NEWS: Borders Bookstore Weighs in On Muhammad Cartoon

CULTURE: Borders Bookstore Weighs in On Muhammad Cartoon

The Danish cartoon depicting the prophet Muhammad will not be seen in any Borders and Waldenbooks. The cartoon appears in next month’s issue of Free Inquiry magazine.

While Europe has already dealt with the backlash of Muslims regarding this cartoon, and everyone has weighed in on the implications, American booksellers are now in a position that they weren’t in when Salman Rushdie published The Satanic Verses; there are less independent booksellers who are willing to defend the magazine’s freedom of speech and more corporations that aren’t willing to engage political controversy over fear of stockholder distrust, and, as the Borders Group spokesperson said, increased corporate liability.

this makes me kind of sad, since I like borders much more than barnes and noble.

At the same time, it seems to me that the magazine is not re-printing out of insensitivity to the issue, but to illustrate to Americans what the issue is. Obviously it is unfair to muslims because the cartoons are offensive, both theologically and politically. I would imagine though that the most likely thing to happen is that a) Borders and Walden books will gain more Muslim patronage because of their perceived sensitivity and b)Muslims in the US, already hyper-aware of their "image" will likely protest in quieter voices, if at all. I certainly don't imagine there will be violence in the extreme...of course if a muslim is standing at a news stand and happens to see someone reading the comic and laughing at it, I wouldn't blame him if he went and decked the guy.

Barnes and Nobles and B. Dalton stores won't be carrying it either.


Or at least that's what our memo said today...

this whole situation sucks -- no win.

So a (Wiccan|Christian|Jew|Muslim|Hindu|Confucian|Buddhist|Atheist) walks into a bar...

In a related Borders story, they're now putting the Koran on top shelves only due to complaints/threats by Muslims.

God, I wish those cartoons were funny or intelligent or thought-provoking or clever. They're none of things. They exist only to provoke and offend. If they had any value whatsoever, I'd be appalled by editors and publishings succumbing to pressure from religious zealots. As it is, I don't think any editor or publisher worth their ideological salt would go near those cartoons.

Any idiot who would deck me because I was reading a cartoon that lampoons their religion deserves a complete ass-kicking in the parking lot.

Offended by a cartoon? Tough shit. It's America. I have the right to create and read whatever I want. No bully is going to tell me otherwise. I'll be damned if this nation will become some backwards-thinking theocracy like Pakistan, Iran or the like.

Lame. No special treatment should be given to the Islamo-fascists, who actually think it is OK to riot and destroy buildings in response to a cartoon. If I had the image, I would put it all over the web, wherever I could.

[Edited on Apr 01, 2006 7:46AM]

[Edited on Apr 01, 2006 by litebrite]

errrr.....
*click*
*click*
*click*

want me to continue?

B&N memo? The info we got said sell it if you have it, and that there aren't any more for us to get.

These cartoons are available to anyone who wants them through means that don't include pinning targets to the backs of retail wage-slaves.

I don't believe that at all.

[Edited on Apr 01, 2006 by Clov]

Why? To provoke the 'Islamo-fascists?' To offend the moderate Muslims who find depictions of Mohammed deeply offensive?

If it's supposedly in the name of free speech, why not use your powers for good and not retarded? Draw up or find some cartoon depictions of the prophet that are actually funny or clever or insightful. If you're going to provoke nutjobs and deeply hurt moderate, religious folk, you may as well do it with something of some value. Free speech gives you the power to be a total moron fuckwit... but you don't need to use it.

+1

Translated: "For us, the financial security of our investors and upper management is a top priority, and we believe that carrying this issue could challenge our economic status."

We are in an era of economic censorship.

That's why they're political cartoons and not beside Dilbert.

Yeah! The fuckers wouldn't stock my homemade punk anarchist zine, either. Gdodamned censorship! I HAVE THE INALIENABLE RIGHT TO HAVE MY MATERIAL SOLD BY EVERY STORE EVERYWHERE!

And aesthetically.

That's surprising. Borders is usually receptive to local authors and they even have a local section.

one, that cartoon so is funny, and 2. stop being so freakin pc that you cannot see what the situation is... these people are fucking killers people... real life scumbags... should i bow down even a little to these people. fuck no!!! and by these people i am so not talking about muslims, but the extremists that are using this as an excuse to be a three year old with a gun, or bombs as the case may be... they are scum... they worship the same lies that everybody else does, yet they seem to think that they have favor and can kill everyone who doesn't agree...

i guess i can sum this up with a small sentence really. terrorists are dickheads. come bomb me fuckers...loli'll send you home in a bucket...