"We're open if you are"

A letter to the CEO of Chapters Indigo when she pulled "Mein Kampf" from her shelves and the city of Vancouver was in an uproar.  Heather Reisman replied to a handful of people across the country who challenged her and much to the humiliation of my boss at the time, I was one of them.

Heather Reisman,

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" -George Santayana. 

When I came into work this morning I was very disappointed to learn that you had recalled, "Mein Kampf" from your stores.  Although I understand your reasoning I feel it is a direct denial of people's right to read whatever they wish to.  It appears to me and MANY others (our phone has been ringing off the hook with complaints) that the corporation is dictating what people can and cannot read based on "our" opinions, beliefs and values. 

            Although the book may bring with it several painful and offensive visions of the past, the fact is it is just that, the past.  It happened, it is a HUGE piece of historical literature dating back to March 21st, 1939 when it was originally published. 

  What is being accomplished by not having it on our shelves??  If the answer to that is anything like then it won't look like we as a company approve of his literature then you need to start pulling a lot more books!  There are far more offensive books on our shelves.  Or if you think it will give people ideas that will manifest into some sort of communist movement then your insulting society's ability to create a clear hierarchy of values for themselves.  We sell books on how to make bombs and ecstasy but I don't think we as a store could ever plant the idea in a person's mind to start their own ecstasy lab! 

   By having the book available to people we would not be disseminating Nazi and Communist ideology, we would simply be offering them another piece of literary history to increase their knowledge of the past and fulfill any desire they have to understand the mind of a historical figure whether it be Hitler or someone less controversial like Homer or Plato. 

            I just think when you are as large of a company as you are you have a responsibility to ensure you are keeping an open mind as to what people may want to read whether it appeals to you and your value system or not.  If we started eliminating books based on whom they may offend you won't be left with much of a book store. Controversy exists and the fact that it exists is the essence of pluralism.  I believe our web page even states, "We're open if you are."

 You cannot control the views of society, it is literally impossible so why hinder their potential for learning?

 Believe it or not I do understand why you would not want to have the book on your shelves, it's Hitler's Manifesto!!  But I do hope you understand the side of the situation I have tried to articulate to you.  I myself have issues with supporting Hitler's writings but in the same breath I am a huge fan of history and would never pass up an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of such a historically significant peice of literature. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this email, 

Amanda Stevens