Book burning time?

[The Dowager Mod]

Alabama State Representative Gerald Allen (R) -- emboldened by the recent spate of ballot victories for state bans on gay marriage -- has a new idea. He announced last week he will introduce a bill in the next legislative session to ban novels with gay characters from all public libraries, schools and state universities. The proposed law would prohibit books and materials "that recognize or promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle." Allen told the Birmingham News that -- as he envisions his own bill -- all novels with gay protagonists and college textbooks that suggest homosexuality is natural would have to be removed from library shelves and destroyed. "I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them," boasted Allen. When asked about works of fiction like Tennessee Williams' classic Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Allen told the newspaper that universities would not be allowed to perform productions of the play, use the book in classrooms, or carry copies of the book in libraries under his law. Allen also agreed that the ban could extend to works of fiction like The Color Purple, Brideshead Revisted and The Portrait of Dorian Gray, as they all have gay characters. Wait, folks, 'cuz that's not all! According to the newspaper, the bill would also "ban materials that recognize or promote a lifestyle or actions prohibited by the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws of Alabama." Allen explained that books with heterosexual couples committing those acts -- things like adultery or engaging in oral sex -- also likely would be banned. "Our culture, how we know it today, is under attack from every angle," said Allen.

[minionofmidas]

The obly burning of books in world history that I sympathize with is Thomas Tany's.
Thomas Tany, who called himself "Theaureaujohn King of the Jews" and was probably somewhat crazy, publicly burnt Bibles in St James' Fields, London, in 1651 "Because they say it is the word of God, and it is not". One might say he invented the Happening.

[John Dibble]

Oh please. Provided it even passes(which could happen, considering it's Alabama), as soon as this got to any federal court it would be called unconstitutional and that would be that.

[A18]

I think he's a federal Congressman.

It's not unconstitutional to ban novels with gay characters from all public libraries, schools and state universities. Stupid maybe, but not unconstitutional.

[John Dibble]

I think he's a federal Congressman.

It's not unconstitutional to ban novels with gay characters from all public libraries, schools and state universities. Stupid maybe, but not unconstitutional.

Didn't say it was. I said it would probably be ruled so.

[opebo]

The obly burning of books in world history that I sympathize with is Thomas Tany's.
Thomas Tany, who called himself "Theaureaujohn King of the Jews" and was probably somewhat crazy, publicly burnt Bibles in St James' Fields, London, in 1651 "Because they say it is the word of God, and it is not". One might say he invented the Happening.

Cool!  I'm all for that.

[Bugs]

I am not an advocate of the gay lifestyle, but I.m not an advocate of that kind of censorship, either,  I don't think there whould be government imposed bans of any kind--not pornography or Bibles.  Local libraries should be allowed to establish their own standards.

[12th Doctor]

The obly burning of books in world history that I sympathize with is Thomas Tany's.
Thomas Tany, who called himself "Theaureaujohn King of the Jews" and was probably somewhat crazy, publicly burnt Bibles in St James' Fields, London, in 1651 "Because they say it is the word of God, and it is not". One might say he invented the Happening.

So you support the buring of the Bible, but no other books?


By the way, I am absolutly against this.  If this happens, I might find my self in favor of a good old fashion military intervention.

[Akno21]

This re-asserts my belief that Alabama is the most fundamentalist state.

[David S]

"Our culture, how we know it today, is under attack from every angle," said Allen.

Sounds to me like its under attack from him!

Seems  like it violates the First Amendments protection of free speech.

Fortunately he is a state rep for Alabama, and more fortunately yet I don't live in Alabama.

[A18]

How does banning these books from public schools and libraries violate the first amendment?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I vote we ban Alabama Republican State Reps...

[David S]

How does banning these books from public schools and libraries violate the first amendment?

How would you say this is not censorship?

[badnarikin04]

Alabama State Representative Gerald Allen (R) -- emboldened by the recent spate of ballot victories for state bans on gay marriage -- has a new idea. He announced last week he will introduce a bill in the next legislative session to ban novels with gay characters from all public libraries, schools and state universities. The proposed law would prohibit books and materials "that recognize or promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle." Allen told the Birmingham News that -- as he envisions his own bill -- all novels with gay protagonists and college textbooks that suggest homosexuality is natural would have to be removed from library shelves and destroyed. "I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them," boasted Allen. When asked about works of fiction like Tennessee Williams' classic Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Allen told the newspaper that universities would not be allowed to perform productions of the play, use the book in classrooms, or carry copies of the book in libraries under his law. Allen also agreed that the ban could extend to works of fiction like The Color Purple, Brideshead Revisted and The Portrait of Dorian Gray, as they all have gay characters. Wait, folks, 'cuz that's not all! According to the newspaper, the bill would also "ban materials that recognize or promote a lifestyle or actions prohibited by the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws of Alabama." Allen explained that books with heterosexual couples committing those acts -- things like adultery or engaging in oral sex -- also likely would be banned. "Our culture, how we know it today, is under attack from every angle," said Allen.

What a useless piece of crap of a politician.

[A18]

How does banning these books from public schools and libraries violate the first amendment?

How would you say this is not censorship?

When government bans a book, it's called censorship. When government decides not to buy something, it's called a nice change.

[David S]

How does banning these books from public schools and libraries violate the first amendment?

How would you say this is not censorship?

When government bans a book, it's called censorship. When government decides not to buy something, it's called a nice change.

But this guy's plan involves removing books that are already in the Library and destroying them. Further it would prohibit universities from giving plays with gay content. Sounds like censorship to me.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Is there a play without gay content?

[Smash255]

Censorship, hate, BOYH.  Whatever you want to call it its wrong.  I just don't get what this guy is so scared of??  What kids just happen to decide to be gay because of a character in a book was gay.  THIS non stop hate crap  is the reason why gay teenagers have much higher suicide rates than straight teens.

[danwxman]

Sometimes people are just dumbasses.

Time to kick Alabama out of this country.

[Lunar]

I think if you just stop thinking about guys putting their noodles in other men's caboodles, homosexuality will just go away.

[??????????]

Go Alabama! I agree with this.

[danwxman]

I think we should ban books about black people or that have black characters in them. Our culture shouldn't encourage african-americanism.

[minionofmidas]

The obly burning of books in world history that I sympathize with is Thomas Tany's.
Thomas Tany, who called himself "Theaureaujohn King of the Jews" and was probably somewhat crazy, publicly burnt Bibles in St James' Fields, London, in 1651 "Because they say it is the word of God, and it is not". One might say he invented the Happening.

So you support the buring of the Bible, but no other books?

Not seriously. Certainly not today.
I support a loon making a very private statement that most of his contemporaries could not understand very publicly and demonstratively.

[David S]

I think if you just stop thinking about guys putting their noodles in other men's caboodles, homosexuality will just go away.

Thanks for creating that colorful image. I think I'll go puke. 

[Erc]

It's wrong, but I can't see how it's unconstitutional, per se.

Although I certainly wouldn't have minded not having to read The Color Purple back in high school...