I think the parents frightened their kids more than a drag queen would! They should be ashamed of themselves for being so ignorant! The kids were probably more adult than their parents! If the parents ever watched Mrs. Doubt fire, or Tyler Perry's Madea, they must have been traumatized! Unbelievable!! Well kids, looks like you have to assure your parents that the Boogeyman DOESN'T exist!
And of course, the great thing about censorship is you couldn't have better marketing for something. Parents and grandparents who it wouldn't have occurred to them to bring their kids to a drag story hour will do so now when the opportunity comes up. We all just love when other people tell us we can't do something because they don't want to do it themselves.
I think it is good to have diverse views on a library board; both of those two board members have differing view points, but well within the mainstream. That's the whole point of libraries, to be a source of information and knowledge, even information we might not agree with. Hopefully they can work together and learn from each other.
Whether it was a good idea or not to use town money for the event (was the performer to be compensated?), I think those who protested so strongly about the use of their tax dollars should keep in mind that a drag queen has as much right to use the library as anyone; they are protected from discrimination in public accommodations under the state's Human Rights law. Those protestors weren't objecting to what was being read, just who was reading it; maybe they should keep in mind they were objecting to people part of a protected class, whether they like it or not.
The performer declined the invitation after the controversy, but if they ever do show up at the library and read to a couple of kids they have with them, like adults do in children's reading rooms, they have a right to do it in peace.
Au contraire. I have no problem listening and hearing other opinions that are quite different from mine. I own up to my prejudices and biases, and allow others to have theirs. Thats diversity. That’s what free speech is. As long as you don’t harm or infringe or impede others from expressing themselves, have at it.
First of all, story hour is not about exposing kids to different types of people. Where did you ever get that idea? Out of your hat? It is about exposing kids to different kinds books, stories, and encouraging them to love reading.
Each time that I have called out liberal biases in your favorite media - NYT, PBS, you have been defensive. You claim to be a moderate. I don't think so.
This piece is undeniably bias. Not one single word that supports parents and others' concern for children. You obviously do not share their concern but, disrespecting and mocking them is a gigantic step too far.
Your piece is accusatory, hyperbolic, deeply cynical and VERY arrogant.
I see the election of two very different viewpoints very interesting because injecting conversation, not shutting it down, is very much needed on this issue.
Thank god that at least some people are questioning what's going on with the trans and drag explosion into culture -- more specifically elementary schools and libraries.
I haven't heard of drag in high schools, have you? Why do you suppose that is?
Trans and drag explosion In elementary schools? What are you talking about? I fear you are being fed too much misinformation. What concerns me more is a member of the Christian right once again trying to dictate what can be done in a public place. He can have his views but he can’t decide what parents can decide for themselves.
Parental rights are being denied by the left. It is not the right saying teachers need to keep children's pronoun secrets from their parents.
I am repulsed by evangelical Christians and their politics still, I think it is a good thing that one is on the board because this very controversial issue is being controlled by the far left. There needs to be an injection of a different point of view other than from extreme libs.
Drags themselves, at least some, are saying they do not belong in children's spaces. Imagine a drag and a Christian right agreeing. Heartwarming.
“Parental rights” is allowing parents to decide if their child will attend a drag queen story hour or not. Banning events you don’t like or worse creating laws that criminalize these things is not at all “parental rights.”
A cheerleading coach was arrested recently for setting up cameras to record his cheerleaders changing as well as having multitudes of child porn on his computer. Should we ban cheerleading? Should we ban gymnastics or football or child pageants or how about church - because there are adults in all of these spaces looking to do nefarious things to children? So you don’t like men dressed as campy women - they’re an easy target. And yet they’re no more likely to victimize children than any other adult that spends time with children.
I call them as I see them and many will not agree. My observation is that libraries and schools often invite people with different occupations - policeman so children were learn to trust someone in uniform for example - as well as different backgrounds - even politicians - to read. Maybe, I’m wrong about that.
