My dear friend T came over last week for coffee, conversation (and cake) at one of my local cafés. Our relationship is a rare and special thing; apart from a few shared interests we come from very different backgrounds, have had vastly dissimilar life experiences and he is just about old enough to be my father (in fact I think of him as my 'Surrogate Dad)' but we meet on perhaps the most important, fundamental level - our core values. And doesn't it feel more meaningful than ever to know that about someone right now too?
Anyway we were strolling back afterwards and got onto the subject of bookshops. Where I live used to have a good one - although small, it was a lovely place to browse but it closed some years ago. Then I remembered noticing a few weeks back that there is another bookshop here now, quite recent and not one I pass on my usual route, so I've yet to visit it. It'd be a perfect opportunity to check it out with T.
We took the little detour up to the shop. It had one large window through which we could see a sofa - although unfortunately we couldn't see any books from there - and a sign on the door announced that it also served coffee (and cake). How charming, we said - we could come here for both and enjoy the ambience of being surrounded by literature and other bibliophiles. We would've had a look inside right then - but there was also a Closed sign in the door next to its promises of refreshment so we turned back.
"Never mind, I'll check out its opening times and we'll make it a date next time!" I told T as we bade eachother goodbye.
I did so that night - I found its social media pages.
And I will not be going there for books, coffee, cake or anything else.
The first thing I noticed was it advertising itself online as being a place dedicated to "free speech and common sense". And I do understand how, if you're someone who believes we have an overzealous cancellation culture, you may hope to encourage debate above censorship and be open to stocking a broad range of literature, including more traditionalist output: I know that shutting voices down completely rarely solves anything. This establishment has pitched itself as such. But then a certain, horrible realisation dawned on me after scrolling through its posts and pictures. An advert for a book by an acknowledged white supremacist, a post promoting a publishing outfit who specifically distribute far right, anti-liberal works... And it was a photo of the window - the one with the sofa in - bedecked in a huge Union Jack with the unambiguous words 'REMIGRATION NOW' across it which absolutely confirmed my fears. I started looking through the comments: anyone objecting to some of the right wing values peddled there is not met with dignified grace for expressing their different opinion but with derision, whilst all those supporting get gushing gratitude, naturally. Free speech, you say?
Arghh. I loathe the fact that the only book store we have in this community should be that one. I could try and ignore its existence but I'm thoroughly ashamed of and depressed by it and I've let it get to me, hence this post. At least I can be relieved it was closed that day T came over; I wonder how long it would have taken for us to get the measure of the place had we actually ventured in?
There is a slightly more positive flipside. Just down the road here there's another café, and it's one which is now displaying a cheerful multicoloured sticker in its window with the words "EVERYONE WELCOME". I'm still saddened, however, that we should find ourselves in an era where we need to actively make the point that they are.
