Sat 27 Dec 2008
Literary freedom takes a hit
Posted by Luna under Censorship , Literature , Opinion , Religion , Society1 Comment
Every once in a while, I am amazed when I hear about literary freedom being compromised. However, I am astonished if it happens in my own city.
The BBC reports on the cancellation of a reading and book signing that Waterstone’s Cardiff branch would host for Welsh poet Patrick Jones. His collection of poems ‘Darkness is where the stars are’ is described as questioning the beliefs in society. However, a campaign by the christian organisation Christian Voice, led to Waterstone’s deeming it prudent to cancel the event to avoid potential disruption to the store and consequently led to the author signing his books on the street.
Waterstone’s spokeperson said ‘(t)he book remains available through Waterstone’s and we are very happy for that to be the case. We don’t act as a censor, we stock books in the tens of thousands and would only remove them from sale on the advice of the publisher’.
Stephen Green of Christian Voice said the decision was a triumph ‘for the Lord, not for us. Just the knowledge that we were on our way has put the fear of God into the opposition’.
That’s maddening. I can’t understand it. It makes you realize how many have quit believing the religion they claim to represent and have been sucked into nothing more than a rules-based culture war. “Christian Voice” would do well to remember that Daniel became well-learned in Babylonian literature while an exiled Jew there, and St. Paul quoted pagan philosophers to make points in his sermons.