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, books like The Color Purple, books like Harry Potter and, yes, books like Daddy's Roommate, books that offended because they expressed ideas that made someone uncomfortable. As if any other kind of idea was worth expressing.
We are becoming the stupid giant of planet Earth: richer than Midas, mightier than Thor, dumber than rocks. Which makes us a danger to the planet -- and to ourselves. This country cannot continue to prosper and to embrace stupidity. The two are fundamentally incompatible.
So do us all a favor: Annoy Sarah Palin. For goodness sake, read."
posted
[QUOTE]Originally posted by bdgee: It is, however, established fact that our would-be vice president has in the past tried to pull books off library shelves.
Established fact? Who has established this as fact?
The New York Times reports that as a member of the City Council of Wasilla, Alaska, Palin complained to colleagues about a book called Daddy's Roommate, described in promotional material as being ''for and about the children of lesbian and gay parents.'' Laura Chase, who ran Palin's campaign for mayor, explained that the book was harmless and suggested Palin read it.
Chase told The Times that Palin replied she ``didn't need to read that stuff. It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn't even read it.''
Did Palin actually tell the woman she wanted to ban the book or did she just assume she wanted to?
Later, as mayor, Palin reportedly asked the town's librarian three times whether she would agree to remove controversial books from the shelves. Three times, the librarian refused. Palin fired her, but eventually bowed to public pressure and gave the woman her job back.
Reportedly, did she or didn't she? I guess we'll never know.
Maybe she fired the librarian for sleeping on the job. I quess we'll never know.
AAs you doubtless know, that's the week set aside each year by the American Library Association to bring attention to attempts by some of us to regulate what others of us may read. The ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom reports that it has seen 9,700 ''challenges'' -- a challenge is defined as a formal written request to remove a book from a library because the content offends or is deemed inappropriate -- since 1990. Chillingly, the office suggests that's probably an undercount. It estimates that for every challenge reported, four or five are not.
This all smells just like Hilary and Bill's attempt to silence the consevative talk radio.
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Sheesh, more typical smearing on Palin. Not saying I am voting for McCain here, but this is just getting out of control. This board is getting too polarized, and is not as enjoyable as it once was when I first joined. They might as well call this off topic section the obama/biden section, and if you dont agree you dont have any sense, wit, or comprehension skills.
There is so much kool aid flowing around here im just waiting to see an animated "oh yeah!" come through my screen. We are screwed either way this election. I have not even decided on who I will vote for yet. Id rather vote for Nader.
This isnt as enjoyable of a place to be as it once was. The quality of conversation has dropped to childish name calling and bickering from what we used to discuss here.
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so.
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quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: Sheesh, more typical smearing on Palin. Not saying I am voting for McCain here, but this is just getting out of control. This board is getting too polarized, and is not as enjoyable as it once was when I first joined. They might as well call this off topic section the obama/biden section, and if you dont agree you dont have any sense, wit, or comprehension skills.
There is so much kool aid flowing around here im just waiting to see an animated "oh yeah!" come through my screen. We are screwed either way this election. I have not even decided on who I will vote for yet. Id rather vote for Nader.
This isnt as enjoyable of a place to be as it once was. The quality of conversation has dropped to childish name calling and bickering from what we used to discuss here.
Yeah, man, CashCowMoo , you got it right!
Bring back the good ol' days when you first joined and the thing to do was call anyone that didn't parrot whatever the RNC and dubya and the cronies said traitors and unpatriotic and un-American and tell them to move to Russia and all that really fun friendly good ol' boy sh-t. And what made it extra special good fun was we could all jump on 'em at the same time and really make a show of telling them we don't put up with no one refusing to let us have our free speech and the constitutional right to say whatever we please and we please wanted them banned from Allstocks.
even McCain is campaigning against Dubya, and this bailout thingy is not going thru because even theGOPs have seen that he's not a real conservative...
you know i'm not going to say stop being a ninny. but the Dems have won quite abit of ground over this, and will most likely win the white ouse too..
we could all use a little more common sense and a little less partisanship..
even Obama says that and that's the ONE thing i can point to him and say he's doing a great job...
CCM was in Iraq when he came here or was on his way...
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
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"CCM was in Iraq when he came here or was on his way..."
So, that doesn't give him any right to belittle democrats and pass on the lies and BS cooked up to make the the McCain campaign look palatable. And it doesn't grant him any special favors from the 1st Amendment, no matter what he wants to be the case. I do remember what he was saying back in those good old days he loved so much and wants back. Has he forgotten?
If CCM wants to get on the less partisanship bandwagon, then fine. Let's see evidence of it. That'll mean he needs to stop his crap of slamming anyone that isn't loudly preaching republican lies and propaganda and stop doing that himself before he's anything but just another hate speaking republican shill, out to destroy America by undoing the Constitution.
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quote:Originally posted by bdgee: "CCM was in Iraq when he came here or was on his way..."