As someone who worked in media for 40 years, I can assure you that the organizations I as part of and I worked with have a wide variety of viewpoints and experiences among its employees and there is no one overriding political viewpoint, except maybe trying to get at the truth. The Associated Press has over 10,000 employees and is a nonprofit yet I have heard many describe it as liberal. That labeling is unfair. Those who work in journalism work diligently to be as fair and truthful as possible and avoid having their own feelings creep into news reporting. And editors are there to guard that does not happen. My writing here is commentary, but it is only “biased” if it was unfair; if I came to it without any backing in fact or research and I was doing it to support some cause. Like I said, I call them as I see them.
I agree that the election shows there is a split among the public in Lake Luzerne on this issue so hopefully a middle ground can be reached, and both sides came learn something about the other but I suspect that will be a struggle.
I don’t think there is any type of drag or trans explosion in our culture, just a lot more coverage by the cable TV stations trying to drive ratings because it makes some angry I guess. Years ago, a feature reporter for The Post-Star covered a drag show fundraiser and got dressed in drag to do a feature about what it was like. I don’t recall it being controversial so these types of things are not really anything new.
As far as me: Cynical - Guilty as charged. Definitely too sarcastic sometimes. Hyperbolic, maybe sometimes. But I will stand by moderate label. I think most people in this area are more moderate than anything else. But there should be room for all of us to talk about it.
It doesn't seem to be just more trans and drag coverage. They are definitely seeking to be in children's spaces. Liberal agendas are seeking to influence/indoctrinate children. Schools have always indoctrinated children but, this is something different, they are seeking to destroy culture as it exist. It's the power and money behind it that's overwhelming. I heard the keynote speaker at the UVM graduation yesterday upholding the World Economic Forum say that the human species is evolving. That is not simply coming from UVM or local schools.
Your piece was anything but moderate. It was everything else I claimed and condescending of others who bring to the table sincere concern.
I challenge your claim that there is more coverage by cable TV stations. There are multiply programs every week on PBS about trans and are repeated over and over and over again. They are not 5-10 minutes news clips, they are mostly a full hour. PBS to a large degree is an activist channel.
Still, it is my go to channel but, now I watch and listen with a much more critical perspective. Thanks to the liberal incessant beating of Trump.
Your commentary is unfair. I think about how often the liberal media has portrayed conservatives as uneducated idiots. Surveys show, they say, that the Trump vote was the uneducated. You, like others here, seem to have bought into it.
I suspect you may be aware of Charlie Sykes, well known public Dem who left the party. Like me he claims to be politically homeless. Although, he did say Friday on PBS with Margaret Hoover that he would vote for Biden if no worthy Repub surfaced. I would not not vote for Biden. I would not vote at all. Margaret Hoover is truly moderate if you need to see what that looks like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b1LZsXwKJ0
The Pride Center in my state was allowed on a school district committee in which the results were: starting in 5th grade boys will be called sperm producers and girls egg producers. No parents were allowed. Just trying to fit in you say. Delusional thinking. They are forcing their way in, sometimes physically harming others.
Imagine the mental illness that loss of identity will cause 10 year olds.
In cities (probably Dem controlled) Trans visibility Day are growing. Just trying to fit in you say. Doesn't look like just fitting in to me.
It is a false narrative to say that just because concerned people are challenging trans ideology that they are haters.
The Anti-Defamation League's literature says that it is not antisemitic to criticize Israel, so I say, surely it cannot be hateful to criticize an ideology. It is not ignorant to do so.
It is ignorant not to question it.
It IS a liberal agenda still, all humans have the right to be treated with respect and dignity.
There are definitely liberal AND conservative agendas, but I think what grateson me is that I think those extremes are in the minority and not part of the mainstream, although there does seem to be an attempt to make their views more mainstream. As I have said many times, I think most people in upstate New York are somewhere in that middle group. No one every accuses me of having a MODERATE agenda. Why is that? I talk about it a lot. Meeting in the middle. Compromise.
I’m a bit concerned for the pastor and his acolytes who may be making making false judgements about what is in other people’s hearts, bearing false witness against them. They should repent before they find themselves destined for the eternal lake of fire!
A general observation about the reaction of many elected representatives in our communities when controversial situations of one kind or other pop up: many or most of them hide, stay away, ignore the problem in hopes it will go away … basically fail to lead.
