Uh… why? A bookstore is a private venue, accountable to itself and nobody else. I don’t look to bookstores to be temples of some intellectual ideal whom I rely on to invite speakers for my edification; I go there to buy books, and I select those books myself. Frankly, I find it annoying that bookstores hold extraneous speaking events like that at all, since they tend to draw out the neighborhood crazies on all sides, and the operating costs probably drive up the end price I pay.

Come to think of it, I can’t recall the last time I bought a new book in an honest-to-god bookstore; I get everything cheaper used, mainly on Amazon. (Though I did recently snag a cheap copy of Opposites: Side By Side, a debate between two Turkish public intellectuals, one Muslim and one Atheist, at Moe’s in Berkeley)

If you don’t like your bookstore’s actions, stop patronizing it. These are private institutions and it’s a free country. I don’t like the actions of the bookstores around here (charging me retail), so I don’t shop there.

Nobody likes you.

Sincerely,

Your mom.

I wasn’t rationalizing it at all, and I would have no problem if he spoke.

All I said is that it’s completely ridiculous to whine about “the Lobby” on this issue when he has an op-ed in the second most important newspaper in the country.

As obvious as that is, it is clearly something lost on Lowfields, who continues to embarrass himself.

Anyway, the irony of entire discussions (and posts) like this on this website is the fact that Will spent plenty of time during college trying to shut down speeches/lectures given by people he didn’t like or disagreed.

Censorship – please.

Talking of inanity… actually, no, talking of idiotic… I love the fact that because you think a certain political position is untenable, it is grounds for an author who holds that opinion to have his talk in a bookstore cancelled!

Your mask of liberalism is beginning to slip a bit, mate….

Oh, and I’d like a definition of “almost nobody”… is that less than 10? Less than 1,000? If you ever both to travel to the Middle East, I can introduce you to… hmmmm…. 500,000 one-staters. Maybe more.

Or does being Arab define a “nobody”, just as it did when your favourite colonial project kicked off 110 years ago….

Also, is it really your genuine belief that no pressure is ever applied in the US to newspapers, theatres, internet sites, media networks, shops, corporations, politicians, etc, from pro-Israeli groups…?

Why is that a “conspiracy theory”…? A lot of groups openly boast about it…!

Whether this particular case falls into this “lobby” category or not – and you don’t adress the other instances mentioned in the original piece – it is still absolutely symptomatic of the kind of suppression of Palestinian voices and opinions that has been endemic in the States for the past 40 years.

I think I’ve said this to you before, Joe, but please, for the love of whichever God you like this month, open your fucking eyes.

Politics and Prose is a lefty bookstore in DC with opinionated owners. Having lived in DC four years, and having spent plenty of time in there, I can tell you that the idea anyone there would give a shit about offending “the Israel lobby” is downright laughable.

In the real world, which stubbornly refuses to conform to your conspiracy theories, almost nobody thinks that a one-state solution is anything other than an unqualified disaster waiting to happen, and a bookstore owner canceling his appearance is not an indication of all the larger things you’d like it to be.

And you have the nerve to call *him* idiotic?

I don’t know what’s more amusing, your contention that publishers, newspaper columnists, politicians, broadcast networks, theatres, advertising agencies, blogs, etc, aren’t in receipt of a staggering amount of pro-Israel pressure – whether organised into a lobby or not – or that you believe the constant use of single-word paragraphs makes for impressive argument.

Idiotic.

Having worked in the States in various media capacities, and been involved to various degrees on the miniscule controversies over My Name is Rachel Corrie being staged in New York, Urban Outfitters withdrawing the “sensitive” keffiyeh, Marcel Khalifeh’s ban from a California concert hall because he wasn’t accompanied by an Israeli musician, Norman Finklestien losing tenure because of Alan Dershowitz’s letter writing campaign (etc, etc repeat til fade), it’s clear pressure is exerted from somewhere. Call it a lobby, call it the weight of “concerned” individuals, but pressure most certainly is applied by supporters of a foreign country to stifle debate on the question of Palestine.

Undeniable.

Of course, you are free to herald your continued “winning”, although I’m not sure what the prize is. Unless contempt is a medal you wear with honour.

Bravo.

Whatever.

A small bookstore in Northwest D.C. frequented by rich, white people doesn’t allow him a reading and it’s censorship by “the lobby.”

And then he’s given space in the Washington Post – the second most important national newspaper – to complain.

I guess “the lobby” dropped the ball on that.

This is why you guys will keep losing. Ridiculous. Funny. But ridiculous. And classic.

Perhaps a few more people read the Washington Post than go to a reading at Politics and Prose?

Jesus.

Almost dumber than Qui Qui giving up hope that Palestine will be liberated because the UAE didn’t boycott Dunkin Donuts.

Almost.

Unfortunately, while not as dumb, this kind of lack of ability to see the obvious is a much bigger problem than Qui Qui’s silliness.

Oh well.