Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Maybe as an atheist I can sue any bookstore that exposes me to the Bible

Wow. Via Dispatches from the Culture Wars, I've found what is truly one of the stupidest stories ever: a man is demanding $20,000 because his sons found a book about lesbians in the library.
A Bentonville, Arkansas man is demanding the city pay him $20,000 for the pain and suffering of his sons after they discovered a book on lesbian sex in their local library.

"[They were] greatly disturbed" said Earl Adams his letter to the city. "[We had] many sleepless nights in our house."

Adams wants $10,000 per child, the maximum allowed under the Arkansas obscenity law.

Adams also wants the city to fire library director Cindy Suter.

Two teenagers spent many sleepless nights after finding a book about lesbian sex? I'll just bet.

The book was removed to "an inaccessible area of the library" at first, then removed altogether later. However, the library says that they're looking for a replacement on the same topic, and if they can't find a suitable one the book will be reinstated. Says another article:
The library's advisory board voted earlier this month to remove the book from circulation. Board member George Spence says he found the book crude, but say it could be replaced with one taking a -- QUOTE -- "more sensitive, more clinical approach."

Adams credited this to--what else?--God:
"God was speaking to my heart that day and helped me find the words that proved successful in removing this book from the shelf," Adams stated Thursday.

And Suter did resign, but says that it has nothing to do with the incident:
The flap about Newman's book happened shortly before Suter announced her intention Monday to resign effective May 31, but Suter said it had nothing to do with her decision.

Both Spence and McCaslin concurred that there is no connection between the two.

"I know Cindy, and she is not an impulsive person. She would not have done it without a lot of thought," McCaslin said. "Assumptions can get you in big trouble."

Suter said she needs to devote more time to her downtown business, Fusion Fine Art Gallery, which she opened in June 2005.

Suter has given most of her attention the last few years to planning the new Bentonville Public Library, which opened in October at 405 S. Main St.

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