There are a few notable exceptions, such as Bob Blais who was in the middle of just about any situation good or bad that came up in Lake George. But if you look at this library controversy as an example, where was Gene Merlino? When Thurman was experiencing trouble in town meetings did someone like Dan Stec or Betty Little ever step in as a mediator? As a higher level figure in both public office and in political party who might resolve conflict and get people working together?
Is it just me? Are there examples of this sort of leadership that I’m missing?
Look, I don’t comment here as part of my planned political campaign, and I think that pretty much any political adviser would tell me not to be so free with my opinions on social media, but I showed up to the library board meeting as a member of the greater community and a concerned citizen. I feel like it is my obligation to get in the center of a controversy to try to sort it out. That’s who I am. That’s what I plan to do when I’m elected.
Cambridge School board continuation of this nonsense is a joke (and a very expensive one)! Everyone on the board who continued to support spending good money after bad should get the boot. But, it's Cambridge (and Washington County mentality) so keep wasting taxpayers money! Once a wonderful small community with a solid economic base (with a hospital no less), now just another rural community struggling to make ends meet. Look at the property and school taxes people are paying there, look at the lack of jobs and commerce (and how many jobs have disappeared since the turn of the century), and ask yourself, how long does this continue before only rich people with second homes will live there? The greatest loss was Mary McClellan Hospital and now it stands in literal ruins due to lack of vision and economic development abilities in the region. Like so many communities, the inability to change with the times and understand what is needed to stay in business and be relevant is why these places have imploded post WWII. Very sad.
As usual Ken, your opinion/facts on the Cambridge mascot situation is one sided. The debate, from both sides of the issue, for better or worse, was about more than money. I will not rehash that here. The financial implications with regard to costs come from "both" sides. Replacing uniforms, erasing the name and imagery in general, and redoing the gym floor to eliminate the school imagery and name also comes at a cost of $100,000+. So if this was all about money then taking action to eliminate the name/logo should not have been initiated in the first place. So the money things falls on both sides of this issue, regardless of where one stands. Where is Evans' reporting on that?
Changing the mascot was mandated by the state, wasn't it? Isn't every district that has American Indian logos or mascots required to change? Yes, there will be one-time costs with that, but they weren't optional. The Cambridge resistance to the change is not only optional but futile -- a throwing-away of money for the "principle" of endorsing a mascot with which almost every local person has no association. It's a classic case of spiteful waste.
Well, if the school administrators had just changed the mascot when it was first voted out, the cost would have been for that change only, not an EXTRA $100,000 with more to be spent to fight the decision, which also created acrimony in community and in the school.
This is a ridiculous controversy. Just what damage do you think exposure to drag queens will do? Make the children gay? At least somebody is reading to them....
Carl Ross - This one could be interesting to follow - there is a fine line when it comes to starting to ban books, etc - young folk today are much more savvy as compared to myself & others at a young age and that's not necessarily a bad thing, for that I'm sure.
Will, the debate regarding the Name/Logo was far prior to any mandates being established. So I do agree, in retrospect, where we stand at this time would appear to be quite futile. I won't ask you to understand or appreciate this, but the fight and the money spent in the end is/was well worth it. I find some of the comments regarding money in such matters, and the second guessing around such, almost laughable. And so very predictable.
I think the parents frightened their kids more than a drag queen would! They should be ashamed of themselves for being so ignorant! The kids were probably more adult than their parents! If the parents ever watched Mrs. Doubt fire, or Tyler Perry's Madea, they must have been traumatized! Unbelievable!! Well kids, looks like you have to assure your parents that the Boogeyman DOESN'T exist!
And of course, the great thing about censorship is you couldn't have better marketing for something. Parents and grandparents who it wouldn't have occurred to them to bring their kids to a drag story hour will do so now when the opportunity comes up. We all just love when other people tell us we can't do something because they don't want to do it themselves.
I think it is good to have diverse views on a library board; both of those two board members have differing view points, but well within the mainstream. That's the whole point of libraries, to be a source of information and knowledge, even information we might not agree with. Hopefully they can work together and learn from each other.
