Category Archives: Freedom of Speech

What’s So Scary About These Books ?

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Brian D. Butler
Posted in Books, Freedom of Speech, Libraries, USA, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Rally To Restore Sanity…Let’s Go

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

  Well, the long awaited announcement finally happened and the plans are in place for the Daily Show’s answer to the lunatic Glen Beck rally and the Summer of the Tea Baggers. You can see the announcement on this video clip … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of Speech, History, USA | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Books Not Bombs (II)

Posted on September 6, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

Poetry rained from the skies on last weekend in Berlin as 100,000 bookmarks printed with poems by 80 poets from Germany and Chile were dropped on the city from a helicopter. Lasting for half an hour, the initiative was intended as … Continue reading →

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No Fatwas Please

Posted on September 4, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

Los Angeles artist Sandow Birk’s expansive multi-media projects and murals have dealt with contemporary issues of urban angst, war, prisons and politics, but his new “American Qur’an” project challenges his audience in new and dangerous ways. In this courageous work, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Freedom of Speech, Middle East | Tagged | 1 Comment

And So It Goes…

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

Many thanks to Perry Hall for this post: Good News For Vonnegut Fans: The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library is a public benefit, nonprofit organization championing the literary, artistic, and cultural contributions of the late writer, artist and Indiana native Kurt … Continue reading →

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The Chekhov of Cleveland, RIP

Posted on July 17, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

In the brave new world of the 21st century comic books have been re-branded as graphic novels and their creators are the subject of graduate school seminars and regular coverage in the New York Times Book Review. But back in … Continue reading →

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It’s Always 1984 Somewhere

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

Shortly after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, George Orwell volunteered to fight for the Republicans against Franco’s fascist Nationalist rebellion. He joined the far-left POUM ( Workers’ Party of Marxist Unification), in which he fought as an infantryman. In his … Continue reading →

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To Kill A Mockingbird at 50

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

Today is the 50th anniversary of the publication of Harper Lee’s beloved classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird and numerous events—Read-A-Thons, film screenings, courtroom scene reenactments, etc.—are being held around the country. The heart-breaking coming of age tale set in … Continue reading →

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1 For All

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

    1 for All: Standing up for the First Amendment     By Ken Paulson                                                                    Every July 4th, we celebrate the Founding Fathers who gave America the gift of liberty.Except that they didn’t.  Actually, the operative word is “fathers.” These gentlemen did … Continue reading →

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Is It Art or Vandalism ?

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Brian D. Butler

I have been chided more than once this past year for my posts on “Street Art”. Some readers see only vandalism where others see radically independent artists at work. Now, thanks to contributor Evan Smythe we have a clear graphic … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Freedom of Speech | Tagged , | 1 Comment