Penguin Books - Support Free Speech and Diversity of Opinion
The Issue
The most prominent Canadian intellectual of our day, Jordan Peterson, has a follow-up book to his incredibly successful, international best-seller, 12 Rules for Life. It sold millions. Jordan Peterson is a deep thinker and a storehouse of knowledge of Western (and Eastern) thought. He’s studied Nazism and communism in depth and is appalled by both. White supremacy is the farthest thing from his mindset.
Yet the staff meeting at Penguin Random House, presumably led Kristin Cochrane (CEO of Penguin Random House Canada), was described as a “tearful town hall” where tearful and emotional staff pressured the company into cancelling the release of Dr. Peterson’s new book.
Such silliness, self-indulgent, immature and narcissism of a seemingly woke mob of Penguin’s employees is in complete variance and opposition to the company’s stated position:
“We are committed to expanding our role as a cultural institution that serves society not only with the books we publish and the investment we make in new ideas, creativity, and diverse voices, but also through charitable donations and leadership of campaigns and initiatives nationwide. We primarily focus on those that promote literacy and reading culture, support freedom of expression, and reflect our belief in the power of books to connect and change lives.”
Penguin’s purpose is not to assuage or submit to the immature predispositions of its most self-centered and whinny employees. It is to make investment in new ideas, and diverse voices and to support freedom of expression. It is also their responsibility to hire employees who support and uphold Penguin's stated principles especially the freedom of expression and the support for diverse opinions. It seems that they have seriously erred on this last point too.
Penguin should review its own stated policies and have the dignity and moral fortitude to stand by its principles and publish Peterson’s book. It should not give so much as an inch on the cardinal idea of free expression, or bend a knee allow a woke mob to have sway or say over anything, especially over what may or should be written or said. That is in total contradiction to their own principles.
The Issue
The most prominent Canadian intellectual of our day, Jordan Peterson, has a follow-up book to his incredibly successful, international best-seller, 12 Rules for Life. It sold millions. Jordan Peterson is a deep thinker and a storehouse of knowledge of Western (and Eastern) thought. He’s studied Nazism and communism in depth and is appalled by both. White supremacy is the farthest thing from his mindset.
Yet the staff meeting at Penguin Random House, presumably led Kristin Cochrane (CEO of Penguin Random House Canada), was described as a “tearful town hall” where tearful and emotional staff pressured the company into cancelling the release of Dr. Peterson’s new book.
Such silliness, self-indulgent, immature and narcissism of a seemingly woke mob of Penguin’s employees is in complete variance and opposition to the company’s stated position:
“We are committed to expanding our role as a cultural institution that serves society not only with the books we publish and the investment we make in new ideas, creativity, and diverse voices, but also through charitable donations and leadership of campaigns and initiatives nationwide. We primarily focus on those that promote literacy and reading culture, support freedom of expression, and reflect our belief in the power of books to connect and change lives.”
Penguin’s purpose is not to assuage or submit to the immature predispositions of its most self-centered and whinny employees. It is to make investment in new ideas, and diverse voices and to support freedom of expression. It is also their responsibility to hire employees who support and uphold Penguin's stated principles especially the freedom of expression and the support for diverse opinions. It seems that they have seriously erred on this last point too.
Penguin should review its own stated policies and have the dignity and moral fortitude to stand by its principles and publish Peterson’s book. It should not give so much as an inch on the cardinal idea of free expression, or bend a knee allow a woke mob to have sway or say over anything, especially over what may or should be written or said. That is in total contradiction to their own principles.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on November 29, 2020