Further Thoughts on Palin

"Forward, backward, inward, outward, come and join the chase!...
...Nothing could be drier than a jolly caucus-race."
-Disney's Alice in Wonderland, 1951

It is important to know that Sarah Palin attempted to have books at the local library of Wasilla banned and to have the librarian fired when she wouldn't remove the books from the shelves.

It's not that I find it particularly surprising that a highly conservative politician did something like that, it's more that I find it interesting that she could then be raised up to one of the highest posts in the government having shown such an aversion and disregard for our first amendment.

Now, to be fair, Palin has said that she was only asking about the libraries policies and not making specific demands.

But, to be blunt, I just don't believe her. I won't go on about what I think of her stances on other issues. As my bio says, I am a librarian in a large metropolitan area; I was raised in a large city by a couple of not-so-ex hippies. It's really not too hard to figure out whom I'm supporting, and if someone wants to vote for McCain then that is their right and frankly their duty as an American (I would rather lose when 100% of the people vote then win because only a small percentage did.) However, I really hope that McCain/Palin supporters take this book-banning incident to heart.

The founding fathers gave us Freedom of Speech and they listed it first because to them it was the most important right. To allow someone into the highest branch of government and to put them into the position to possibly be the head of the government knowing that they do not support the Constitution is just dangerous. I quote the ALA Freedom to Read statement "Freedom Itself is a dangerous way of life, but it is ours."

Here are a few links to stories about this incident.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/us/politics/03wasilla.html?bl&ex=12205...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/03/politics/animal/main4411217.sh...

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/09/03/halperin/

Wizard Rock the Vote in 2008!
-the bookish bluestocking