Recently, a number of Tattered Cover customers protested a book signing at the store by the musician Ted Nugent, who strongly opposes gun control and who made a number of controversial comments about the shootings at Columbine High School. We refused to cancel the signing because we believe that by offering a diversity of materials and author events without prejudice, we are protecting the rights of each one of us. The protestors did not like our answer. You can choose what books you stock, the authors who come to sign. If only these folks knew that when we have a controversial author, the greater likelihood is that the dollars roll out-permanently.
Offended customers go away.
Increasingly, I wonder whether the Tattered Cover will be able to continue to offer the variety of books and authors that provide the debate that we will always need to help us govern ourselves. I worry about my business and about heavy weather ahead for democracy.