I am shocked that such a SMALL person could reach the table upon which the books were displayed! May that ignorant, tiny, tiny semblance of a human being be outed?!? How's that for a 'rainbow reference'?!?
This is of course horrible. And stupid. And evil. And (a detail) illegal: it is theft from an entire community.
I also think it's a product of a view of education that seems to be dominant: that education is memorizing lists of Stuff one's presented with, and receiving a Qualifying Star. It makes me crazy. It goes beyond dislike of thinking, to failure to conceive that thinking *is*.
While there are some individuals who engage in this, there is a far larger, well organized attack under way. I serve on our library system's board. We have already had some skirmishes and we know worse is to come. We've worked with our library director, her leadership team, and staff, as well as ALA and CLA experts to create a new intellectual freedom and censorship policy as well as a new request for reconsideration of material form. Both have been through legal review. Both passed with a unanimous vote of the trustees. We hope this will help us hold the line - at least for a while.
One group actually came to town to disrupt one of our physical facilities. However they were unable to find the library they planned to target (yes, we have a sign; no, they do not have reading skills), so they cruised by and went on to disrupt the post office. The police had to be called to de-escalate the situation. Others who purport to be "concerned patrons" have started questioning holdings as well as computer access. Apparently they do not realize library folks network: they were "patrons" in many towns and sent identical emails to all.
This is not a polite conflict or one that will be easily resolved. We have to recognize the reality that this is a full-on attack on the First Amendment, the landmark SCOTUS decisions that support it, and those institutions (particularly schools and libraries) that serve all of the public and attempt to guard their rights. Policy alone will not be sufficient: there are groups advising on ways to swamp libraries with reconsideration requests; efforts to work with willing town administrators (particularly where there are Selectmen rather than a Town Council) to pull materials first and engage in the legal process later (and only if enough citizens fight back and demand their institutions remain intact); attempts to reduce or eliminate library funding and staffing; etc.
We have to be ready to fight hard if we hope to prevail. Swords up.
I am shocked that such a SMALL person could reach the table upon which the books were displayed! May that ignorant, tiny, tiny semblance of a human being be outed?!? How's that for a 'rainbow reference'?!?
I'm guessing this ignorant buffoon doesn't know about The Streisand Effect.
Here’s more: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-18458567
Unfortunately these people give meaning to the phrase “Ignorance is bliss”. For them, ignorance is the road to heaven.
This is of course horrible. And stupid. And evil. And (a detail) illegal: it is theft from an entire community.
I also think it's a product of a view of education that seems to be dominant: that education is memorizing lists of Stuff one's presented with, and receiving a Qualifying Star. It makes me crazy. It goes beyond dislike of thinking, to failure to conceive that thinking *is*.
It goes beyond a dislike of thinking. I love that phrase.
Troglodytes. That's all they are-how on earth do they command so much attention?? Besides ignorant fear tactics they have nothing. Pathetic.
I hope you do get to speak to the person who did it.
I would treasure that conversation.
While there are some individuals who engage in this, there is a far larger, well organized attack under way. I serve on our library system's board. We have already had some skirmishes and we know worse is to come. We've worked with our library director, her leadership team, and staff, as well as ALA and CLA experts to create a new intellectual freedom and censorship policy as well as a new request for reconsideration of material form. Both have been through legal review. Both passed with a unanimous vote of the trustees. We hope this will help us hold the line - at least for a while.
One group actually came to town to disrupt one of our physical facilities. However they were unable to find the library they planned to target (yes, we have a sign; no, they do not have reading skills), so they cruised by and went on to disrupt the post office. The police had to be called to de-escalate the situation. Others who purport to be "concerned patrons" have started questioning holdings as well as computer access. Apparently they do not realize library folks network: they were "patrons" in many towns and sent identical emails to all.
This is not a polite conflict or one that will be easily resolved. We have to recognize the reality that this is a full-on attack on the First Amendment, the landmark SCOTUS decisions that support it, and those institutions (particularly schools and libraries) that serve all of the public and attempt to guard their rights. Policy alone will not be sufficient: there are groups advising on ways to swamp libraries with reconsideration requests; efforts to work with willing town administrators (particularly where there are Selectmen rather than a Town Council) to pull materials first and engage in the legal process later (and only if enough citizens fight back and demand their institutions remain intact); attempts to reduce or eliminate library funding and staffing; etc.
We have to be ready to fight hard if we hope to prevail. Swords up.