See No Evil
This is scary. I had heard a story of a woman in Tampa who tried to get Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine at her local Hollywood Video store. She was told it wasn't available because it was being "held back" because of its content.
Bowling for Columbine, for those who don't know, is a critique of the American "culture of violence." You can rent your fill of fictional violence at the video stores, but something thoughtful, albeit controversial, that examines the role of violence in this society will be "held back."
I went into my local Blockbuster Video to get Bowling for Columbine. I looked and didn't find it. I asked the kid behind the counter. He'd never heard of it. At which point a chirpy little college kid said, "It's being held back, you know, because of how things are. It criticizes the government." What horrified me even more was that she didn't see anything wrong with that. I called the store later, and the young man who identified himself as the manager did not know who was "holding it back."
It's interesting that the phrase "held back" was used in two different cities in two different franchise video rental stores. I don't think this suppression has anything to do with government action; I have no evidence of that. It's enough to know that, whoever is suppressing it and for whatever reason, it seems to be an accepted thing to do.
I rented something else, and, as my ID was put into the computer, it occurred to me: Who will know when I actually rent Bowling for Columbine or some similarly subversive material? You should recall that there was a serious effort in Congress last year to require public libraries to disclose, secretly and without a warrant or probable cause, the identity of persons who checked out certain materials.
Now I'm really frightened. Heaven help us and those who honestly see nothing wrong with this.
—Carl A. Schuh
St. Petersburg
A museum that destroys art
Re: "Secret Garden Revisited" by Susan F. Edwards (April 30-May 6)
I recently moved to the Tampa/Clearwater area from the Keys to be with the woman I love. Her name is Rachel. We have been engaged since January and have been searching for a place that would serve our needs for an unconventional, very personal and unique wedding. About a month and a half ago, Rachel took me to the gardens and the amphitheater therein. I immediately fell in love with it. Even in its state of disrepair, it was the perfect place.
We have since learned of the city's plans to destroy what is, in my opinion, the best example of man's ability to create beauty in the middle of the chaos that is urbania. After reading your column, I felt the need to voice my views on the matter.
I feel that the destruction of such a place as the gardens is one of the greatest tragedies I have witnessed in my life. I didn't even realize the artistic importance of the site, nor had I even heard the name of the architect. However, I still was appalled that it would be destroyed.
The irony of the project's goals makes the whole situation even more disturbing. Who ever thought it would be a good idea to destroy art in order to build another building? To make fewer places of reflection, to take away a treasure from our children? I feel slighted by the whole experience, and have lost another thread of faith in humanity.
Is there any way to stop this tragedy from occurring? Can I help?
—Robert Tracey
VIA E-MAIL
Virtues and Vices
Re: Morality maven Bill Bennett's recent admission that he lost more than $8-million gambling in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
I have always been of the opinion that this guy was a complete turd. And those books! Jesus! They're awful. It's like reading the grasshopper and the ant for six months straight.
He's not a good writer, but apparently he's not a good gambler either. This man dated Janis Joplin, for Christ's sake. Maybe if she had given him a little, he wouldn't have to be an uptight prude who has to damage himself at casinos and then tell his countrymen how important it is that they have no fun.
Bill, you'll be happier smoking grass. And so would the country.
—Peter Smith
ST. PETERSBURG
This article appears in May 14-20, 2003.