We have to protect people' Bush wants 'pro-homosexual' drama banned

[Jon8503]

Gary Taylor meets the politician in charge of making it happen
The Guardian

Daniel Crossley and Jason Durr in A Chorus Line, Crucible, Sheffield
On the black list... A Chorus Line (pictured: Daniel Crossley and Jason Durr in the 2003 Sheffield Crucible production). Photo: Tristram Kenton

What should we do with US classics like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or The Color Purple? "Dig a hole," Gerald Allen recommends, "and dump them in it." Don't laugh. Gerald Allen's book-burying opinions are not a joke.

Earlier this week, Allen got a call from Washington. He will be meeting with President Bush on Monday. I asked him if this was his first invitation to the White House. "Oh no," he laughs. "It's my fifth meeting with Mr Bush."

Bush is interested in Allen's opinions because Allen is an elected Republican representative in the Alabama state legislature. He is Bush's base. Last week, Bush's base introduced a bill that would ban the use of state funds to purchase any books or other materials that "promote homosexuality". Allen does not want taxpayers' money to support "positive depictions of homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle". That's why Tennessee Williams and Alice Walker have got to go.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1369643,00.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Are massive book burnings next?

Or another Hollywood blacklist?

[Elise]

3. Think

"Fahrenheit 451"

and

Joseph McCarthy


Then, work to get progressive democrats into office in 2006!

[Elise]

2. Last paragraph of the article:

Of course, Allen was talking about books. He was just talking about books. He never said anything about pink triangles.


:scared: I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!

[Andy_Stephenson]

7. FUCK these bastards.

Wasn't talking about pink triangles...Yet. Brothers and Sisters the gauntlet is rapidly being laid down.

Now is not the time for fear. It is time to get loud and in their faces,

Were here were queer get used to it!

[bowens43]

4. These people are a much greater threat

to our freedom and our Constitution then militant Islam will ever be. We need to worry about our own home grown Taliban. They want to force you and me and everyone else to live by their interpretation of biblical law. The biggest danger our nation faces is the rise of militant/ fundamentalist Christianity.

[Clark2008]

5. Maybe us Southerners need to get together and bury

books that depict Southern men as stupid, fat rednecked bigots - so people won't get the idea that it's "OK" to be that way.

:shrug:

[izzie]

6. Well my granddaughter told me this, this week-end

In the NH public school she goes to, they can not learn a thing about Darwin. Seems he up-sets some parents. We will have to bring these books in from Fr. as the joke was when I was a kid. Or hope Boston Bans them so we know what was a dirty book. Around and around we go.

[dddem]

8. I just had an inspiration for a new hit series

Call the Fab Five. We need "Queer Eye for the Ignorant Homophobic Right-Wing Neo-con Republican Guy".
Talk about a challenge!

[Iris]

9. And this from the folks who want LESS gov't involvement

in their lives?

Just heard GA's new Speaker of the House say "The gov'ment is NOT the instroooment of social change."

So, what the HELL would this be if it's not an attempt to force people to think in a certain way about a certain subject?

[kcass1954]

10. It is no longer the party of

"get big government out of your face". It has turned into the party of "get big government out the face of big business".