Truth or Fiction - Books Banned by Sarah Phalin

1. 78

   American_Choicesposted 13 years ago

   I found this out on Yahoo:
   "Sarah Phalin got librian fired?  As governor, representing her church, Sarah Phalin went to library with a list of books requesting they be removed from the book shelves. The librian refused and was fired"
   
   Is this true?
   
   Most importantly, what books did she want banned?
   
   Your thoughts?

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   1. 60

      Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Shortly after being elected Mayor of Wasilla in 1996, Sarah Palin asked the librarian at a town meeting "if she would object to censorship even if people were circling the library in protest".  The librarian rejected the idea of censorship in any form and was fired within the week. The librarian didn't stay fired - she was reinstated after an embarrassing public outcry. Sarah Palin explained the question was 'rhetorical' .
      
      The librarian reports THREE separate occasions when the Mayor raised the 'rhetorical' question of censorship before firing the librarian. The most significant statement is the one never made - there's no record after the incident of Palin's affirmation of free speech, especially speech which she might find personally offensive.
      
      The important question - Did the experience teach Sarah Palin the error of imposing her religious views in public matters or did it teach her to be more circumspect?  I think the second is true.

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      1. 60

         William R. Wilsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Here's some more links to provide context:
         
         http://www.adn.com/1997/02/01/510219/wa … olice.html
         
         http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_pol … id=1117009
         
         http://washingtonindependent.com/4056/p … censorship

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         1. 60

            Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Or go back to the source.  This links to a reprint of the article published by the Alaska newspaper, the Wasilla Frontiersman, December 18, 1996.
            
            http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/20 … 155484.txt
            
            The librarian was fired after  this, and she was reinstated after a public protest of what looked like a heavy-handed attempt at censorship by Moosewoman.

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            1. 60

               William R. Wilsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               From the article you linked:
               
               "But on Monday, Oct. 28, Emmons said Palin asked her outright if she could live with censorship of library books. This was during a weak when Palin was requesting resignations from all  the city's department heads as a way of expressing loyalty."
               
               WTF?  Censorship aside - what kind of leader asks everyone under them to resign to show their loyalty? 
               
               We dodged a bullet in 2008 yall.

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               1. 59

                  Anesidoraposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  You betcha.

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2. 94

   wildernessposted 13 years ago

   According to Snopes it never happened:
   http://www.snopes.com/politics/palin/bannedbooks.asp
   
   Interestingly, some of the books she wanted banned had not been written at the time of the supposed incident!

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   1. 60

      William R. Wilsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Actually according to that Snopes link, she did talk to the librarian three separate times about banning books but no specific books were ever mentioned.   
      
      And it's unknown if the librarian was fired for refusing.

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      1. 56

         C.J. Wrightposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I believe that the librarian was reinstated as well.

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3. 64

   TeaPartyCrasherposted 13 years ago

   The list from snopes looks like this may have been a general "banned books" list with Palin's name attached to it.
   
   If they wanted to make it more credible, they may have wanted to add "Handmaid's Tale"(M. Atwood), and "V For Vendetta" to the list.

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4. 78

   American_Choicesposted 13 years ago

   Fascinating - great responses - thank you very much!

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