Whether it was a good idea or not to use town money for the event (was the performer to be compensated?), I think those who protested so strongly about the use of their tax dollars should keep in mind that a drag queen has as much right to use the library as anyone; they are protected from discrimination in public accommodations under the state's Human Rights law. Those protestors weren't objecting to what was being read, just who was reading it; maybe they should keep in mind they were objecting to people part of a protected class, whether they like it or not.
The performer declined the invitation after the controversy, but if they ever do show up at the library and read to a couple of kids they have with them, like adults do in children's reading rooms, they have a right to do it in peace.
Many folks do support diversity of opinion, as long as it aligns with their own. 😖
Many like yourself....
Au contraire. I have no problem listening and hearing other opinions that are quite different from mine. I own up to my prejudices and biases, and allow others to have theirs. Thats diversity. That’s what free speech is. As long as you don’t harm or infringe or impede others from expressing themselves, have at it.
Sorry but, your comment does not support your claim.
How is Al's comment inconsistent with his claim?
Mr. Tingley,
First of all, story hour is not about exposing kids to different types of people. Where did you ever get that idea? Out of your hat? It is about exposing kids to different kinds books, stories, and encouraging them to love reading.
Each time that I have called out liberal biases in your favorite media - NYT, PBS, you have been defensive. You claim to be a moderate. I don't think so.
This piece is undeniably bias. Not one single word that supports parents and others' concern for children. You obviously do not share their concern but, disrespecting and mocking them is a gigantic step too far.
Your piece is accusatory, hyperbolic, deeply cynical and VERY arrogant.
I see the election of two very different viewpoints very interesting because injecting conversation, not shutting it down, is very much needed on this issue.
Thank god that at least some people are questioning what's going on with the trans and drag explosion into culture -- more specifically elementary schools and libraries.
I haven't heard of drag in high schools, have you? Why do you suppose that is?
Trans and drag explosion In elementary schools? What are you talking about? I fear you are being fed too much misinformation. What concerns me more is a member of the Christian right once again trying to dictate what can be done in a public place. He can have his views but he can’t decide what parents can decide for themselves.
Parental rights are being denied by the left. It is not the right saying teachers need to keep children's pronoun secrets from their parents.
I am repulsed by evangelical Christians and their politics still, I think it is a good thing that one is on the board because this very controversial issue is being controlled by the far left. There needs to be an injection of a different point of view other than from extreme libs.
Drags themselves, at least some, are saying they do not belong in children's spaces. Imagine a drag and a Christian right agreeing. Heartwarming.
“Parental rights” is allowing parents to decide if their child will attend a drag queen story hour or not. Banning events you don’t like or worse creating laws that criminalize these things is not at all “parental rights.”
I agree. Drag shows have been around for a long time. The reading to children is new, but it is not nefarious by any means.
You do not know that it is not nefarious.
A cheerleading coach was arrested recently for setting up cameras to record his cheerleaders changing as well as having multitudes of child porn on his computer. Should we ban cheerleading? Should we ban gymnastics or football or child pageants or how about church - because there are adults in all of these spaces looking to do nefarious things to children? So you don’t like men dressed as campy women - they’re an easy target. And yet they’re no more likely to victimize children than any other adult that spends time with children.
I call them as I see them and many will not agree. My observation is that libraries and schools often invite people with different occupations - policeman so children were learn to trust someone in uniform for example - as well as different backgrounds - even politicians - to read. Maybe, I’m wrong about that.
As someone who worked in media for 40 years, I can assure you that the organizations I as part of and I worked with have a wide variety of viewpoints and experiences among its employees and there is no one overriding political viewpoint, except maybe trying to get at the truth. The Associated Press has over 10,000 employees and is a nonprofit yet I have heard many describe it as liberal. That labeling is unfair. Those who work in journalism work diligently to be as fair and truthful as possible and avoid having their own feelings creep into news reporting. And editors are there to guard that does not happen. My writing here is commentary, but it is only “biased” if it was unfair; if I came to it without any backing in fact or research and I was doing it to support some cause. Like I said, I call them as I see them.
I agree that the election shows there is a split among the public in Lake Luzerne on this issue so hopefully a middle ground can be reached, and both sides came learn something about the other but I suspect that will be a struggle.
