Christian group sues for right to burn gay teen novel

[Turborama]

Source: Guardian

In a scene which appears to have been lifted straight out of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, a group of Christians in Wisconsin has launched a legal claim demanding the right to publicly burn a copy of a book for teenagers which they deem to be "explicitly vulgar, racial , and anti-Christian".

The offending book is Francesca Lia Block's Baby Be-Bop, a young adult novel in which a boy, struggling with his homosexuality, is beaten up by a homophobic gang. The complaint, which according to the American Library Association also demands $120,000 (£72,000) in compensatory damages for being exposed to the book in a display at West Bend Community Memorial Library, was lodged by four men from the Christian Civil Liberties Union.

Their suit says that "the plaintiffs, all of whom are elderly, claim their mental and emotional well-being was damaged by this book at the library," and that it contains derogatory language that could "put one's life in possible jeopardy, adults and children alike."

"The word 'faggot' is very derogatory and slanderous to all males," the suit continues. "Using the word 'Nigger' is dangerously offensive, disrespectful to all people. These words can permeate violence." The suit also claims that the book "constitutes a hate crime, and that it degrades the community".

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/12/christian-group-sues-burn-gay-teen-novel

---

I'm confused about their motives. Anyone?

[LostinVA]

1. They go after "Annie on My Mind" all the time, too

Same type of book, but about two senior high school girls.

The author, Nancy Garden, wrote a YA novel called "The Year They Banned The Books" in response to her experiences with book banning.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. My first GLBT book as a young Bi girl, ah memories

I was 14. I loved that book, read it a million times.

[LostinVA]

4. Me too -- I read it when it first came out

Freshman in college, I think.

I reread it every now and then.

[Forkboy]

3. If they want to burn a book then buy it.

Cheapskates.

[wryter2000]

39. Exactly

If they want to be cheapskates, they could buy used copies. No one and no law is stopping them from burning a book that's their own property.

[woodsprite]

52. My thoughts exactly. n/t

[sofa king]

5. Fed up American sues for right to burn Christians.

[Ztolkins]

12. While I'm at the bottom of the totem pole...

here at DU, I still gotta say that I don't think your comment is particularly helpful to the cause of pointing out the christian right's intolerance toward all things different from them. Even though that's probably not what you were trying to do, your comment is exactly why atheists and their ilk are treated like most of them are. It's not helpful.

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. I think you need a funny-bone transplant. nt

[Betsy Ross]

16. Welcome to DU.

You make a good point. Like some of those by David Letterman, not all jokes are funny.

[Regret My New Name]

19. I agree with you, we shouldn't sue to burn Christians.That's just wrong.

We should sue to feed them to lions instead..

[michreject]

33. The Lions in Detroit

would lose.

[Zenlitened]

22. That's true.

It would have been more religiously-correct to suggest that they be stoned to death.

[snort]

55. Holy shit! Get a grip!

Nobody could smoke that much.

[Zenlitened]

58. One of us -- perhaps both of us? -- should have...

... used the :sarcasm: tag.

[SkyDaddy7]

38. How about burning the Bible...

Seems like a fair compromise.

[msongs]

64. lol christians have been burning "atheists and their ilk" for 2000 years ...

billions raped, tortured, murdered, and exterminated. and this lot is offended by a book. so why did they keep reading this book past the first "offensive" word instead of putting it down?

Msongs

[sarcasmo]

77. Self Delete.

[pennylane100]

20. I liked your post

How grim it must be to go through life without a sense of humor

[snake in the grass]

43. Sign me up!

[Lerkfish]

6. what is in the book is irrelevant: the point is they want the right to burn books

and they want to decide which books get toasted.

a little too nazi for my taste.

[Hugabear]

9. If they own the book, they have every right to burn it

As long as they're not violating any burn restrictions, they're allowed to burn whatever book they want if they own it.

I wonder how many of these people supported the anti-flag burning amendment?

[Downtown Hound]

7. Are they trying to burn the library's books?

Or are they talking about buying their own copies and burning them? Here's what I propose:

If it's the former, then they can fuck off and die. If they burn the library books, they should be arrested and charged with destruction of public property. If it's the latter, then let them do it. Not only will the author of the book experience increased sales from the books bought to be burned, but the attention and publicity gained from this primitive act of censorship will increase the sales even further. GLBT activist groups should show up at the book burning party and throw plastic swastikas at the book burners. Make it a media spectacle. Make it the talk of radio everywhere.

