the unequivocal notion

Meridian Public Library purging its catalogue?

Melvin Dewey, I'm assuming brother to Melvil Dewey, the father of the Dewey Decimal Classification System, left a comment here earlier this week:

Unfortunately, the censorship does not stop with the Nampa library. Now, a few certain staff members at the Meridian library (just a few miles down the road) have begun to remove "unrated" DVDs and possibly other "controversial" items from their shelves. This act of self-censorship is troubling because no one from the public has challenged these items. The Meridian library board may not even be aware of the decision. Meridian has tried (and failed) many times to pass a bond for a new building, so maybe this self-censorship is an attempt to avoid public scrutiny before it begins.

Interesting.

Frankly I'm not sure what is worse... censorship, or the fear of censorship. If anyone knows anything more about this feel free to shot me an email.

It's more than the two books

Remember to not be fooled -- the Randy Jackson and Nampa Public Library debacle is about more than just "The Joy of Gay Sex" and "The New Joy of Sex". The focus recently has only been on those two books, but Jackson and the Idaho Values Alliance have their minds set on nine total books -- not two.

As the Idaho Statesman pointed out this morning it is a "slippery slope" indeed. And Jackson, Fischer, et al plan on lubing up that slope to make it as slippery as possible.

The number of books have been scaled back to make it seem that they are worried about sex books as a whole -- when their real intentions are to get rid of all the books dealing with homosexual sexuality. Also it is important to note that the first two books named were "The Joy of Gay Sex" and the "The Joy of Sex Toys", not the "The New Joy of Sex" which deals with heterosexual sexuality. "The New Joy of Sex" was added later to provide cover -- so that it wouldn't seem they are just going after "The Joy of Gay Sex" or targeting homosexual books.

Idaho Values Alliance:

On Monday, May 15, at 7:00 p.m. I will be attending the Nampa City Council meeting to discuss with them some very controversial books found on the Library shelves.  The book titles include “The New Joy of Sex”, “The Joy of Sex Toys”, and “The Joy of Gay Sex”.  In total, there are 9 books we are taking to City Council.

All of these books have one common problem that we are bringing to their attention:  They have several very detailed, graphic, sexually explicit drawings and some photographs all of which are people in sexual positions.  I am not talking about a scientific “this is your body” thing; these images are very pornographic in nature.  They are the type of books that most parents would be horrified if they found their children looking at them.

Also note that Randy signed his letter to Byran Fischer as:

Thanks,
Randy Jackson
Revolution Ministries

Jackson later said that his complaint about the books were not related to his fundamentalist youth group or his position in a fundamentalist church, but as his being a concerned parent -- a meme that the media happily lapped up -- and published, repeatedly. Signing your name as an official of "Revolution Ministries" (which is different than his youth group Youth 4 Revolution) pretty much makes that argument null and void. So thanks Idaho media for saying that Mr. Jackson's relationship as the minister at a fundamentalist church has no bearing on the story. Way to do your homework -- I will note that the Idaho Press-Tribune did note in one column Mr. Jackson's affiliation with the fundamentalist group.

Rest assured if you give these people an inch they're going to demand a mile. If these books are removed they'll let the dust settle down, then they'll be back.