Jordan Peterson’s Book Banned?

So, a couple of days ago a report about a New Zealand book store chain removing Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life from sale made the rounds on the Internet.

Whitcoulls(NZ Book Store) refuses to stock 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson to stop hate after New Zealand Mosque incident.

Whitcoulls is a New Zealand retailer of books and stationary in New Zealand. I saw the picture of an email from a Whitcoulls from a New Zealand conservative political party face book page.

Now, if you are a regular reader of my blog, you know how I feel about book “banning” – you can read my entry on it if you want.  But, I think the use of the term “banning” is inappropriate and hyperbolic.

It seems that this one book retailer has decided to stop selling Jordan Peterson’s book.  That’s all.  The New Zealand government hasn’t made possession or sale of the book illegal, so to me, it isn’t “banned.”

However, the reasons for this book being removed from this store’s shelves are ridiculous and completely unfair.

Their reasoning is this:  Jordan Peterson posed for a photo with some guy wearing a t-shirt that was very critical of Islam, so because of the Christchurch shooting, they aren’t going to sell his latest book anymore.

They’re still selling offensive books like Mein Kampf by Adolf  Hitler, that ridiculous anti-Peterson book Jordanetics by Vox Day (who is much more offensive than Jordan Peterson could ever hope to be) and a book that is very critical of Islam.

But the left really hates Jordan Peterson for challenging their policing of language, and for his common-sense “take responsibility for your life” message.  The left wants us all to be victims in need of their salvation, don’t you see?

I haven’t read 12 Rules for Life but as far as I know, the Christchurch shooter didn’t mention Jordan Peterson or his works in his crazy manifest or while livestreaming his massacre, so I am not entirely sure why his book is problematic.  I mean, other than the fact that a lot of right-wingers and other political heretics seem to like his message.

This move, while entirely their right, is obviously political.

As for the t-shirt in question…I think it’s awesome.  It is so right, because Islam is a hideous and evil religion.  That doesn’t mean I think someone deserves to be gunned down for being a Muslim.  I have no problem with Muslims as long as they’re peaceful and don’t force me to follow Sharia law.  The same goes for any other religion, even the one I actually practice (Catholicism).  My conduct and behavior is my responsibility – let me take care of it myself, thanks.

The scariest thing about the Christchurch shooting is that the left is bending over backwards to avoid offending Muslims to the point of actively censoring people that had absolutely nothing to do with the shooting.  Jordan Peterson has nothing to do with it, and yet, because he is ideologically opposed to the left on certain issues, he gets punished.

The left is shamelessly using this tragedy to impose their beliefs on us, and it’s exactly what the shooter wanted to happen.  That’s why I think it is so important that people read the shooter’s manifesto.  Unfortunately, the left is hell-bent on making sure you can’t read it or watch the infamous video.

This is only going to get worse.