Thank you, Will, for writing the truth about what happened at the Rockwell Falls
Library, and its inadequate journalistic coverage. Although the conflict may have been ignited by the prospect of a drag queen story hour, its foundation was much deeper. One board member's mission seemed to be "protection" of the community from its non-binary citizens. At a library board meeting he lamented the absence of a bible on the shelves (certainly in evidence) and the presence of "books with pictures of 'naked people.' " It became clear he was referring to books meant for younger LGBTQ readers who often have serious self-doubts which sometimes eventuate in suicides. The "Public" in "Public Library" signals a welcome to all. Perhaps a book can save a life. Book banning is a fascist activity. The Post-Star reportage seemed inexplicably distorted.
I'm happy our library has reopened, and its new board seems to understand that it needs to reflect reality and welcome all its readers.
I would caution that not everyone on the board is prepared to reflect reality.
The inclusion of a one time drag story hour in library programming reflected the strategic plan of a previous board. As this new board considered the necessity of a new strategic plan since the old plan expired Jacquard suggested that the board place “limitations” on what sort of programming the Strategic Plan Committee would consider. When I questioned the “limitations” Jacquard denied using the word, but I checked the video and he said “limitations.” He lied, or bore false witness, at the board meeting. And he clearly meant limitations. He is still working to prevent any sort of programming that doesn’t meet his limited personal moral code.
You are absolutely right, of course. I am trying to be optimistic. The “Christian supremacists” will never stop betraying the Constitution and inflicting their exclusionary theology on the rest of us.
While I suspect we won’t be seeing drag queen story tellers any time soon, I do believe the board members installed by NY State will save us from intolerant book banning. It’s a start!
Space and time constraints??? They repeat everything 4 times now in the Post Star-even the comics!
"This is how the intolerant win culture wars on the ground even when they have officially lost: by making life so unpleasant for their opponents, they abandon the fight." Exactly-at every level now of our society. Whole communities have been encouraged and feel safe enough by the numbers to be bullies. My children have been brought up to believe that all are equal and valuable. I tried to explain to my oldest daughter this week how hard it was to start out with little tolerance and see through a lifetime (gradually) the independence of women, the appreciation and respect for individuality that developed over generations, all to be lost in a short 8 years. I know it wasn't perfect or complete, but we have lost so much over the last decade due to one person and his admirers.
It's easy to blame it primarily on Trump. And he certainly is a loathsome sociopath deserving of scorn and prison time. But all he did was enable people to reveal what they already thought, but were maybe hiding until then. He prompted our friends and neighbors to reveal who they always were. And it's not been pretty.
It’s true that if they avoid any or all controversy out of fear, then that means the nastiest and meanest attitude has won, but can we really blame the new board for just wanting to let sleeping dogs lie for a bit? Don’t judge them too harshly yet. Maybe they plan to ease into tolerance a step at a time, like the way people can overcome phobias by slowly acclimating. Some people are just too narrow minded and stubborn to flip a lifetime’s worth of ignorance all at once.
Well....pretty sure everyone knows how I feel about all of this.
I did not attend the council meeting in person because I have an extremely low threshold for bullshit and ignorance. And apparently lack self control in dealing with bigotry and vitriol.
I simply will not stand for intolerance against other human beings.
I watched at home and yelled at UTube. And then wrote a letter to the paper I don't read .
I called the Mayor's office early on in this battle after remarks he made and said I was disappointed. He was supposed to call me back. Never did.
If not for Ms. Palmer I believe that the Mayor would not have bothered to adress this. Not sure exactly why he seemed unwilling to deal with this.....
Special thanks to Diana Palmer and Cam Cardinale for their efforts.
The Rockwell Library.....where to start here. Jacquard is quite obviously terrified of anyone *different*. He and other members of that community quite literally intimidated staff. And I watched live video of the man who hit another person at one of the meetings.
I believe one of the women *Christians* who spoke at the city council meeting actually asked if library drag shows were next if they allowed the Pride flag to fly.
I have come to despise these people who wrap themselves with fake Christianity. I'd rather have them flat out say what they think rather than hide behind religion. Cowards.
