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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ash falls on Rim Village as battle with Crater Lake fire continues ... Ready and waiting ... Lead found in four more SOU facilities ... Ash falls on Rim Village as battle with Crater Lake fire continues ... Ready and waiting ... Lead found in four more SOU facilities ... OUR VIEW Our View: What's in a book? Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 5, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 5, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News If any organization might be expected to defend the display of controversial works of literature as a statement about historical censorship, it would be the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Instead, OSF is objecting to that display and even retaliating by not patronizing Shakespeare Books and Antiques. Store owner Judi Honoré placed a display in the front window featuring banned books. Among them were "Little Black Sambo," with its racist caricature of an African boy. Also in the collection: "The Scarlet Letter," "Charlotte's Web" and "The Wizard of Oz." OSF staff say displaying racist caricatures in the front window is offensive and hurtful to people of color. Honoré adjusted the display to separate "Sambo" from "The Wizard of Oz" in deference to concerns raised by cast members of OSF's production of "The Wiz," but left the display up. OSF officials say the ban on purchases is not censorship or a boycott. They're right about censorship: That's something governments do. It does, however, fit the dictionary definition of a boycott. OSF works hard to promote diversity, and is to be commended for that. It also presents works that challenge and offend some audience members. We are reminded of a production of "The Merchant of Venice" years ago. The festival responded to concerns from the Jewish community, but the show went on. Challenging plays should be performed, not suppressed. Books, too, can challenge our sensitivities; we rise to that challenge by learning from our discomfort rather than demanding the source of it be banished. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 5, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501