What a bunch of chickens
Borders and Waldenbooks
crumpled
against pressure from Islamic groups because a magazine that they
typically carry in stores will contain (yes, I said will, it hasn't
come out yet) the cartoons of Mohammed that have caused so much
controversy.
Does this mean that since something is offensive to me, that I can get
Borders to stop carrying it? If so, remove Maxim, FHM, and all the
other quasi-skin mags that are in the stores. They offend me as a
Christian, therefore I want them gone.
I think the key here is that Borders and Waldenbooks have been
intimidated by the possibility of Islamic violence. The are playing
chicken with the wrong train in this case. By allowing themselves to be
intimidated enough to not stock a regular item, where does that line
get drawn? If people threaten to blow themselves up because of a book
or a magazine that displays abortion, do they stop carrying it? I'm
offended by many of the books that are in there in some form or
another, but I DON'T HAVE TO READ THEM. Muslims don't have to read Free
Inquiry magazine either. Nothing is being forced on anyone. If someone
else chooses to pick it up that doesn't hold to the same beliefs, why
are they being prevented from doing this?
Tim Blair points out an interesting parallel in Borders past and present behavior.
(h/t
Instapundit)