Citizens For Decent Literature Press (a project of The Literary Underground) is not the least bit nervous, no seriously, not nervous at all… to announce the publication on June 23, 2013 of Random Acts of Terror, a book of poetry by Luis Rivas.
Some are likely to call the publication of this book reckless. Radical. Several of the financial supporters and editors of this book have chosen to remain anonymous out of fear. Why the controversy over a book of poetry, before it is even published? The seething frustration Rivas feels burns from every page. His poetry is rooted in concerns he sees every day. His writing is relevant to an entire generation of poor in a society which manages to both ignore race and ethnicity and exploit them.
When you read Rivas’ poetry, you will understand the controversy. Fear of a corrupt system which does not embrace divergent thought or dissidence of any kind, has quashed voices before. We respect the decision to remain anonymous of some contributors and volunteers who helped with their time. Their concerns about blowback are not based in paranoia. Constant pressure to keep some truths quiet is everywhere, from imprisonment without trial or criminal charges, to class-based economic policies, a complete disregard for privacy and lack of respect for autonomy, book-banning (look up Arizona, then read Ban This!, The BSP Anthology of Xican Literature), locking up journalists, draining our schools of culture…. We have moved way past ‘Big Brother’. Now we are into ‘Daddy’s got the belt and he owns your ass’.
Divided, we are nothing. The question is: Will the struggle to unite, to create an actionable community, continue to build? Will we continue to struggle for true freedom, for choice, for equality and basic human rights for all?
Random Acts of Terror is largely about the journey to find answers to these questions. The publisher is committed to this journey, and that is why Citizens for Decent Literature is taking the risk–however small and imagined or real and godawful big that risk is.
Random Acts of Terror’s poems should not be labeled radical. They should be labeled necessary.
Citizens for Decent Literature Press is a project of The Literary Underground. This book has been made possible by the financial contributions of Victor Schwartzman and random acts of kindness and donations from other poets and writers. You know who you are. THANK YOU!
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