City Lights redefines fascism

And I’ll bet they don’t even appreciate the irony!

Cathy Seipp tells the tale of a friend who went to San Francisco’s most “tolerant” bookshop and could not purchase Orianna Fallaci’s book, The Force of Reason. (Scroll down for Anchoress Bookshelf).

…it occured to Peter that September is the month the English translation of Orianna Fallaci’s new book, “The Force of Reason,” is supposed to be published. And he thought that since he was at City Lights, perhaps he would buy something. So he asked a clerk if they had the new Fallaci book in yet.

“No,” snapped the clerk. “We don’t carry books by fascists.”

Oh no he didn’t! Oh yes he did. Oh no he didn’t! Oh yes he did, and let’s just savor the absurd details of this for a minute: That a bookstore supposedly committed to selling suppressed books wouldn’t carry, of all people, Fallaci, who’s being sued in Italy for insulting religion in “The Force of Reason” but continues to fight the good fight against those who want to suppress books; that someone who fought against actual fascism in World War II should be deemed a fascist by some simpering San Francisco clerk; that this clerk, who was obviously gay, disapproves of an author who defends Western civilization and criticizes radical Islam — when one of the first things those poor persecuted Islamists would do if they ever (Allah forbid) came to power in the U.S. is crush people like that ridiculous clerk beneath walls.

“You’re welcome to buy her book elsewhere, though,” added the clerk helpfully. “Let’s just say we don’t have room for her here.”

Hmmm…how ’bout we say you’re a book-suppressing, “if-you-don’t-think-like-us-you-should-be-silenced” fascist, yourself, young bookseller! Do you even know what a fascist is?

Do you know that Orianna Fallaci is (like Christopher Hitchens) an intellectually honest atheist/leftist/socialist who knows how to leave aside the echo chamber when a real threat comes down the pike? How about you take your smug little Starbucks-chair-indented rump over to a library and find out exactly who it is you are banning and labeling a fascist - because Fallaci fought the fascists, even got shot by them! She’s dying of cancer now, and drinking champagne as she does it, and meeting with a pope whom you no doubt hate and about whom you no doubt know nothing, but you “don’t have room” for her book?

Sometimes…it’s all I can do to keep from pounding my head upon the desk.

Cathy wonders why Fallaci’s book, which was supposed to be published in English this month, is still unavailable. I’m wondering, too. I’ve had mine on order forever. But…while you’re waiting, if you don’t have Fallaci’s other brilliant “objectionable” book, The Rage and the Pride to whet your appetite.

Welcome Four Right Wing Readers. While you’re here, please look around - today we’re also talking about Myra Bradwell, the Vaginahabi Jihad, Good guys and bad guys, why David Warren is as smart as Mark Steyn and we’re looking at the eve of Ash Wednesday.

Captain's Quarters tracked back with Fallaci gifts pontifical school
The Anchoress pinged back with Oriana and Rosie - two women of the left

by TheAnchoress @ 6:02 pm. Filed under Bookchat, Don't try me too high

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7 Responses to “City Lights redefines fascism”

SigmundCarlandAlfred Says:
September 13th, 2005 at 7:12 pm
Wanna bet you can buy Mein Kampf, in English. Spanish and Arabic?

And I’ll bet they have room for lots of copies of Mao’s Little Red Book? Aw hell, what’s a couple of million dead in the cultural revolution?
Bender B. Rodriguez Says:
September 13th, 2005 at 8:31 pm
Well, she translated the first book into English herself, and I suppose she is also doing the translating herself for this as well. If she does it by dictation, that shouldn’t take too long, I suppose, but if she is rewriting it herself, that could explain the delay. — Besides, we’re still waiting for the Compendium and a couple of B16 books to be translated.
Bender B. Rodriguez Says:
September 13th, 2005 at 8:39 pm
I was hoping that I could get a copy in English when I was in Rome — pointing to the Italian version (which they had up near the cash register at Termini train station bookstore) asking “Inglese?” — and that was nearly a year ago! So, I suppose I can wait a couple more months (Nov. 15).
Donna Says:
September 13th, 2005 at 10:44 pm
Do you even know what a fascist is?

To them, Bush is “fascist,” as well as the Pope, “right-wing” Christians, and anyone who doesn’t cheerfully affirm all aspects of the gay lifestyle. (Somehow, though, Muslims get a pass.)

Last week, I criticized the “Southern Decadence” folk who were partying in NO when bodies were still floating in the muck a few blocks away. I said it was tacky and callous. I was told by another commenter that I was “full of hate.”

Apparently, criticism qualifies as “hate.” Anything less than unconditional approval is “intolerant.” Gee, I’d better go get fitted for those jackboots right now!
Darrell Says:
September 14th, 2005 at 12:42 am
Sure they do, Donna! A fascist is anyone they disagree with!
The Anchoress » Oriana and Rosie - two women of the left Says:
September 15th, 2006 at 5:37 pm
[...] Fallaci was an unapologetic woman of the left who - like Christopher Hitchens - had the brains, moral courage and obstinacy to depart from leftist orthodoxy when intellectual honesty demanded it. She was no one to simply “fall in line” with the prevailing thought-of-the-day. She dared the left to honor its pretensions to liberalism and open-mindedness by speaking her mind in dissent. And the left never forgave her for it, either. In fact, they called her a fascist, for it. (As you know, only they are allowed to fling that word about.) [...]
Captain's Quarters Says:
October 21st, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Fallaci gifts pontifical school

The headline is deplorable (she deserves to be named) but I knew immediately that they were writing about the great Oriana Fallaci, here: Atheist gifts pontifical school in will An Italian journalist and self-described atheist who died last month has…