I don’t think there is any type of drag or trans explosion in our culture, just a lot more coverage by the cable TV stations trying to drive ratings because it makes some angry I guess. Years ago, a feature reporter for The Post-Star covered a drag show fundraiser and got dressed in drag to do a feature about what it was like. I don’t recall it being controversial so these types of things are not really anything new.
As far as me: Cynical - Guilty as charged. Definitely too sarcastic sometimes. Hyperbolic, maybe sometimes. But I will stand by moderate label. I think most people in this area are more moderate than anything else. But there should be room for all of us to talk about it.
It doesn't seem to be just more trans and drag coverage. They are definitely seeking to be in children's spaces. Liberal agendas are seeking to influence/indoctrinate children. Schools have always indoctrinated children but, this is something different, they are seeking to destroy culture as it exist. It's the power and money behind it that's overwhelming. I heard the keynote speaker at the UVM graduation yesterday upholding the World Economic Forum say that the human species is evolving. That is not simply coming from UVM or local schools.
Your piece was anything but moderate. It was everything else I claimed and condescending of others who bring to the table sincere concern.
I challenge your claim that there is more coverage by cable TV stations. There are multiply programs every week on PBS about trans and are repeated over and over and over again. They are not 5-10 minutes news clips, they are mostly a full hour. PBS to a large degree is an activist channel.
Still, it is my go to channel but, now I watch and listen with a much more critical perspective. Thanks to the liberal incessant beating of Trump.
Your commentary is unfair. I think about how often the liberal media has portrayed conservatives as uneducated idiots. Surveys show, they say, that the Trump vote was the uneducated. You, like others here, seem to have bought into it.
I suspect you may be aware of Charlie Sykes, well known public Dem who left the party. Like me he claims to be politically homeless. Although, he did say Friday on PBS with Margaret Hoover that he would vote for Biden if no worthy Repub surfaced. I would not not vote for Biden. I would not vote at all. Margaret Hoover is truly moderate if you need to see what that looks like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b1LZsXwKJ0
“ … they are seeking to destroy culture as it exist. It's the power and money behind it that's overwhelming.”
Wow. You really need to lay off the koolaid.
Clearly you are a follower.
Are trans people not welcome in the world?
They are struggling to fit into a society where they are met with hate and disinformation.
They are not trying to insinuate themselves into your life...rather just be able to live their own without hate and ignorant prejudices against them.
It's not a liberal agenda. It's a HUMAN AGENDA.
The Pride Center in my state was allowed on a school district committee in which the results were: starting in 5th grade boys will be called sperm producers and girls egg producers. No parents were allowed. Just trying to fit in you say. Delusional thinking. They are forcing their way in, sometimes physically harming others.
Imagine the mental illness that loss of identity will cause 10 year olds.
In cities (probably Dem controlled) Trans visibility Day are growing. Just trying to fit in you say. Doesn't look like just fitting in to me.
It is a false narrative to say that just because concerned people are challenging trans ideology that they are haters.
The Anti-Defamation League's literature says that it is not antisemitic to criticize Israel, so I say, surely it cannot be hateful to criticize an ideology. It is not ignorant to do so.
It is ignorant not to question it.
It IS a liberal agenda still, all humans have the right to be treated with respect and dignity.
It's NOT a liberal *agenda*. Maybe you think that in your own obviously small mind.
It's called kindness and acceptance and the information you're putting here is just ridiculous.
You most obviously have issues with the trans community. And yes it is hate. I know it's hate because it's been directed at my daughter and myself.
There are some who choose to demonize trans people. Apparently you are one of them.
Have a good day Sophia.
Your emotionality prevents a respectful exchange. I am more interested in the bigger questions.
You have only posted to argue. Not interested.
There are definitely liberal AND conservative agendas, but I think what grateson me is that I think those extremes are in the minority and not part of the mainstream, although there does seem to be an attempt to make their views more mainstream. As I have said many times, I think most people in upstate New York are somewhere in that middle group. No one every accuses me of having a MODERATE agenda. Why is that? I talk about it a lot. Meeting in the middle. Compromise.
“And he goes through life, his mouth open, and his mind closed.” - William Shakespeare
I’m a bit concerned for the pastor and his acolytes who may be making making false judgements about what is in other people’s hearts, bearing false witness against them. They should repent before they find themselves destined for the eternal lake of fire!
