2008-06-24. The Friends of Cuban Libraries,
www.friendsofcubanlibraries.org, June 24, 2008
Bob Kent, Co-chair, The Friends of Cuban Libraries
Dear Friends and supporters:
This is a quick message to inform you of important events, especially a
bold new resolution within the American Library Association to take a
principled stand defending intellectual freedom in Cuba. By acting now,
each of us can influence the outcome of the vote on this issue by the
ALA's governing Council.
But first I would like to apologize for the long delay in sending out a
Friends of Cuban Libraries Newsletter. A look at our website will fill
you in on developments, and a new issue of the newsletter will be sent
to you soon. To summarize, Cuba's independent library movement continues
to grow, thanks to the determination of Cuban citizens to defend freedom
no matter how much the regime tries to intimidate and persecute them.
But getting back to the hot topic of today, the 2008 annual conference
of the ALA begins this week in Anaheim, California. Three members of the
ALA Council, Barbara Silverman, Shixing Wen and Cristina Ramirez, have
introduced a resolution condemning the persecution of Cuba's independent
library movement and calling for the release of imprisoned librarians.
The resolution also takes note of the burning of confiscated library
books in Cuba and demands that surviving books be returned to their
lawful owners.
Fierce opposition to the resolution is being organized by the ALA's
entrenched pro-Castro faction. Even at this late date, these folks still
have the gall (we New Yorkers call it "chutzpah") to flatly deny the
existence of censorship, library persecution and book burning in Cuba.
The key battleground in this fight will be the majority of ALA
Councilors who are poorly informed about Cuba's grim reality. While
making up their minds on Cuba resolutions in past years, this
well-meaning but unfocused majority on the ALA Council got its
information from biased committees dominated by the pro-Castro faction,
with results that could be expected.
But thanks to the new resolution on the ALA Council's agenda, NOW is the
time to change ALA policy. Ms. Silverman, Mr. Wen and Ms. Ramirez are
being attacked for daring to speak the truth about Cuba. We need to let
them know how much we appreciate their principled support for
intellectual freedom and justice. They need our encouragement in
standing up for truth and freedom.
ACTION NEEDED... PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY TO SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT TO:
Barbara Silverman (kidzread@aol.com), Shixing Wen (shwen@umich.edu) and
Cristina Ramirez (cdramirez@vcu.edu).
You don't need to be an ALA member, a librarian or a U.S. citizen to
make your voice heard on this crucial issue.
Every message counts. Your message can be short or long, but the main
thing is that you send a message today! And please express support for
the principle of intellectual freedom, avoiding any language that could
be regarded as "political.".
Among the points you can make in your messages are:
* The issue of library repression in Cuba is a matter of principle, not
politics
* Express thanks for their defense of jailed library workers who cannot
defend themselves
* The ALA has a duty to speak out against book burning wherever it takes
place
--------------------------------------------------------------
Warm regards to all (and please write TODAY),
Bob Kent, Co-chair, The Friends of Cuban Libraries.
http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.net/web/article.asp?artID=15926
No comments:
Post a Comment