Qur'an Read-Out Commemorates 9/11, Decries Book Burning
Fox News aims a camera at Kiran Ansari of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. Standing behind her, Barbara Jones and Leonard Kniffel of the American Library Association and Gerald Hankerson of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
PrintBarbara Jones, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, opened a 9/11 commemoration this afternoon that started taking shape earlier this week as a protest and ended up as a statement to the world that librarians value reading, learning, and tolerance over book-burning, fear, and ignorance. I have never been prouder to be a part of this profession than I was today standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the OIF director and with Gerald Hankerson of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Kiran Ansari of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago.
Following a moment of silence for those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington that took place on this day nine years ago, Jones made a statement to about 50 people who showed up and to representatives of several media outlets, explaining the purpose of the assembly outside the entrance to ALA headquarters here in Chicago.
“We are here today to celebrate the freedom to read and to raise awareness that this freedom cannot be taken for granted,” she said. “Recently a small group has made international headlines by announcing that they planned to burn the Qur’an as a means to demonize Islam. Using the threat of the destruction of books to wage a war on ideas that some may disagree with is offensive to the American Library Association, which embraces the diversity of our nation as one of our greatest strengths.”
“We are gathered here at the front door of the American Library Association to send a clear message to those who would use book burning as a means to spread fear. Book burning is the most insidious form of censorship, and such an action or threat should not be taken lightly. Today it might be the Qur’an; tomorrow it might be the Bible. Free people read freely.” Quoting the Constitution, Jones added, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, as we have here today.”
Barbara Jones then read chapter 3, verse 103 from the Qur’an.
As one of the organizers of the event, I also addressed the audience, saying, “Knowledge is the gateway to understanding. The American Library Association believes that education trumps ignorance and tolerance trumps fear. I respectfully suggest to those who wish to destroy copies of the Qur’an that they spend the rest of this day reading it instead of burning it. Reading the Qur’an and learning about Islam can lead us all to a better understanding of the world we share as human beings and the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. For every would-be book burner, there are thousands of readers in this country who will speak out for the freedom to read whatever we choose. We urge those who believe in book burning to use your matches to ignite the pilot light of understanding and education. Illuminate your mind.”
I then read chapter 3, verses 2, 3, and 7.
Following readings by Ansari (chapter 49, verse 13; chapter 2, verse 252; chapter 3, verse 45) and Hankerson (chapter 2, verse 177), Jones closed with an invitation to celebrate the freedom to read by participating in Banned Books Week. “This most recent threat of book burning ironically comes at a time when the American Library Association is preparing to celebrate Banned Books Week, September 25 through October 2,” she noted. “Let it galvanize us against fear and ignorance, as thousands of Banned Books Week participants gather here in Chicago and across the nation to read from banned or challenged books and discuss the impact censorship has on civil liberties.
“The libraries of America invite you to exercise your fundamental rights as Americans, Read the Qur’an, read the Bible, read the books that others fear. Make up your own mind. Today, at the end of Rosh Hashana, the end of Ramadan, let us go home and be with our families, let us read in a spirit of peace and goodwill.”
Read the chapters and verses from the Qur’an that were read today on the steps of ALA.
Watch the presentation at American Libraries Focus.
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Comments
Appreciation/Congratulations
Respected Leonard.
Meeting with you at AKU was really an exciting learning oppertunity. you boosted up our spirits to go further in the endeavors of professional life. your examplary contributions through talks and writings in American Libraries Magazine are really commendable.
thank you for being there for the profession.
regards
Ahmad Ali Shah
Aga Khan Universtiy
How Very INSensitive
We all know which religion the terrrorists who caused the horrible day of 9/11 believed in. For ALA to celebrate that religion as they did on that particular day was totally insensitive. Why was there no quotes from the Bible or the Torah along with the Quran if this was to be a show of tolerance? Both those books are routinely burned in foreign countries (and we all know which countries - don’t we?). Perhaps I did make a mistake in renewing my membership, because, when ALA acts like this, they are NOT representing me or my convictions. I’m disappointed.
Read Quran
I wish I have read your post before I met you Leonard.