A general observation about the reaction of many elected representatives in our communities when controversial situations of one kind or other pop up: many or most of them hide, stay away, ignore the problem in hopes it will go away … basically fail to lead.
There are a few notable exceptions, such as Bob Blais who was in the middle of just about any situation good or bad that came up in Lake George. But if you look at this library controversy as an example, where was Gene Merlino? When Thurman was experiencing trouble in town meetings did someone like Dan Stec or Betty Little ever step in as a mediator? As a higher level figure in both public office and in political party who might resolve conflict and get people working together?
Is it just me? Are there examples of this sort of leadership that I’m missing?
Look, I don’t comment here as part of my planned political campaign, and I think that pretty much any political adviser would tell me not to be so free with my opinions on social media, but I showed up to the library board meeting as a member of the greater community and a concerned citizen. I feel like it is my obligation to get in the center of a controversy to try to sort it out. That’s who I am. That’s what I plan to do when I’m elected.
(Gets off soapbox)
Cambridge School board continuation of this nonsense is a joke (and a very expensive one)! Everyone on the board who continued to support spending good money after bad should get the boot. But, it's Cambridge (and Washington County mentality) so keep wasting taxpayers money! Once a wonderful small community with a solid economic base (with a hospital no less), now just another rural community struggling to make ends meet. Look at the property and school taxes people are paying there, look at the lack of jobs and commerce (and how many jobs have disappeared since the turn of the century), and ask yourself, how long does this continue before only rich people with second homes will live there? The greatest loss was Mary McClellan Hospital and now it stands in literal ruins due to lack of vision and economic development abilities in the region. Like so many communities, the inability to change with the times and understand what is needed to stay in business and be relevant is why these places have imploded post WWII. Very sad.
As usual Ken, your opinion/facts on the Cambridge mascot situation is one sided. The debate, from both sides of the issue, for better or worse, was about more than money. I will not rehash that here. The financial implications with regard to costs come from "both" sides. Replacing uniforms, erasing the name and imagery in general, and redoing the gym floor to eliminate the school imagery and name also comes at a cost of $100,000+. So if this was all about money then taking action to eliminate the name/logo should not have been initiated in the first place. So the money things falls on both sides of this issue, regardless of where one stands. Where is Evans' reporting on that?
Changing the mascot was mandated by the state, wasn't it? Isn't every district that has American Indian logos or mascots required to change? Yes, there will be one-time costs with that, but they weren't optional. The Cambridge resistance to the change is not only optional but futile -- a throwing-away of money for the "principle" of endorsing a mascot with which almost every local person has no association. It's a classic case of spiteful waste.
Well, if the school administrators had just changed the mascot when it was first voted out, the cost would have been for that change only, not an EXTRA $100,000 with more to be spent to fight the decision, which also created acrimony in community and in the school.
democrats and republicans are almost exactly the same
Democrats believe parents should make decisions for themselves and for their children
Republicans believe they should make decisions for democrats and their children
sososophia seems to identify as someone who is well-read
but enjoys proving otherwise
sososophia
1) no drag readers
2) no unmarried readers
3) no people of color readers
...only white nationalists
I suspect it (she?) could not list many books it has read
This is a ridiculous controversy. Just what damage do you think exposure to drag queens will do? Make the children gay? At least somebody is reading to them....
I would agree with that.
Carl Ross - This one could be interesting to follow - there is a fine line when it comes to starting to ban books, etc - young folk today are much more savvy as compared to myself & others at a young age and that's not necessarily a bad thing, for that I'm sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUFaIjVzq2g
Panel discussion on trans. Braver Angels (national group) discussion tomorrow at 8pm. Should anyone be interested.
Maybe they should do readings at retirement homes, Lions clubs, or
Ornithological associations.
Will, the debate regarding the Name/Logo was far prior to any mandates being established. So I do agree, in retrospect, where we stand at this time would appear to be quite futile. I won't ask you to understand or appreciate this, but the fight and the money spent in the end is/was well worth it. I find some of the comments regarding money in such matters, and the second guessing around such, almost laughable. And so very predictable.
As a community member, money well spent.