Basic Books of Conservative Thought Are Censored by Mass. Librarians

Mass. Libraries Are Censoring Books

Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth, by Jeffrey Satinover, M.D.
This psychiatrist became interested in homosexuality in 1981 when he first witnessed a patient suffer terribly as he died from AIDS. The doctor became determined to do all he could to help end this scourge of young people. He investigated the subject to see how he could help. The scholarly book he wrote as a result is definitely "hot" in Massachusetts because it reports that, 1) Scientists have not discovered a homosexual gene. 2) Homosexuality is not innate; it can be changed - but only with great effort.

A graduate of MIT, Harvard and the University of Texas, Dr. Satinover is a psychiatrist who was a Fellow in Psychiatry at Yale and the William James Lecturer in Psychology and Religion at Harvard.

This book is not available in any of the 37 public libraries which were examined.

The Shadow University, the Betrayal of Liberty on America's Campuses, by Harvey Silverglate and Alan Koors
As a noted criminal lawyer and active member of the ACLU, Atty. Silverglate is a well-respected member of the liberal establishment in Boston. He wrote in 1999 that our universities have "become the enemy of a free society" and students who deviate from the norm "may be forced to undergo 'thought reform.'" This is obviously not a "rightwing kook" talking.

Available in 13 libraries.

A Christian Manifesto, by Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer
This is the basic book of Protestant Christian thinking in the world during the last 25 years. It tells how and why God-fearing people were marginalized by all our culture, particularly in the arts, in the last century. It is valuable for Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox Jews, who want to understand why so many people no longer believe in any God. Dr. Schaefer's books have been translated into more than 25 languages, with more than 3 million copies in print.

Available in 2 libraries.

Modern Times, by Paul Johnson
A comprehensive history of the Western world since 1920, from a conservative point of view.

Available in 20 libraries.

The Politics of the American Civil Liberties Union, by William A. Donohue
Prof. Donohue shows how the ACLU has become a political organization that lobbies for legislation that is part of the liberal agenda, rather than defending people from the attacks of government, as most people believe.

Available in 3 libraries.

Out of America, A Black Man Confronts Africa, by Keith Richburg
A black reporter for the Washington Post, Richburg was startled by his three-year assignment to Africa. He was happy to return to America with all its problems. "Thank God my nameless ancestor, brought across the ocean in chains and leg irons, made it out alive. Thank God, I am an American," he says.

After much soul searching, he found that black skin is not enough to bind him to Africa and that he is an American first, foremost and singularly.

Available in 13 libraries

Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis
First published in 1943, this book has convinced many about the truth of Christianity. One such person, Chuck Colson, wrote that as he left his friend's house in Weston, "That was the night that Jesus Christ came into my life."

He says, "Over the next week I studied Mere Christianity. I underlined, made notes, even kept a yellow pad at my side with two columns - one headed 'there is a God,' the other headed 'there is not a God.' On another sheet of paper I had two more columns - 'Jesus Christ is God' - 'Jesus Christ is not God.'

"I read the book as if I was studying for the most important case I had ever argued. Lewis' logic was so utterly compelling that I was left with no recourse but to accept the reality of the God Who is and Who has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. Mere Christianity simply sets forth a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith in a wonderfully readable way."

Available in 27 libraries.

Twelve Years a Slave, by Solomon Northrup
Kidnapped from Saratoga, NY, in 1841 and rescued by a white lawyer/friend twelve years later from slavery in Louisiana, Northrup saw it all during his twelve years as a slave. He was beaten, whipped and chased by dogs that would have torn him apart if they had caught him.

But this Christian man never succumbed to hate. He even praised two of his owners. Of one, he wrote, "[T]here never was a more kind, noble, candid Christian man than William Ford." But of the man for whom he labored for the last ten years, he wrote, "He could have stood unmoved and seen the tongues of his poor slaves torn out by the roots - he could have seen them burned to ashes over a slow fire, or gnawed to death by dogs, if it only brought him profit. Such a hard, cruel, unjust man is Edwin Epps." His book sold over 30,000 copies at the time and helped to mobilize sentiment against slavery. It is a fascinating, exciting account.

Available in 13 libraries.

The Road to Serfdom, by Friedrich A. Hayek
Originally published in 1944, this work has profoundly influenced many world leaders with its persuasive warning against dictatorial governments which suppress individual freedoms and strengths. It is one of the foundation books for a free enterprise economy.

Not available in any Minuteman library. Available at Worcester and Springfield.

Witness, by Whittaker Chambers
24 libraries have this book which was written by the man who testified during the McCarthy era that Alger Hiss, a full-standing member of the political establishment, was in fact a spy for the Soviet Union. Chambers had also been a member of the Communist Party and warned of the dangers that the world faced from Communism.

Available in 24 libraries.

Real Boys - Rescuing Our Boys from the Myths of Manhood, by Prof. William S. Pollack
This psychologist from Harvard Medical School became rich and famous and had a tremendous influence across the entire nation after the tragedy in Columbine when he said that the boys of America were in a terrible "silent crisis" - just like their fathers. He said he was helping to create a "new kind of boy." He was trying to impose his values on children in schools across the country.

A counter-book, The War Against Boys, was written by Prof. Christina Hoff Sommers. After reporting about both books, MassNews revealed last year that Pollack's research was done at Belmont Hill School and no one has seen the research he claims. After that revelation, Dr. Pollack has disappeared from the scene. Although Harvard joined in the press releases in 1998 when Pollack was famous, it no longer will comment about Pollack's work.

Pollack's book is not included in the list of eleven books; Sommers book is included. Pollack is available in 31 libraries and Sommers is in 28 libraries. Many of the libraries would have fared much worse, particularly those which have only one and two books, if we had not included Sommers in the list.