The book burners

[Trey Brister]

The book burners
Posted: April 20, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Have you ever noticed that those who talk the most about tolerance and pluralism, the free and open exchange of ideas and free expression are often the first people to advocate the suppression of thoughts and ideas?

That is precisely what we witnessed once again this week at Ohio State University where the entire faculty – not one or two renegades – voted to brand unfairly and without cause their head librarian as a sexual harasser for no other reason than his recommendation of a freshman reading list that included WND Books' "The Marketing of Evil," by my colleague and friend David Kupelian.

It was a stunning development.

But not really that stunning. Because we've seen it over and over and over again.

There are many people who like to hurl epithets at those with whom they disagree. They call us "homophobes." They call us "racists." They call us "bigots." They call us "intolerant." Sometimes, ironically, they even call us "book burners."

However, even though the faculty at Ohio State University has been forced to back down from their hysterical, anti-freedom position after being exposed to the light of day, it's important to recognize that those invoking the "intolerance" label frequently turn out to be the least tolerant people of all.

I don't say this just because my ox (or, in this case, my publishing enterprise) is being gored. Look, instead, at the real victim of this rhetorical abuse.

I wasn't called a sexual harasser. David Kupelian wasn't called a sexual harasser. Scott Savage, the devout Quaker librarian at Ohio State's Mansfield campus was painted with that brush.

Why?

Because he had the audacity to prepare a reading list that was balanced between ideas of the left and right.

You see, the tolerance-mongers don't really say what they mean.

They don't seek tolerance. They don't seek acceptance. They don't seek a free and open exchange of ideas. They don't seek academic freedom.

Instead, they seek coercion. They seek indoctrination. They seek to bully and intimidate.

These are people who just don't want any opinions with which they disagree expressed. It's their way or the highway.

According to the most recent news accounts of this story, the faculty may have backed down in the face of embarrassing exposure. But the injustice continues. This institutional intolerance will rear its ugly head again and again. It's taking place not just at Ohio State University, but at most institutions of so-called "higher learning."

There is a way to fight back.

Many have discovered it in just the last few days.

They are making their voices heard above the cacophonous din of strident, intolerant academia.

How are they doing it?

Simply by purchasing the very books Ohio State University's fascist faculty would burn. Those books are:

* David Kupelian's "The Marketing of Evil," published by WND Books.

* David Horowitz's "The Professors."

* Bat Ye'or's "Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis."

* Sen. Rick Santorum's "It Takes a Family."

Do I tell you this because I'm greedy and just want to sell a few more books? No. In fact, with three of these books, my company has no vested interest in additional sales.

But I want to see all of these books, particularly the one that really drove the intolerance police up the wall, "The Marketing of Evil," be tremendously successful. I want to see them all become best-sellers. And I want those book burners to know that they are responsible for spreading the words that they so detest.

Maybe you've read some of them already. Then buy some more and send them to your friends. Send them to young people studying in other closed universities. Send them to the beleaguered and sheltered students at Ohio State University.

I know why David Kupelian's book is so threatening to them – because it contains so much powerful truth.

And spreading the truth is always the best way to set people free.

[Satchel]

where do you find this crap

[Xodiac]

No teacher should ever be punished for reccomending ANY book to a college student.

[jeffspock]

nice marketing ploy.

"want to help and make a difference? buy my book!"

[Adam D]

Yeah, that sounds like serious marketing ploy without any factual substance.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Adam D

Yeah, that sounds like serious marketing ploy without any factual substance.

lol - I'm sure it shocks and astonishes that leftist professors would condemn books like Horowitz's