We shouldn't have to keep fighting like this for other human beings to be allowed to live their best lives.
I used to be a constituent of Councilwoman Palmer. I was very impressed in my dealings of her. Even more so now. She has brains, guts and integrity, which is a rare combination in politics.
another really strong and beautifully written "letters," naming the "process" of silencing, of intimidation, of harassment...even if you have lost the specific battle: "This is how the intolerant win culture wars on the ground even when they have officially lost by make life so unpleasant for their opponents they abandon the fight." The threats, the attacks...by moms of liberty, by the freedom caucus, by Maga, by Stefanik screaming "anti-semites" at everyone she wants to silence---you see and name it all so accurately, Will. Thank you. And your close observations of nature...and your complex and deep and loving and difficult journey with Bella--your voice touches me with its honesty....
This seems to be where we are right now. One small group of fearful humans able to silence an entire library & prevent the majority of people from enjoying it. Actually I guess that applies in "larger" terms all over this country. As someone else commented - USING religion as an excuse for their fear of "others". I'm no longer a "church-goer" - but as I remember being taught in Sunday School - the "do onto others as you would have them do onto you" phrase has been forgotten, I guess. Too bad someone didnt ask this "pastor" if he remembers it.
Interesting that you've put "pastor" in quotes. Some sort of Creator (biochemical or transcendent) made us all ...... Maggie is right to remind us. What would Jesus do? And come to think of it, he hung out with twelve guys. And all the world's pastors should remember that!
Honestly, could have put a question mark after it!! (pastor, I mean) I dont know what Jesus would do, but I'm thinking he would be truly disappointed & disgusted with what is put forth as religious teachings and the intolerance for anyone who believes or thinks differently.
Bigots don't like being told they are displaying bigotry. They are fragile, insecure and scared of anything that they are not used to. It makes it even more important that they be told the truth. Truths like I've never seen a story about a drag queen arrested for harming kids but I've seen countless about clergy being arrested (AND CONVICTED) of harming kids.
I object to your use of the word “traditional” in this sentence without a qualifier about the source of this “tradition” and putting it into world and historical context: “ I’m celebrating our progress toward acceptance of people who are lesbians, gay, bisexual, trans or who otherwise do not fit into traditional categories of sexual orientation and/or gender roles.”
That said, this is an excellent column.
Clearly there is fear in the community and that fear is based in a reality that the Luzerne area has a recent history of extreme violence.
Full disclosure, I have been accused of initiating violence at a library meeting by noted local journalist June Maxam who claimed I was throwing Bibles. she claims there is a video of it.
It's not at all a surprise that the bible thumper, Jacquard, went after LGBTQ community and the right to free speech by a drag queen. This is the perfect example of a right wing, bible thumping, hypocrite who lives in a MAGA rural region trampling the rights of others in the name of "his version of a god!" Beware people like this! Anytime someone wants to restrict the "types" of books that can be in a library means you are on the road to dictatorship. He is taking away the "right to free speech". I'll bet dollars to donuts, he's also against abortion (so another example of taking away existing rights of women). Much ado about nothing? Except when you live in a small, poorly educated community with lots of extreme right wing hypocrites, guess what? This is what you get! They don't care about our fundamental freedoms, they just want to rule by "their version of god" and that is unacceptable. Our country was founded on separation of church and state for a reason. Personally, I think all Federal and State funding should be pulled from any library that does this, and that all the board members can be personally sued for violating civil rights laws, and that the liability insurance policy for the board should be null and void if they go down this path. History repeating itself? Look carefully how Hitler came to power. It's taking away rights one at a time that gets to a point where there is no turning back. I'm an atheist at best, I detest hypocrites like this ignorant, bible thumping, human.
Will wrote: “Now, even though the library has reopened with mostly new board members and a new librarian, I doubt any of them will dare to suggest scheduling another drag queen story hour.”
I agree that this is likely the case. Perhaps there is something positive that can be done…..
