Voices: Savor the Silver Lining
As if I needed another reason to denounce the Wal-Mart way of life, the mega market has banned the Jon Stewart and company’s best-selling “America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction.” Not that it matters to anyone except Wal-Mart devotees — as of Sunday, the book continued to hold the title of best-selling nonfiction book in the nation.
Few things turn me off faster than censorship, but I’ve come to expect distasteful behavior like book banning from Wal-Mart. It makes me nervous, however, when a public library takes the same prohibitive stance. “America (The Book)” was banned in eight Mississippi libraries in because of the book’s naked Supreme Court photo. Obviously doctored for comedy’s sake, the photo was cited as the only reason the book was kept out of circulation.
“We’re not an adult bookstore,” library director Robert Willits told an Associated Press reporter. But could a few old-fashioned birthday suits really be the only factor? Disrespectful? Perhaps. Pornographic? Please.
Thankfully, it doesn’t matter. Critics of the ban spoke up and convinced the board to reverse its decision. Censors don’t always win.
December saw Sikh playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti retreat into hiding when her life was threatened by Sikh community members who condemned her latest play as disrespectful of their shared religion. The Birmingham Repertory Theatre (England) had to close its production of “Dishonor” after a violent protest erupted and police refused to offer protection to either the artists or their audiences. If the playwright herself had not, in fear, pleaded with other theatres not to produce the play, the play would still be in production and looking forward to producers eager to capitalize on the controversy.
I delight in watching attempted repression backfire. No matter how hard the intolerant may try to shape the world in its own sheltered image, freedom will find a way to color outside the lines. Bhatti’s life may be in danger today, but tomorrow, her voice will be louder and stronger than it’s ever been. Those who tried to silence her will only have themselves to blame.
December also saw a painting by 23-year-old artist Christopher Savido bring down an entire art show at Chelsea Market (New York City). Titled “Bush Monkeys,” an image of President Bush appears out of a grassy wetland surrounded by a multitude of tiny monkeys. Shocked by the gallery’s censorship, anonymous donors have made it possible for exhibit organizer Animal Magazine to post the work on the Holland Tunnel Jumbotron facing Manhattan. In late December, it was estimated more than 400,000 drivers a day for a month would see the image and others from the exhibit. Savido’s received ridiculous amounts of attention from the press and auctioned the controversial painting on eBay for than four times its original list price. Proceeds were promised to charity.
Like Bhatti, his life was ironically threatened by those citing conservative values as justification for violence. But Savido has never really been in danger and he has already reaped the rewards of censorship backfire. If only the silver lining was always so thick.
I have absolutely no doubt that dissenters will be effectively hidden from popular sight this coming Inauguration Day. Protesters will fight for the right to share sightlines along the inauguration route with Bush supporters and donors through the13th hour; the reality is none are likely to make it far from the pen at 4th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Unprecedented levels of security are being employed to counter any potential terrorist acts -- those of us who have learned to read between the lines know that “terrorist acts” include any behavior that might embarrass the president or hurt his feelings.
It’s enough to depress any egalitarian. Yet it’s sustaining to know, thanks in part to the threat of censorship backlash, the protesters cannot and will not be altogether silenced. I know carpools of NEPA residents headed to Washington D.C. on the 20th and none of them give a snot what Laura Bush’s ball gown looks like. In the Capitol, they will join more like-minded individuals than were thought to exist since Election Day’s attempted mass extinction of spirit. Maybe only one of those will get close enough to throw an egg. But that’s all Michael Moore needs to get on camera for his next movie they’ll try to keep out of theatres, but will end up winning all the best awards.
-- alicia grega-pikul, 13 January 2005
Send email to: apikul@timesshamrock.com.