And watch the sales of the book climb, and watch these Nazi fools twist and squirm in agony at how their masterful, bigoted plan so completely backfired on them.

[Betsy Ross]

17. It's the library copy. n/t

[wryter2000]

41. I gotta tell ya

It's my dream as a writer to publish something the nitwits gnash their teeth about. Kind of like getting sued by Bill O'Reilly...cha ching!

[Downtown Hound]

61. Do a piece about homosexuality in the Catholic Church

That'll get their panties in a wad.

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

8. Can I sue for the right to burn the bible?

Always wanted to.

[thelordofhell]

11. More people have stolen the Bible than all other books combined.

I love that statistic.

[Kixel]

26. My thought exactly-

Except I am actually a Christian and wouldn't want to. The right should go both ways, though.

I was annoyed when I picked up a book at the library that I thought was normal chick lit, but it turned out to be Christian chick lit. My religion doesn't need to be infused into my entertainment. Plus it was lame, which is even more offensive than anything.

[iamjoy]

27. Talk About Derogatory and Permeating Violence

I think the bible contains more slander and advocates more violence than any other book out there.

[JonQ]

10. If they purchased the books

and burned them on private property with the owners consent, and in accordance with local firecodes then go ahead.

I don't think they can make a claim to burn the libraries book. And asking for money because you were emotionally damaged by looking at the cover of a book, that's ridiculous.

Should be the same as burning a flag, legal, but viewed with contempt by the vast majority of the population.

[proteus_lives]

13. They're suing for the right to be pricks.

Weird.

[glinda]

25. Their suing to get attention.

[WoodyD]

14. So is it illegal to burn books in the UK?

These words can permeate promote violence.

Fixed.

I think it was Dee Snider of Twisted Sister who was once asked what he thought about some parents' group burning his album. He said "Great. They have to buy it first."

I could warm up to a big ole bonfire of everything ever published by Regnery.

[moggie]

21. No, it's not

Though why that question is relevant to a Wisconsin case, I don't know.

[lolly]

18. Oddly enough, it's very hard to burn books

I tried it once--not in a fit of censorship, just because I had a fireplace and a lot of old, torn-up, yellow-dust infested paperbacks. Very hard for them to catch fire (in F. 451, I believe they doused them in gasoline and blew a torch on them to get them to burn). You have to tear them up into small chunks--then you just have a quick flash paper fire. Then lots of paper-ashes fluttering all over the place.

Now, I just toss old decrepit books into the recycling bin.

[Zenlitened]

24. Bibles compost very nicely, though.

[wryter2000]

42. DUzy!

:rofl:

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SkyDaddy7]

40. YES THEY WOULD!!!!!

These people are evil!

[truthisfreedom]

28. Permeates violence. R-i-i-i-i-ght. Hey you grumpy old guys... might want to read this:

\ˈpər-mē-ˌāt\
Function:
verb


intransitive verb : to diffuse through or penetrate something transitive verb

1 : to spread or diffuse through <a room permeated with tobacco smoke>

2 : to pass through the pores or interstices of

Apparently the book passes through violence. No wait... it penetrates violence. Come to think of it, the old codgers might be onto something.

[Robb]

59. I'm glad I'm not the only one. nt

[moggie]

29. This is strange

"The word 'faggot' is very derogatory and slanderous to all males," the suit continues. "Using the word 'Nigger' is dangerously offensive, disrespectful to all people. These words can permeate (sic) violence." The suit also claims that the book "constitutes a hate crime, and that it degrades the community".

I don't know the book, but context is everything. A book in which a boy gets "beaten up by a homophobic gang" could hardly avoid using derogatory words like "faggot". Provided it's written in such a way that it's clearly not endorsing that behaviour, that's ok. Ditto with the racial abuse. Do they think "them libruls won't want to support a book which uses these words"? Is this what passes for a cunning plan with the "Christian Civil Liberties Union"?