If there are books that reflect the values of inclusiveness and diversity that do not happen to appear in the library’s collection, then several copies could be donated to the library, with the express purpose of adding them to the card catalog and shelving them. The donator could then follow up to ensure the books have been added. If they haven’t, then some additional copies could be quietly added to the library shelves directly. While they would not be in the card catelog, they would still be on the shelves available to those library patrons who are interested.
I don’t know if this approach has already been suggested or taken, or if "quiet shelving" of books is against the library’s written policies. But it’s worth a try, I think.
Isn’t it better to light a candle than to curse the darkness?
When Dr. MLK Jr. delivered his famous speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial, he pointedly stated that calls for "graduallism" with regard to Civil Rights for humans of a darker complexion were in essence, too little, too late. This is, as I see it, a Civil Rights and a Human Rights issue. The bigoted and hypocritical suspicion, fear and shunning of LGBTQ+ human beings is usually harbored by ignorance and lack of interaction with members of this community. In addition, charlatans vying for power over a group of willing followers have, in the past and at present, fanned the flames of fear and hatred with lies and exaggerations. LGBT human beings are nearly four times likely than heterosexuals, to be the victims of crime. So far, I haven't found data on the percentage of crimes committed by homosexuals versus heterosexuals, by I will hazard a guess that the percentage is low. Scientific studies have shown that most child molesters are heterosexual. I wonder if that is also true of power-hungry charlatans?
As for flag waving, I wish the display of Confederate flag could be banned as offensive to our country and the people of a darker complexion. It pops up too often on cars, trucks and even homes in our area.
Having served seven years (two as president) on the board of trustees of a county library system in Ohio, I never felt it was my role to micromanage the daily operations of the library. The task of the board and its members is to formulate policy, employ staff to implement those policies and evaluate staff performance, and to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities.
Secondly, I believe if you don’t like a certain book, don’t read it (although I often wonder how you cannot like a book if you’ve never read it). If you don’t like a particular program offering, don’t attend it nor send your children to it. Etc.
Thirdly, while the question, “what would Jesus do?” might be a nice question to discuss, I prefer to grapple with the question “what would Jesus have ME do” in this existential moment, when and where the rubber hits the pavement, and where I am called to implement the ethic of love.
Finally, I need to ask myself, continually, “What kind of human being do I want to be?” Believing, as I do, what God was and is seeking to do in Jesus of Nazareth who is the Christ is to make human life more human as God intends it to be human.
So why do less than 10% of the population command a national celebration? Why do less than 10% of our population demand such exposure? I’m not anti LBGQT+++. But I am tired of the victim trend that has overtaken our culture. If you’re not white, heterosexual and economically stable, you’ claim to be a victim. And all the victims demand the majority of the population accept and support their life style choices. That’s why a lunatic and MAGA have a strong chance to once again take over the government. Far left progressives have gone to far.
There is no command and no demand. Standing up for your rights is not acting as a victim, but the opposite. All citizens deserve full and equal rights. Insisting on that should not drive anyone to embrace a man as corrupt, abusive and dishonest as Donald Trump ... and it hasn't. Those who embrace Trump like him for who he is. They're aren't being forced to support Trump, they enjoy it.
Agree that all citizens are entitled to equal rights. But, who determines whether or not some small portion of the population has equal rights. DEI has absorbed all facets of our country. Now there’s a backlash. Why is this happening? I feel that the majority, who agreed, accepted and supported DEI, feel that it has reached a point of absurdity. I recently attended a function at Bucknell, my sons alma mater. They went all in DEI 20 years ago. I saw lots of diversity on campus but also saw mostly segregated groups of students gathered together without any integration.
Go to most college campuses and you’ll see the same situation. Ever seen a tv ad with a mixed race couple? When was the last time you spent time with a mixed race couple? Even when walking the streets of major cities you almost never see it. So let’s do our best to create and support equality but let’s also maintain realistic perspective on reality.
