Dave Walker Stuff

This is a set of links to static pages and other info I’m keeping on the situation with Dave Walker and the recent takedown notice.

List of links to other bloggers writing about the situation.

Archive from Google of deleted blog posts.

Link to Matt Wardman’s Site

There’s a group forming on Facebook. You have to do a search for it. It’s called “We Support Dave Walker.” There doesn’t seem to be much going on there yet, but there are already about 200 members (as of Saturday evening).

There’s a collection of links on Friendfeed that looks interesting. It seems like a really good way to keep updated.

So why are you doing this, Anne?

Well, I’m glad you asked. I’ve been reading Dave’s blog for about two years now. I went because of the cartoons. I stayed because of the cartoons and because Dave’s generally gentle and insightful brand of humor was very appealing. I liked the people who left comments there, and I left an occasional comment myself. I suspect he had enjoyed the SPCK bookstores in the past–he seems like the kind of guy who would. And I gradually became aware of what was going on and that he was really the only person chronicling it on a regular basis. It became important to me because it was important to the community of readers at Dave’s blog.

When the takedown happened, I became aware of something I had not known before: In the United States, the laws are set up so that if you accuse someone of libel, it’s up to you to prove that person is guilty. In the UK, if you accuse someone of libel, the burden of proof is on the accused–to prove that he/she is not guilty of libel. Dave’s accusers know that. They know that this is an important and exciting time in his life and career, as he enjoys his time as “Cartoonist in Residence” at the Lambeth conferences, and as he reaps the rewards and acclaim associated with his brand-new book.

So, as I began to set these up, two writings came to my mind. Both called to me, and both have stayed with me. So I’ll post both of them here. The first is a verse from a poem of G.K. Chesterton’s:

From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honor, and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!

And the second is the collect for social justice from our own Book of Common Prayer. I’m going to try to say this every day, remembering Dave, until this issue is resolved. I would urge everyone else to do the same:

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen