Re: Tin Drum

[Michael Genga <mgenga@earthlink.net>]

Dear Folks,

I'm replying to Janice Kawalski-Kelly's question about the Oklahoma
incident in which The Tin Drum video was deemed obscene. I believe it
was on 20/20. Although I did not see the entire report, I saw enough to
be alarmed. I'm not sure what government agency declared it indecent,
but I was alarmed by their heavy-handed tactics and distressed by
Blockbuster Video's response. Not only did the store turn over its
videos, it also gave the police a list of its customers who had checked
it out. The police then went to the customers' houses and requested that
they hand them over. One of the customers also happened to be the head
of the ACLU chapter in Oklahoma.

Even the conservative radio talk show hosts in Oklahoma are upset about
this blatant disregard for the First Amendment. I am also drawing a
parallel to the the Library Bill of Rights regarding the privacy of
one's patrons, for which Blockbuster apparently has no regard. This
evening I intend to see what more information I can find. Needless to
say I plan on sending my cut-up Blockbuster membership card to their
headquarters in Dallas, along with a letter requesting my name be
removed from their list of patrons.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who knows more details.

Thanks for your help. It's a most disturbing incident.

Mike Genga
Librarian
Paradise High School
Paradise, CA 95969
mgenga@earthlink.net


>
>
> Date:    Tue, 6 Jan 1998 00:01:11 -0700
> From:    janice kowalski-kelly <jlkk@ACSU.BUFFALO.EDU>
> Subject: Tin Drum
>
> Hello,
>
> My dad was telling me about a spot on tv on 1/4/98 regarding the
> banning
> of the Tin Drum from libraries and video rental stores somewhere in
> Oklahoma.  I tried getting information from the LM_Chatters tonight,
> but
> to no avail.  Did anyone see this, if so what show was it on?  Thanks
> for your help.
>
> Janice Kowalski-Kelly
> MLIS student
> jlkk@acsu.buffalo.edu
>
> ------------------------------
>

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