Thank you, Will, for writing the truth about what happened at the Rockwell Falls
Library, and its inadequate journalistic coverage. Although the conflict may have been ignited by the prospect of a drag queen story hour, its foundation was much deeper. One board member's mission seemed to be "protection" of the community from its non-binary citizens. At a library board meeting he lamented the absence of a bible on the shelves (certainly in evidence) and the presence of "books with pictures of 'naked people.' " It became clear he was referring to books meant for younger LGBTQ readers who often have serious self-doubts which sometimes eventuate in suicides. The "Public" in "Public Library" signals a welcome to all. Perhaps a book can save a life. Book banning is a fascist activity. The Post-Star reportage seemed inexplicably distorted.
I'm happy our library has reopened, and its new board seems to understand that it needs to reflect reality and welcome all its readers.
I would caution that not everyone on the board is prepared to reflect reality.
The inclusion of a one time drag story hour in library programming reflected the strategic plan of a previous board. As this new board considered the necessity of a new strategic plan since the old plan expired Jacquard suggested that the board place “limitations” on what sort of programming the Strategic Plan Committee would consider. When I questioned the “limitations” Jacquard denied using the word, but I checked the video and he said “limitations.” He lied, or bore false witness, at the board meeting. And he clearly meant limitations. He is still working to prevent any sort of programming that doesn’t meet his limited personal moral code.
You are absolutely right, of course. I am trying to be optimistic. The “Christian supremacists” will never stop betraying the Constitution and inflicting their exclusionary theology on the rest of us.
While I suspect we won’t be seeing drag queen story tellers any time soon, I do believe the board members installed by NY State will save us from intolerant book banning. It’s a start!
Thanks for fact checking that.
Space and time constraints??? They repeat everything 4 times now in the Post Star-even the comics!
"This is how the intolerant win culture wars on the ground even when they have officially lost: by making life so unpleasant for their opponents, they abandon the fight." Exactly-at every level now of our society. Whole communities have been encouraged and feel safe enough by the numbers to be bullies. My children have been brought up to believe that all are equal and valuable. I tried to explain to my oldest daughter this week how hard it was to start out with little tolerance and see through a lifetime (gradually) the independence of women, the appreciation and respect for individuality that developed over generations, all to be lost in a short 8 years. I know it wasn't perfect or complete, but we have lost so much over the last decade due to one person and his admirers.
It's easy to blame it primarily on Trump. And he certainly is a loathsome sociopath deserving of scorn and prison time. But all he did was enable people to reveal what they already thought, but were maybe hiding until then. He prompted our friends and neighbors to reveal who they always were. And it's not been pretty.
Good point.
I do believe that is true. But now it is so much more in your face and acceptable. People actually flaunt their hatred which is stunning to me.
It’s true that if they avoid any or all controversy out of fear, then that means the nastiest and meanest attitude has won, but can we really blame the new board for just wanting to let sleeping dogs lie for a bit? Don’t judge them too harshly yet. Maybe they plan to ease into tolerance a step at a time, like the way people can overcome phobias by slowly acclimating. Some people are just too narrow minded and stubborn to flip a lifetime’s worth of ignorance all at once.
Well....pretty sure everyone knows how I feel about all of this.
I did not attend the council meeting in person because I have an extremely low threshold for bullshit and ignorance. And apparently lack self control in dealing with bigotry and vitriol.
I simply will not stand for intolerance against other human beings.
I watched at home and yelled at UTube. And then wrote a letter to the paper I don't read .
I called the Mayor's office early on in this battle after remarks he made and said I was disappointed. He was supposed to call me back. Never did.
If not for Ms. Palmer I believe that the Mayor would not have bothered to adress this. Not sure exactly why he seemed unwilling to deal with this.....
Special thanks to Diana Palmer and Cam Cardinale for their efforts.
The Rockwell Library.....where to start here. Jacquard is quite obviously terrified of anyone *different*. He and other members of that community quite literally intimidated staff. And I watched live video of the man who hit another person at one of the meetings.
I believe one of the women *Christians* who spoke at the city council meeting actually asked if library drag shows were next if they allowed the Pride flag to fly.
I have come to despise these people who wrap themselves with fake Christianity. I'd rather have them flat out say what they think rather than hide behind religion. Cowards.
We shouldn't have to keep fighting like this for other human beings to be allowed to live their best lives.