So, that doesn't give him any right to belittle democrats and pass on the lies and BS cooked up to make the the McCain campaign look palatable. And it doesn't grant him any special favors from the 1st Amendment, no matter what he wants to be the case. I do remember what he was saying back in those good old days he loved so much and wants back. Has he forgotten?
If CCM wants to get on the less partisanship bandwagon, then fine. Let's see evidence of it. That'll mean he needs to stop his crap of slamming anyone that isn't loudly preaching republican lies and propaganda and stop doing that himself before he's anything but just another hate speaking republican shill, out to destroy America by undoing the Constitution.
Your such a shill for the dumocrat's. Everything you accuse CCM of you do twofold so get off your soapbox and recognize that some of us don't agree with your socialistic propaganda. Your the one who attacks anyone with a view that doesn't fit your warped idea of what america should be. And as far as the constitution, your understand it only from a leftist point of view.
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quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: Sheesh, more typical smearing on Palin. Not saying I am voting for McCain here, but this is just getting out of control. This board is getting too polarized, and is not as enjoyable as it once was when I first joined. They might as well call this off topic section the obama/biden section, and if you dont agree you dont have any sense, wit, or comprehension skills.
There is so much kool aid flowing around here im just waiting to see an animated "oh yeah!" come through my screen. We are screwed either way this election. I have not even decided on who I will vote for yet. Id rather vote for Nader.
This isnt as enjoyable of a place to be as it once was. The quality of conversation has dropped to childish name calling and bickering from what we used to discuss here.
There's only one person here that name calls and that's because he can't help himself, he has a socialistic complex that requires him to attack anyone that doesn't march in lockstep with his DNC talking points. It's quite sad.
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Bdgee: "I do remember what he was saying back in those good old days he loved so much and wants back"
Yeah, those were the good ole days bdgee. Let me tell you how much I loved them, and how much I want them back.
Back to reality, before anyone else puts words in my mouth let me make an observation.
I get ridiculed by a few here because I have in the past months questioned Obama. Wow, sue me. So, everyone seems to find the bandwagon a great tool around here. Belittle Democrats bdgee? I have never said anything but truth on BOTH sides. A lot of people here say they are part of a less partisanship bandwagon, but for some reason that means slamming McCain and pumping Obama. If you dare question Obama, or the Democratic party then SHAME...SHAME on you.
C'mon...I am not a card carrying Republican. I am probably going to follow in some of my family members footsteps and switch from Republican to the INDEPENDENT party. I am sure a bunch of people here have some spin and filth to spew on the independent party and my "intelligence" for thinking along those lines. What I am saying in my earlier post is so many here want to be in this intellectual pissing contest with each other. Instead of factual debate it has turned into he said she said.
Bdgee on me: "That'll mean he needs to stop his crap of slamming anyone that isn't loudly preaching republican lies and propaganda"
This is what I am talking about. So basically with this statement it means all Republicans are liars, and furthermore means that the opposite of Republicans are the whole truth (Democrats). Does anyone else see this? Even Obama fans need to acknowledge this as an extreme. That is not a debating standpoint. That is a amateur attempt to persuade a viewpoint!
And since Iraq was brought up let me speak on that. The whole reason I have stated much regret for casting my vote for George W. Bush was because of what I went through and saw over there. Since Bdgee thinks I am a Bill O'reilly then lets play his imagination here. Since I have questioned some of Obamas policies, and was in Iraq then of course it must only mean my stance is hard core Republican. This is the opposite. Never in my life have I ever been so interested in learning both sides and coming to a responsible and mature decision to decide. Being to meticulous in this choice it has really kept me 50-50 on who to vote for. My mind has me LEANING towards Obama. The only way to seal the deal on him is how he handles this whole financial mess. Right now McCain is not impressing me with his connections, and his lack of reality on economics.
In my search to discover both sides of the story it is now very apparent that can not be progressively done in this environment. It has really gone downhill. You might as well name this the Obama Biden board instead of something along the lines of "independent thought section".
This is what really bothers me. Apparently to some people here on this board you either have to be hard core conservative, or you have to right Obama's coat tails. I'm in the middle of this...I am not going to drink your Obama kool aid, and I am not going to call anyone who isn't on McCain's bandwagon unpatriotic.
I have spoken up FOR Governor Palin because the one sided demonizing on her is fouler than a NYC sewer. In no way to do you see the criticism and extreme bias against Joe Biden. Who cares about either of their politics. If you are going to pick away then do it equally. The media seems to have forgotten what TRUE journalism is on BOTH sides.
I am just glad I am not like some on this board who are just so brainwashed on one side they will never be able to come to a sound conclusion in the middle. Republican or Democrat a lot of you are really losing it, and would hate to see you in a public debate forum. All you would do is lose your temper and start throwing a hissy fit. Not all of you are like that here. Still some outstanding individuals for the most part. Never thought I would see so many grown men acting like kids.
So go ahead and fling what you got at me. I could care less. Could someone tell me how to delete my account because this is not really a place I feel comfortable spending my time in anymore. Instead of feeling much more highly educated on issues I feel im more better ready to get into a childish argument.
This isn't how it is supposed to be.
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so.
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