[Turborama]

35. That's what I was wondering.

Maybe they are trying to smokescreen their blatant bigotry with a warped attempt to appear politically correct?

[Bluenorthwest]

60. This book is a wonderful book

As are others by the author. This writer is the absolute opposite of what they are portraying. Her work is beautiful, and endorses only love, and more love, for all of us. And that means everybody.

I highly recommend that everyone rush out and read her books. Weetzie Bat books are a good place to start. I love these books.

[pattmarty]

30. Motives? We don't need no steenkin motives. they're all crazy fucking.........

.............nutcases, just like the guy that shot Dr Tiller and the other "old fart" that killed the security guard. they're ALL fucking crazy, end of story.

[tomm2thumbs]

31. We should print the book on a bra and give them some excitement in their sad little lives

[gauguin57]

32. "...the plaintiffs, all of whom are elderly, claim their mental and emotional well-being was damaged

... by this book at the library." WHAT. THE. FUCK??!!

Did the Christofascists pay for those four elderly people's breakfast at Denny's, then push them in their wheelchairs off to somewhere to give a deposition friendly to those who bought them breakfast?

Does anyone ... including any judge ... believe those four elderly people looked at that book in the library? Give me a goddamned break.

[MadMaddie]

70. So the court should check the library records to see if they

checked the book out...

then the judge should ask them were they forced to check out the particular book...and they will reply No they weren't forced

then the judge will say if you were so offended by the book why did you check it out....they will say because they didn't want anyone else to check it out...

then the judge will take a big sigh.....and tell them don't check out the book if you don't like it.

On a serious note if rulings like this start getting passed it's just a matter of time before more of our civil rights are eroded.

[FiveGoodMen]

34. "Christian Civil Liberties Union"

Everyone's evil...
Everyone's born in sin...
Everyone deserves to go to hell...
The only righteousness is to deny all of your impulses because they're from the devil...

Christian Civil Liberties??? :puke:

[sutz12]

36. My thought too...

Why Christian Civil Liberties?

That, of course, implies that Christian Civil Liberties are more valuable than plain old generic Civil Liberties; not to mention the whole "I'm a martyr, save me!" complex.

:puke:

[moggie]

46. It's the bizarro ACLU

Civil liberties: your right to get married
Christian civil liberties: their right to prevent you from getting married

[TheMadMonk]

37. A modest proposal.

Lock them up naked in a theatre showing non-stop gay porn. Perform a double orchiectomy on anyone showing signs of arousal.

:shrug: Wouldn't we be doing them a favour?

[SkyDaddy7]

44. Another proposal...

Why don't all Christians go home and lock themselves in their house until their demi-god returns!!!

Problem solved for everyone!!!!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

45. Do they want to burn "Huckleberry Finn," too?

Whole lot of "N words" in that book.

Oh, wait, no gay people in that book.

[redstatelefty]

47. Let them burn all the copies they want

simply donate two for every one they burn.

Seriously, if the books are public property, and they burn them, they should be charged with arson and destruction of public property. If they want to buy the books and then burn them, then let them have their fun. Either way, get a large number of people to pledge to fund the effort to replace twofold any book the Christianists destroy. Oh, and file a class action suit seeking $30,000 apiece in compensatory damages to anyone exposed to these people's bigotry and intolerance.

[woo me with science]

53. good answer. nt

[Mari333]

48. The American Family Association is behind this shit

I looked up the lady in questions blog last week when this was posted. She works for the AFA and Donald Wildmon aka homophobic asshole.

[HillWilliam]

49. When they clean up their own house first, how 'bout.

Ezekiel 23 is just plainole nasty. You didn't study THAT in your Sunday-school class and for good reason.

When the Talibabdists realize that their book is just as nazzty as anything else they're trying to ban, their heads will explode.

Good.

[Blue_Tires]

57. those poor sisters...

those poor, hot, filthy lust-filled, sweet bosom sisters! :evilgrin: :9 :silly: :blush:

[closeupready]

50. Isn't that what the Nazi Party did - burn books written by 'degenerates'?

Pretty scummy company to keep, if you ask me.

[KamaAina]

51. I think I'll send them a copy of my friend's adolescent book

which has a lesbian subplot.

