[Libs-Or] Shakespeare Books & Antiques closing

[Tony]

One of the points of free speech and a free press is it does make people uncomfortable, and does cause pain.  It is the price of being an adult and living in a society that welcomes the free exchange of ideas. What we lose when we silence those whom we disagree with is greater than the comfort we gain from not hearing other's voices, be they historic or contemporary.


Tony


Primo and Alma: Making WorldCat Local Look Good
**tony_greiner at hotmail.com**


________________________________
From: Mark KILLE <markk at multcolib.org>
Sent: Friday, September 2, 2016 11:10 AM
To: Tony
Cc: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] Shakespeare Books & Antiques closing

Hi all,

Okay, now that the "truth to power" line has been broken out, I feel I have to say something.

I wish people would stop talking about this situation as though there is one clear villain and one clear hero. For a relatively balanced presentation, see for example: http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160805/NEWS/160809755

I think we can all agree that freedom of speech, as an ethical principle as opposed to a legal right, comes with an obligation to use that speech responsibly. I think we can also all agree that you have to expect that other people may speak right back at you, if they don't like what you have to say.

It's an extremely sad situation--especially since the two private entities involved seem to have roughly similar views about what racism is and why it's bad--but OSF didn't make their complaint up out of nothing. It came from the real pain and concerns of real people.

It's fine if folks sympathize more with Shakespeare Books & Antiques than those concerns as expressed by OSF. It's fine if folks think OSF was overbearing and counterproductive. Just, please, don't dismiss the pain and concern that led to their actions--or their equal right to their own free speech.

I say this *especially* in the context of calls for libraries to use this situation as an opportunity to educate patrons about censorship. Consider that some of those patrons might actually approve of OSF's actions, and might already be mistrustful of public institutions that may be perceived to care more about abstract principles than creating a welcoming space for everyone in the community.

To pick just one related example: Libraries can and should have books that express the full range of views on same-sex relationships. But in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that legalized marriage equality across the country, I would have never set up a display that included those books in order to "teach the controversy." Because it *sucks* to walk in and see books denying the validity of one's existence being actively promoted as being of interest.

I am not trying to convince anybody here of anything, or to start an argument. I'm just saying--please look at this situation, and others like it, as holistically as possible.

Thanks for your consideration,
Mark

Mark Kille
Library Assistant
Multnomah County Library
Hillsdale Library
503.988.5388<tel:503.988.5388>
multcolib.org<http://multcolib.org>

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On Fri, Sep 2, 2016 at 10:27 AM, Tony <tony_greiner at hotmail.com<mailto:tony_greiner at hotmail.com>> wrote:

Ross' reminder about the upcoming Banned Books week gives us the opportunity to point out to our library readers the censorship and  bullying tactics used by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  It is a great opportunity to speak truth to power.


Tony Greiner


Primo and Alma: Making WorldCat Local Look Good
**tony_greiner at hotmail.com<mailto:tony_greiner at hotmail.com>**

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