[delta_queen]

Hello Folks,

My husband just got a job offer in Searcy. (We currently live in Memphis). I was doing some research and read in this forum that Searcy's one and only bookstore shut down due to being blackballed by the community for literature they didn't approve of .... Now I knew that Searcy is home to a large Christian univeristy but I thought this meant there were some educated christians running around?? The thought of this witchhunt has me shaking in my shoes and considering asking my husband to just keep looking elsewhere for work. Can anybody with first hand experience quell my fears about this community? Be honest.

Thanks,
Delta

[marmac]

--bookstore--????

What is wrong about not spending your money in a place for profit?

Any business for profit that does not care if they offend people (aka customers) will probably go out of business.
That holds true if you own a restaurant, book store, clothing store, or grocery store.

[Sam I Am]

I think Delta may be referring to book banning, which many of us find horribly offensive.

Delta, I believe that was in 2001 - and yes, they were pressured by a Christian group to stop selling, among other things, the New Joys of Sex...oh, for pete's sake...all that was really said was that the lease wasn't renewed. Somehow I don't think that's the book the pre-teens are rushing to take a peek at.

Delta, I would hope that is a small group, and I hope the non-renewal of the lease was just a fluke. I wouldn't bet my bottom dollar on it, though...you could probably figure out a lot by taking a look around the public library. If Harry Potter ain't there, I'd say there's a problem since that seems to be the most recent book banning everyone is jumping on the bandwagon for.

[marmac]

----book banning,which many of us find horribly offensive--

"book banning" usually refers to public libraries or schools.
Since the questioneer mentioned---book store-- I would presume that is a "for profit"--"private business"-- that should realize there are consequences if you offend the public.

comparing bookstore to public libraryis an apples to oranges comparrison ( IMHO)

[Sam I Am]

Ummm...just my opinion, whenever a religious group puts such pressure on a public or private entity to cease and desist from selling or shelving or carrying anything not illegal, that's book banning. Separation of church and state and all that...but it's kind of a moot point, the bookstore closed for whatever reason. Delta just needs to be aware there is a very strong religious faction in that area, as in most of Arkansas, that will....ummmm....not be afraid to state their minds.

Delta, there are educated Christians running around, lol! However, their view of the world may be narrower than yours...and that's Arkansas.

[ecloebl]

Originally Posted by delta_queen

Hello Folks,

My husband just got a job offer in Searcy. (We currently live in Memphis). I was doing some research and read in this forum that Searcy's one and only bookstore shut down due to being blackballed by the community for literature they didn't approve of .... Now I knew that Searcy is home to a large Christian univeristy but I thought this meant there were some educated christians running around?? The thought of this witchhunt has me shaking in my shoes and considering asking my husband to just keep looking elsewhere for work. Can anybody with first hand experience quell my fears about this community? Be honest.

Thanks,
Delta

Welcome to Arkansas! That's a major reason that we left.

[Stormcrow73]

Could it be at ALL possible that the Hastings there helped to put the small bookstore out of business???

[Sam I Am]

I thought it was Books A Million that went out...surely they weren't a small store? Well, maybe...it is Searcy...

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

I thought it was Books A Million that went out...surely they weren't a small store? Well, maybe...it is Searcy...

Hmm, I've seem some fairly small Books a Million but I also wouldn't expect the Hastings there to have a selection that dwarfed even the small books a million. I don't know the background but not everything that happens in small towns is a redneck bible thumper plot.

[junkman18]

Will someone tell me what kind of book store was this?