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.