Monday 20 April 2009

The Other Side of the Argument


Some years ago a customer came into our shop and wanted to buy The Fabrication of Aboriginal History and Whitewash: On Keith Windschuttle's Fabrication of Aboriginal History, one of the books written in response to it.

He explained that he had gone to another shop nearby - they had Whitewash, but when he said he also wanted to buy the Windschuttle book, they said something like "we don't stock books like that!". The customer said he appreciated the fact that we were prepared to carry books representing both sides of the argument.

I hadn't really thought about it before, but I do like the fact that we had those books, and the fact that we carry plenty of books on the Holocaust as well as Mein Kampf, and the fact that we have plenty of books on religion by believers, but also books like Why I Am Not a Christian and Why I Am Not a Muslim.

I don't think booksellers are by nature any less intolerant of other people's viewpoints than anyone else, but I think it's important that we try to be as tolerant as possible during working hours - writing and reading books is a great way to conduct a debate, and it's important for our community that these debates take place. I for one am proud that I can say that some of the work I do contributes to to making this country a more thoughtful, tolerant and stimulating place to live.

Which is why I'm happy to be selling Ian Plimer's Heaven and Earth. When someone of Professor Plimer's standing feels strongly enough about a subject to write a 500-page book with over 2,000 footnotes, I think we should all have a look at what he has to say. And if even as I write these words someone is feverishly working on a response to the good Professor, all I can say is - bring it on!

And I'm happy to announce that Professor Plimer will be visiting Abbey's on Tuesday 12th May between 3:30 and 4:30pm to sign copies of his book and chat with anyone who wants to discuss the pros and cons of his arguments! Dave

3 comments:

Taluka Byvalnian said...

Good to see that Professor Plimer is doing so well with his book, Heaven and Earth. The Great Global Warming Swindle is being exposed and even some of the mainstream media are starting to realise that they have been conned

Geoff Brown said...

Thank God, Ian Plimer is exposing some of the facts exposing the Anthropogenic (man-made) global warming scam.

More scientific evidence can be found at our website:
http://www.climatesceptics.com.au

Geoff Brown
Treasurer
Climate Sceptics Party

Anonymous said...

You have an excellent attitude to Book selling. I like the fact that you don't enforce ideological points of view in your business. I've just started a new job in Potts Point - and when given the chance I'll visit the shop. I already have a copy of Plimers book, which is a shame - as I'd have purchased from your shop on principle if I'd found it earlier!