presents the
Ashlandia Gazette
All editorial All social commentary All for the common good
T.G. Buckley-Dockter – Founder; Publisher; Editor-in-Chief; Distribution Manager; Intrepid Reporter; IT Guy; Coffee Girl
New MOTTO for this issue: We are dedicated to the proposition that all Ashlanders are created equal and deserve to be treated equally and respectfully. We believe you can transcend the b.s. (backward sensibilities/bonehead stuff) here, there, and everywhere. And make fun of it in the process.
Issue No. 11 April 1, 2018
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Along with the story of the rejection of J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book by 12 publishers (including Harper Collins), following is one of our favorite tales of woe from the publishing world. Both involved bonehead decisions.
In 2001 Michael Moore wrote a book called Stupid White Men: And Other Excuses for the State of the Nation. Harper Collins planned to publish it with a 50,000-copy print run.
Then HC’s feet froze. They also turned into a wussy shade of yellow. The kind that says, “Don’t rock the powers that be.” Resulting in the really stinky kind: censorship.
At the time, the 9/11 attacks had affected the entire mood of our nation. In his book (written prior to 9/11/2001) Mr. Moore included an open letter to President George W. Bush asking him if he were ever a drunk, felon, or illiterate. HC objected to this writing and asked Mr. Moore to delete the chapter (along with two others), and in general tone-down his critical stance. Mr. Moore declined. HC scrapped the book.
In December 2001 Mr. Moore told an audience in New Jersey about his publishing struggles. He read a chapter to the audience. Ann Sparanese, a librarian, was in the audience that night. She galvanized the ‘free speech/non-censorship’ librarian community, who inundated Harper Collins with objections to the “pulping” of Mr. Moore’s book. HC relented and released the book for sale–but first telling Mr. Moore that he was out of touch with the American people.
And the rest, they say, is publishing history. Stupid White Men spent 50 weeks on the best-seller list and was the top-ranked best-selling non-fiction book of 2002.
In a related note (to be apparent later), the American Library Association is a non-profit organization of 57,000 members with one of its goals to “enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.” In 1982, along with Amnesty International, the ALA founded Banned Books Week, which is celebrated in September.
In another note (also to be apparent later), on the Amnesty International Southern Oregon web page member Ken Loders in 2015 asked people to contact the Saudi Arabia embassy in Washington, D.C. to protest a Saudi writer imprisoned for his written opinions about the Saudi government. (I would imagine that this dissident had extremely strong opinions to outrage a corrupt government.) A link was listed (but is no longer working):
http://act.amnestyusa.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1839&ea.campaign.id=35147&ea.tracking.id=Country_SaudiArabia~MessagingCategory_CensorshipandFreeSpeech
Notice the last four words.
Flash forward to March 27, 2018 when our publisher/editor/intrepid reporter schlepped over to the Ashland Public Library (for the fourth time) to obtain a decision from Kristin Anderson, Branch Manger, as to whether the Outlandia Gazette could be displayed on a shelf above the periodicals alongside other printed newsletters about Ashland.
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The answer was No–based on an opinion by Ken Loders and his co-worker Mary Hones–that the Ashlandia Gazette as too opinionated and therefore “not appropriate” for the library. (see email below)
First of all the Ashlandia Gazette is “All Editorial” — meaning all opinion. It is all commentary–usually incorporating satire. Second, the Ashland Public Library carries many newspapers that have an editorial section–expressing one view, not several–like the NY Times and the Wall Street Journal. Even the Daily Tidings.
Why are the opinions in these publications appropriate for Ashlanders to read but the Ashlandia Gazette’s are not? We are calling this CENSORSHIP.
We don’t believe in censorship. Which is why we feel that this magazine has every right to be on full display in the Ashland Public Library.
But we would like to add that the Ashlandia Gazette has more jokes and is free.
To Kristen Anderson, Ken Loders, Mary Hones:
1. Do you know what satire is? Do you think it has a place as a form of expression in today’s society? Do you know what Candide, by Voltaire; Animal Farm, by George Orwell; Lord of the Flies, by William Golding; and Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury all have in common?
2. Do you value men’s opinions more than women’s?
3. Do you object to writing with a snarky tone? With controversial subject matter? With X-rated words? Would you reject this style of writing as “not appropriate” for the library?
4. A CD by Superchunk was recently added to the Ashland Library. It has a song called “What a Time to be Alive.” Sample lyrics:
To see the rot in no disguise
Oh what a time to be alive
The scum, the shame, the f*cking lies,
Oh what a time to be alive.
Let’s turn your heroes into mummies
Throw them straight onto the fire…
This seems like a commentary on some place/time/experience. The Outlandia Gazette is a commentary on a place/time/experience. Why is the former appropriate and not the latter?
5. Mark Twain has been assailed by critics for writing “political diatribe.” Do you think his books should be banned?
6. Do you object to writing that has a feminist viewpoint? These books–Brave, by Rose McGowan and Shrill: notes from a loud woman, by Lindy West are in your library.
They are fierce, raw, real, and relevant. (Personally, we loved them!)
The Ashlandia Gazette has a feminist slant. Is the tone of these books acceptable but not the tone of the Ashlandia Gazette?
7. In the new issue of “O” Magazine (on display in your periodical section) Oprah says:
“It’s not only noble to have strong beliefs–it’s necessary. But it’s even better, and far more powerful to back up those beliefs with action. That requires taking initiative, which in turn requires guts.”
Do you think it takes guts to start your own newspaper?
Does it take guts to censor someone?
8. Do you agree with the following statement made in 2015 by former American Library Association President Sari Feldman?
“Librarians, book lovers, first amendment supporters understand the importance of our freedom to read and continue to work diligently to protect it and inform the public of its value.”
9. Do you think a citizen has the right to criticize in writing or in speech the actions of his/her government (city, state, feds)? Do you think freedom of speech is a valuable tool to preserve democracy?
10. The presidential campaign of 1800 was a nasty affair. The journalistic atmosphere was raunchy. In a book titled Infamous Scribblers: The Founding Fathers and the Rowdy Beginnings of American Journalism, the author, Eric Burns, states:
“The journalism of the era was often partisan, fabricated, overheated, scandalous, sensationalist, and sometimes stirring…despite its flaws, the participants hashed out publicly the issues…”
The participants included Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Ben Franklin, James Madison, Sam Adams, and George Washington. None of them called for censorship. Why do you suppose that is?
11. Specifically to Ken Loders: Is the underlying reason you wrote your memo on 3/20/2018 because you supported the ‘No’ on last month’s Ashland Parks and Recreation recall ballot–of three commissioners all from your gender, ethnicity, and age group and whose newsletter binder you do display in your library–while the Ashlandia Gazette advocated voting ‘Yes’?
Are you aware that Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal and Maureen Dowd of the New York Times write unflattering columns (maybe some might even characterize them as a “diatribe” or “extremely opinionated”–words you like to use) about the Stable Genius. If you were a Stable Genius supporter, would you recommend banning these publications from the Ashland Public Library?
12. What do China, North Korea, Saudia Arabia, Syria, Iran, Ethiopia, Cuba, Myanmar, Qatar, Sudan, and the Ashland Public Library have in common?
Lastly, where is Ann Sparanese when you need her?
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Next issue: A continuation of questions for the staff at the Ashland Public Library. Also, a commentary on an impromptu meeting with Kristin Anderson and her explanation about a List of Guidelines for submitting written works to the Ashland Public Library, which at the time was non-existent.
As always, thanks for reading…
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