<
https://theconversation.com/how-to-sell-a-genocide-has-been-removed-from-a-library-near-bondi-but-libraries-represent-freedom-of-thought-289988>
"Sydney’s Waverley Council, which includes Bondi Beach within its boundaries,
has removed a book on the war on Gaza, titled
How to Sell a Genocide, from
its library shelves, pending review. This followed a complaint from a survivor
of last year’s Bondi Beach massacre.
The
Sydney Morning Herald has reported the council received “multiple
complaints” about the book by media analyst Adam Johnson, which centres on a
detailed critique of the United States mainstream media and its “culpability”
in shaping public perceptions of the war in Gaza.
The president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, Nasser Mashni, told
the
Guardian it is a “library’s duty to provide its community access to a
broad range of published works, including those that may challenge or
discomfort”.
It’s not surprising that a survivor was “distressed” by the prominent display
of a book with genocide in the title, especially displayed on the “new release
/ hot item” shelf. Was it thoughtless or insensitive, in a council area that is
home to one of Australia’s largest Jewish communities, close to the site of the
December 2025 massacre? Many may think so.
But should the book, currently being reviewed, be permanently removed from the
collection at Waverley library at Bondi Junction? That’s a hard “no” from me.
It would counteract the library’s stated aims to provide “something for all
ages and tastes”, including “non-fiction titles in all subject areas”."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