I appreciate you even more now that I have read your post. Thank you ALA for helping us think beyond borders, what can be more enlightening than reading and understanding others. We may be able to find more similar thoughts among us and agree to them and live in harmony on this beautiful planet; learning ourselves and helping others learn. Spreading the message to the universe; That is the spirit of Read. I am very happy to be member ALA for more than past 6 years.
Congrats to the ALA - Knowledge is power!
I’m proud of the ALA for taking a stand and reading from a book that leads to greater understanding. I’m disappointed by the knee jerk reaction of many Americans who decided that Islam as a whole is evil because of the actions of a few extremists. Reading from the Qur’an is a perfectly acceptable thing to do on 9/11. As is reading from the Bible too. Both contain worthwhile messages.
Some Muslims view Christianity as evil because Christians repeatedly attacked Islamic lands to massacre innocents. This was known as the Crusades.
We must evolve beyond the Hatfields and McCoys approach. Libraries are key to this better future.
Sincerely,
Tim Oey
timoey.com
reply
Yes. It is just too bad that Mrs. ALA did NOT also read from the Bible and the Torah to make the great show of book burning and tolerance a true and all-encompassing show, rather than an insensitive bore.
Reading of the Qu'ran
I feel that actions such as "Qur’an Read-out Commemorates 9/11" just add fuel to the fire, and polarizes people of the nation even further. This was one man and one church’s way to speak out on an issue, which probably would have gone by unnoticed, if the media and organizations such as ALA would just ignore it, but instead- you whip people into a frenzy. Why not read the Qur’an during banned book week, that would have been more acceptable and repectful, I believe, to the membership and the families of 9/11.
I do not believe in censorship, nor would I burn a book, but do we want freedom (Free people read freely.” Quoting the Constitution, Jones added, “Congress shall make no law respecting …..abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, as we have here today.” free people also have the freedom to burn (even as unacceptable as that seems) or does ALA have to dicate what freedom looks like?
Speaking for Justice
People also have the right to pour gas and to totally burn their right arm but I would hope if people were doing that ALA would speak against that as well. Again you can try to burn books but the great ideas and values continue in minds and hearts of people - so burning books is absolutely fruitless needless to say. Therefore to speak against you needlessly, totally waisting your energy is quite ethical. I applaud ALA for speaking against book burning especially spirituals books.
Really? Praise for this
Really? Praise for this action on 9/11? Perhaps another day, but not THAT day. Constitutional rights and tolerance are one thing—sensitivity and what’s right to do are another. Do we read from the Christian Bible on Easter or Christmas? Probably not. Some might consider that "insensitive" to athiests. Thank God I didn’t renew my membership with ALA. Otherwise, it might have looked like I condoned this sort of thing.
Qur'an
Maybe it’s just me but I find that there are many people who are reading from the Qur’an publicly. I don’t have a problem with it but if the Bible was to be read publicly other than at church and quoted as the President quotes the Qur’an there would be lawsuits.
9.11
I commemorated 9.11 by drinking beer and watching football, like a true American.
All speech should be
All speech should be regarded equally - especially by an institution made up of librarians who should adhere to the ALA code of ethics “We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor “and the ALA freedom to read statement “It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept the prejudgment of a label characterizing any expression or its author as subversive or dangerous” . So I say what difference does it make if my posts remain anonymous? Secondly if the field of librarianship were even slightly tolerant of conservative viewpoints - I would be glad to use my name; however I enjoy working. Not to worry you will continue to see my posts here and in the future.
I honored the memory of the
I honored the memory of the 9/11 victim by putting out my flag and going to church.
Thank you
Thank you ALA for organizing the Quran Readout. It was my honor to be a part of the event today. It was a proud day for me as a Muslim American to meet people that took out time on a Saturday morning to read passages from the Quran at a time when it may not be the most popular thing to do.
Glory of The Holy Qur'an
Praise for ALA for organizing the Quran Readout. Barbara Jones, Director of ALA has graphically explained the Truth of the Holy Qur’an and respect for the Religious Books. We should honor all the Religions and Religious Books.
Free people read freely!!!!!!!!