View Single Post
Old 08-21-2009, 06:11 PM   #114
sircastor
Reader
sircastor got an A in P-Chem.sircastor got an A in P-Chem.sircastor got an A in P-Chem.sircastor got an A in P-Chem.sircastor got an A in P-Chem.sircastor got an A in P-Chem.sircastor got an A in P-Chem.sircastor got an A in P-Chem.sircastor got an A in P-Chem.sircastor got an A in P-Chem.sircastor got an A in P-Chem.
 
sircastor's Avatar
 
Posts: 85
Karma: 6124
Join Date: Jul 2009
Device: PRS-505
I think some of you are missing the point. Keeping a book out of a public library is not a question of Free Speech. Free Speech and Freedom of the press protect an individual's right to express their opinion without government retaliation. It does not guarantee that an individual has the right to be heard, or for his statements to be distributed. It just means that that person won't be denied his freedoms.

Governments (and by extension, public libraries) are in an awkward position of trying to balance their own responsibilities with the desires of the people. Some say that the government has a responsibility to provide for people who can't support themselves. Others say that that's far outside of the Government's responsibility. And we elect officials that have opinions about how this should be handled. Some say anything that is published should be given the chance to be in a library. Others say that what is put in the library should be "publicly acceptable". Still others would say that only things that are popular belong in the public library.

My point is, material being rejected from a public library is *not* a violation of free speech. If the author, publisher, or distributor were denied his liberty or life because due to the work, that would be a violation of free speech.
sircastor is offline   Reply With Quote