I read today that Wal-Mart will no longer carry comedian Jon Stewart’s new book, America, because it features nude pictures of the justices of the United States Supreme Court. (Or pictures that purport to show the justices; I’m not sure.) In any case, the photos violate the corporate sense of decency.
My first reaction is that Stewart must be delighted; not only will he will sell more books but the story provides more material for his Comedy Central show.
My second reaction - Wal-Mart has every right not to sell the book.
However, that does not make the decision OK. It’s part of a pattern wherein a business or public institution labels a book, play, painting, film or video "indecent" and tries to restrict access to it.
"Indecency" it turns out, always is sexual. Never is it indecent to send young people to kill and be killed in war. Nor is capital punishment "indecent."
Wal-Mart’s action against indecency is, therefore, political and from the right. Since books are mediums of communication, this is rightist media bias.
I thought it worth mentioning.