Christian Civil Liberties Union, if you're lurking, that's "Name Me Nobody" by Lois-Ann Yamanaka, ISBN #0786814667. I'm sure she could use the publicity to sell a few thousand more copies, douches. :P

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

54. Hell, yeah! That's a group of people I can put all my faith and trust in!

Do I REALLY need the :sarcasm: tag?

Makes me ashamed to claim Christianity as my faith. :cry:

[Blue_Tires]

56. they may as well burn their bibles first....

[sarcasmo]

62. Christian Taliban on the March.

[Crowman1979]

66. They might as well have swastika armbands while their at it.

[Celtic Merlin]

63. How many books

...would Jesus burn?

And if you wanna read a book which promotes extreme acts of violence, hatred, and prejudice - try the Old Testament. Also, exactly what "derogatory language" could "put one's life in possible jeopardy, adults and children alike"? Printed words, if read, could put one's life in possible jeopardy??? I'd like to read THOSE words!

I don't have a copy of the offending literature, but if I did - I'd send them mine so they'd have two.

Those of you who may be willing to part with your copy on their behalf can send it to:
West Bend Community Memorial Library
630 Poplar St
West Bend, WI 53095
[phone]

The "Book and Library Rate" through the U.S.P.S. is extraordinarily cheap.

Celtic Merlin
Carlinist

[Veruca Salt]

65. You'd have to pry my copy of Olivia from my cold dead hands

you fascists. :mad:

[bemildred]

67. Burning books is not against the law.

Buy your own copies, burn as many as you like.

[kestrel91316]

68. "......These words can permeate violence....."

Somebody needs remedial English. A course in elementary logic might help, too.

[NorthernSpy]

69. I hope they've purchased enough carbon offsets for this smogfest...

Why do fundies never worry about their carbon footprints?

[Crowman1979]

71. Well if they wanna play fair, then we're gonna have to let the church of satan burn bibles.

[Xenotime]

72. This is how domestic terrorisim starts..

It happened with the Nazis first they burned the books then they burned the people. I'm not feeling very safe all of a sudden.

[sarcasmo]

78. Exactly.

[Devil_Fish]

73. It's simple. These four "life long friends" are closeted homosexuals,

and the imagery that the book creates of a sexy Young stud, which they all were at one point in life, caused them such distress that they can't take it. They identify with the young gay man so much that reading the book caused child hood memories to be relived, and they want to spare any other gay men from the pain, even vicariously, that they went through being gay.

As soon as they complete their mission, I'm sure they will go home and have a grand circle jerk.

[MrBig]

74. This is just plain weird

Are they trying to make themselves into a joke??? Seriously, if I were a right wing fundamentalist, I would truly believe that this was the work of left wing operatives trying to sabotage my line of thinking. I mean, this might be one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read.

I mean, there's a point where one side's actions just go beyond ridiculous to a whole different level of "WTF"

[Jack Rabbit]

75. If they buy their own copy of the book, let them light up

And I'll still reserve the right to call them disgusting bigots who believe that some of their fellow Americans should not enjoy the same civil rights that they do.

That's about as contemptuous as it gets.

[PurityOfEssence]

76. Christianity redux: an aching need for approval

Dutifully toeing the line as they wait for the cosmic pat on the head from the big sky daddy that will take away the agony of their parents' withheld love, they DEMAND that others accept their guess as undeniable truth, and harass all those who stand in the way of their dominance as oppressors.

No, this isn't "all" Christians, but it's an obvious through-line. People like this are scared; they need to hear everyone agreeing with them just to still the nagging voice inside their head that says that what they believe is silly, childish and fantastical. Since their worldview is better, it is their right and duty to prevail.

Fine. Buy a bunch of copies of the book and burn them publicly in high dudgeon. So what? It's much better in the long run: it makes them look like the asshole idiots they are, and it will increase publicity for the offending literature. As for their delicate sensibilities being offended, that's the price of living in a complex society. There's an easy solution for that: go live in a cave. There, they won't have the irritating blasphemies of humanity plaguing them, but they also won't have the conveniences of the dedicated efforts of the specialists that make up modern society. Sounds like a fair trade to me, but sadly, they probably cleave to the standard mindset of the faithful: getting some kind of special treatment and ultimate reward.