I was pretty angry when this whole thing started with the Library cancelling the program on the Middle East primarily due to the pressure of one individual. Like most public libraries, the CH-UH Public Library is an important and respected part of our community. Many of us have fond memories of taking our children to story hours and other children’s activities, and attending the adult programming ourselves. We love being able to have free use of new books, films, music, and access to computers and the Internet. The CH-UH Library branches help form the fabric of our neighborhoods, and we have a great deal of affection and respect for the library staff, who work to keep the library a valuable part of our community.

When you think about it, public libraries are some of the few public spaces left to exercise free speech. People no longer meet at the public square; our gathering place has become the mall or shopping centers—all private property, so subject to the owners’ restrictions. And, public libraries are touted as bastions of free speech.

Our library planned, according to their calendar, to have a “screening and discussion of Searching for Peace in the Middle East, a film by Landrum Bolling. This film will be followed by a structured public discussion facilitated by diverse representatives of the relevant Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Arabic communities.” However, when our Library’s board was called on to defend free speech by running the scheduled Middle East program, they caved. They were threatened with a protest the Sunday before the election that had the library levy on the ballot. Used was a tactic employed to repress discussion of this issue: equating discussion on the Middle East with anti-Semitism, thus stopping the discussion cold, and denying citizens of our community an opportunity to discuss this important issue. As the situation evolved, the Muslim member of the panel offered to step down, if that would allow the event to go on, but this was not enough.

The American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights states in Article 6, “Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.” It does not say a library should make the meeting rooms available if the program is “balanced” as determined by a single member of the community.

I’m not angry anymore. I’m embarrassed by the behavior of our Library Board.  I hold the board accountable, and the one citizen who started this mess.  Regrettably, the library has spun the situation by saying that they did not cancel the program, they only want to review the program for “balance.” The Library Board slipped.  They permitted a single citizen to assume the position of arbiter of what is “balanced” material on the Middle East. All citizens are entitled to free speech, but not if that right shuts off everyone else’s speech in the process.

Who did the Library Board allow to intimidate them into cancelling the program by leveling unsubstantiated charges that the Middle East Series was anti-Semitic, and that the library director is a bigot? Should one citizen and followers decide for us what we should watch, listen to and be allowed to talk about?  I believe this one citizen’s tactics deserve exposure. 

According to his own website, he is the Cleveland District Office vice president of the Zionist Organization of America. If you feel up to it, you can find more information about the individual who brought about this embarrassment and distress to our community by entering into his Web world. Start at www.frumcleveland.com and then wind your way to www.boycottwatch.org, www.divestmentwatch.org , www.sourcewatch.org , and more to the point, www.fredtaub.com. I couldn’t find any real difference in the content or tone of the last four. If you don’t go to his websites you will miss out reading such erudite articles as, (these titles are taken directly from his website) “Email titled ‘Microwaved Water - See What It Does To Plants’ is false,” and “Aruba fudging tourism number?” and my personal favorite, “Barry Manilow brings a boycott upon himself.”

Sadly, the Middle East program was only his first target at the Library. If you listen to the tape of the March 17th Board Meeting you will hear him criticize and protest about the Library’s Great Books group reading “Mein Kampf.” This particular Great Books discussion has been going on at the Noble branch for 61 years. These two particular attacks on free speech are recent.  If he looks carefully at our library’s history he may find that he has got a lot of boycotting to catch up on!

The best things about this whole mess were the voices at the Library Board Meeting, and the letters to the editor on the subject. Most members of our community tried to summon our better selves, referring to the cities’ history of tolerance, the difficulty but importance of the topic and insisting that one citizen does not speak for all members of the Jewish community.

I urge everyone to think for themselves about this issue. Go to the website of Foundation for Middle East Peace www.fmep.org and watch the movie. Then get together with our friends and neighbors and talk about the film and the Library’s decision as a celebration of our right of free speech. In preparation for this Letter to the Editor, I contacted the Cuyahoga County Public Library and asked if anyone has threatened them about their upcoming series of programs, “commemorating the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel.” The person who spoke with me said they frequently partner with the Maltz Museum and have never had any complaints, or threats. I believe they have a right to their program, and they should not have to prove it is “balanced.” I hope the people who attend learn something and enjoy themselves. And, I hope no one does to their library, what was done to our library, i.e.: threatens to protest, suggest they are biased against a group of people in their community, and demand the program be cancelled and that their library director be fired. But, if someone does do this, I hope, unlike ours, their Library Board has the good sense and courage to stand up to them. Maybe ours will in the future.

But then, why listen to me? Why, I’m such a radical free speacher that I think that if Barry Manilow wants to bring a boycott upon himself, I say go for it Barry!