But here we are.
I used to be a constituent of Councilwoman Palmer. I was very impressed in my dealings of her. Even more so now. She has brains, guts and integrity, which is a rare combination in politics.
another really strong and beautifully written "letters," naming the "process" of silencing, of intimidation, of harassment...even if you have lost the specific battle: "This is how the intolerant win culture wars on the ground even when they have officially lost by make life so unpleasant for their opponents they abandon the fight." The threats, the attacks...by moms of liberty, by the freedom caucus, by Maga, by Stefanik screaming "anti-semites" at everyone she wants to silence---you see and name it all so accurately, Will. Thank you. And your close observations of nature...and your complex and deep and loving and difficult journey with Bella--your voice touches me with its honesty....
This seems to be where we are right now. One small group of fearful humans able to silence an entire library & prevent the majority of people from enjoying it. Actually I guess that applies in "larger" terms all over this country. As someone else commented - USING religion as an excuse for their fear of "others". I'm no longer a "church-goer" - but as I remember being taught in Sunday School - the "do onto others as you would have them do onto you" phrase has been forgotten, I guess. Too bad someone didnt ask this "pastor" if he remembers it.
Interesting that you've put "pastor" in quotes. Some sort of Creator (biochemical or transcendent) made us all ...... Maggie is right to remind us. What would Jesus do? And come to think of it, he hung out with twelve guys. And all the world's pastors should remember that!
Honestly, could have put a question mark after it!! (pastor, I mean) I dont know what Jesus would do, but I'm thinking he would be truly disappointed & disgusted with what is put forth as religious teachings and the intolerance for anyone who believes or thinks differently.
Bigots don't like being told they are displaying bigotry. They are fragile, insecure and scared of anything that they are not used to. It makes it even more important that they be told the truth. Truths like I've never seen a story about a drag queen arrested for harming kids but I've seen countless about clergy being arrested (AND CONVICTED) of harming kids.
I object to your use of the word “traditional” in this sentence without a qualifier about the source of this “tradition” and putting it into world and historical context: “ I’m celebrating our progress toward acceptance of people who are lesbians, gay, bisexual, trans or who otherwise do not fit into traditional categories of sexual orientation and/or gender roles.”
That said, this is an excellent column.
Clearly there is fear in the community and that fear is based in a reality that the Luzerne area has a recent history of extreme violence.
Full disclosure, I have been accused of initiating violence at a library meeting by noted local journalist June Maxam who claimed I was throwing Bibles. she claims there is a video of it.
Please don’t ever refer to Maxam as a journalist. It is an insult to real journalists
Sorry
Throwing or juggling?
Throwing. I could probably post a link to her story but she’d likely sue me for it.
It's not at all a surprise that the bible thumper, Jacquard, went after LGBTQ community and the right to free speech by a drag queen. This is the perfect example of a right wing, bible thumping, hypocrite who lives in a MAGA rural region trampling the rights of others in the name of "his version of a god!" Beware people like this! Anytime someone wants to restrict the "types" of books that can be in a library means you are on the road to dictatorship. He is taking away the "right to free speech". I'll bet dollars to donuts, he's also against abortion (so another example of taking away existing rights of women). Much ado about nothing? Except when you live in a small, poorly educated community with lots of extreme right wing hypocrites, guess what? This is what you get! They don't care about our fundamental freedoms, they just want to rule by "their version of god" and that is unacceptable. Our country was founded on separation of church and state for a reason. Personally, I think all Federal and State funding should be pulled from any library that does this, and that all the board members can be personally sued for violating civil rights laws, and that the liability insurance policy for the board should be null and void if they go down this path. History repeating itself? Look carefully how Hitler came to power. It's taking away rights one at a time that gets to a point where there is no turning back. I'm an atheist at best, I detest hypocrites like this ignorant, bible thumping, human.
I agree with you, this is a Civil Rights issue and should be accountable on the State and Federal level.
Will wrote: “Now, even though the library has reopened with mostly new board members and a new librarian, I doubt any of them will dare to suggest scheduling another drag queen story hour.”
