Comments on: Remembering When Satanic Verses Hit the Shelves

By: sheena

sheena — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:01:28 +0000

what a commendable act. i regret that i probably would have responded as a coward, and voted against stocking the book. more acts of this sort of bravery are all we’ve got to keep from being silenced.

By: Eric Mattingly

Eric Mattingly — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:07:00 +0000

We always complain about how books and literature don’t mean anything. It’s amazing to be reminded that they do. And sobering to be confronted with the fact that “meaning” implies real risk. Honesty and integrity are hard things to confront in reality. I’ve always admired Rushdie for his willingness to to take that risk, and wondered if I could shoulder it myself.

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:30:07 +0000

I was working in a department store stocking shelves at night. Two copies of The Satanic Verses came in with a regular shipment of books but both were whisked up to the office and not shelved for fear or who knows what. I bought one of the copies after closing just to find out what all the commotion was about. I remember it as kind of underwhelming actually. I sure could not see what was getting Muslims into a murderous frenzy. Hmmm, oddly, I still don’t really understand that.

By: muggle

muggle — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:15:37 +0000

What courage! The pen is truly mightier than the sword.

I haven’t read this one but there are many books I have I’m certain people out there would not like to see in print. I’m grateful to people who have the courage to publish and distribute what others would like to keep out of my eager little hands and my curious mind.

By: Tony

Tony — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:41:01 +0000

I had a very frightening conversation with a muslim girl about this book where she explained that she would “kill Salman Rushdie with [her] own hands” if he was in the room because he “insulted the prophet”. I asked her in what way he had insulted the prophet and she replied that she didn’t know as she hadn’t read the book.

The irony is that my place of work at the time was one of those dodgy tarot card phone lines, her job was engaging in witchcraft in exchange for money!

By: Sakura

Sakura — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:29:13 +0000

These are some very brave people indeed, and some who aren’t afraid to stand up for what they think. I would completely commend them for taking a stance against such a pathetic attempt to silence the thoughts and opinions of those they do not like.

By: Victor

Victor — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:25:55 +0000

Oddly, they dramatically increased the book’s sales, thereby spreading the ideas they wanted to suppress. Before the incident I hadn’t heard of Rushdie.

By: Raven

Raven — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:10:11 +0000

It continues to amaze me how cowardly some religious zealots can be. There are people who have no fear of death, yet are mortally terrified of ideas that disagree with their own. Mr. Ross and his employees showed true courage in standing up for freedom of expression, something truly worthwhile.

By: Trace

Trace — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:09:10 +0000

“well, you know some people get statues, —-and others get holes.”

Ain’t it the truth.

By: JulietEcho

JulietEcho — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:01:03 +0000

Those are some brave, principled book store employees. I’m not usually the sentimental type, but that quote really touched me. Maybe it’s the holiday spirit. Free speech for all, and to all, a good night!