The poet Patrick Jones had his book launch canceled because of complaints by a Christian fundamentalist group. The Christian Voice (they speak for god so you don't have to) called the book "obscene and blasphemous". They pressured Waterstones in Cardiff to cancel the book launch. Waterstones did as it was told. The event was canceled on short notice.
What are the obscene objections? Here is what Fundie Stephen Green says.
'However, Waterstones are still selling Jones' book "Darkness is Where the Stars Are" which is full of anti-Christian rhetoric and profanity. The poems, some of which Patrick Jones sent me yesterday morning in an act of hubris, aren't actually much good, but they possibly have enough profanity and references to female genitalia to get the literati excited. One of them included the blasphemous if not terribly original line: 'just like mary magdelene (sic), i f****d jesus'
So... I little profanity and nothing more harmful than a Python skit? What the hell?
To fight the forces of evil, two Welsh Assembly members will host a reading.
Of course, the best way to fight back is to buy the book. I did.
Related articles
- Poet 'stirred up' storm over book
- Patrick Jones on the Waterstones/Stephen Green controversy
- Christians Don't Get Their Way, So Threaten Violence
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