I agree that this is likely the case. Perhaps there is something positive that can be done…..
If there are books that reflect the values of inclusiveness and diversity that do not happen to appear in the library’s collection, then several copies could be donated to the library, with the express purpose of adding them to the card catalog and shelving them. The donator could then follow up to ensure the books have been added. If they haven’t, then some additional copies could be quietly added to the library shelves directly. While they would not be in the card catelog, they would still be on the shelves available to those library patrons who are interested.
I don’t know if this approach has already been suggested or taken, or if "quiet shelving" of books is against the library’s written policies. But it’s worth a try, I think.
Isn’t it better to light a candle than to curse the darkness?
When Dr. MLK Jr. delivered his famous speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial, he pointedly stated that calls for "graduallism" with regard to Civil Rights for humans of a darker complexion were in essence, too little, too late. This is, as I see it, a Civil Rights and a Human Rights issue. The bigoted and hypocritical suspicion, fear and shunning of LGBTQ+ human beings is usually harbored by ignorance and lack of interaction with members of this community. In addition, charlatans vying for power over a group of willing followers have, in the past and at present, fanned the flames of fear and hatred with lies and exaggerations. LGBT human beings are nearly four times likely than heterosexuals, to be the victims of crime. So far, I haven't found data on the percentage of crimes committed by homosexuals versus heterosexuals, by I will hazard a guess that the percentage is low. Scientific studies have shown that most child molesters are heterosexual. I wonder if that is also true of power-hungry charlatans?
As for flag waving, I wish the display of Confederate flag could be banned as offensive to our country and the people of a darker complexion. It pops up too often on cars, trucks and even homes in our area.
Thanks for another stimulating column Will.
Having served seven years (two as president) on the board of trustees of a county library system in Ohio, I never felt it was my role to micromanage the daily operations of the library. The task of the board and its members is to formulate policy, employ staff to implement those policies and evaluate staff performance, and to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities.
Secondly, I believe if you don’t like a certain book, don’t read it (although I often wonder how you cannot like a book if you’ve never read it). If you don’t like a particular program offering, don’t attend it nor send your children to it. Etc.
Thirdly, while the question, “what would Jesus do?” might be a nice question to discuss, I prefer to grapple with the question “what would Jesus have ME do” in this existential moment, when and where the rubber hits the pavement, and where I am called to implement the ethic of love.
Finally, I need to ask myself, continually, “What kind of human being do I want to be?” Believing, as I do, what God was and is seeking to do in Jesus of Nazareth who is the Christ is to make human life more human as God intends it to be human.
Right on.
So why do less than 10% of the population command a national celebration? Why do less than 10% of our population demand such exposure? I’m not anti LBGQT+++. But I am tired of the victim trend that has overtaken our culture. If you’re not white, heterosexual and economically stable, you’ claim to be a victim. And all the victims demand the majority of the population accept and support their life style choices. That’s why a lunatic and MAGA have a strong chance to once again take over the government. Far left progressives have gone to far.
There is no command and no demand. Standing up for your rights is not acting as a victim, but the opposite. All citizens deserve full and equal rights. Insisting on that should not drive anyone to embrace a man as corrupt, abusive and dishonest as Donald Trump ... and it hasn't. Those who embrace Trump like him for who he is. They're aren't being forced to support Trump, they enjoy it.
Agree that all citizens are entitled to equal rights. But, who determines whether or not some small portion of the population has equal rights. DEI has absorbed all facets of our country. Now there’s a backlash. Why is this happening? I feel that the majority, who agreed, accepted and supported DEI, feel that it has reached a point of absurdity. I recently attended a function at Bucknell, my sons alma mater. They went all in DEI 20 years ago. I saw lots of diversity on campus but also saw mostly segregated groups of students gathered together without any integration.
Go to most college campuses and you’ll see the same situation. Ever seen a tv ad with a mixed race couple? When was the last time you spent time with a mixed race couple? Even when walking the streets of major cities you almost never see it. So let’s do our best to create and support equality but let’s also maintain realistic perspective on reality.