It makes you wonder if this is what the minister behind this censorship considers a victory. It’s certainly a sad day for the thinking people of Lake Luzerne.
Indeed. A very sad day for all the citizens of Lake Luzerne. Parental rights have been taken away when someone else tries to tell me what my child should/should not read.
Having been born and raised in Glens Falls, the Crandall Library was a treasure trove before the days of the internet. How sad for the community, and especially the students, of Lake Luzerne. Conservatives want to restrict the access of all things to all people. They demand the right to choose for themselves AND for everyone else. Shame on them.
I like your point about leading a charge through ignorance. I can't wait for these rigid "holier than thou" people to be unmasked as hypocritical extremists, who tolerate and conceal their own indelicate secrets, but rail against their version of immorality. They shout about squandering taxpayer monies, but try every trick not to have to pay their own taxes, just like their heroes. That's what's repulsive to me.
P.S. Thanks for showing me what a wooly bear turns into. That's a beautiful butterfly!
Thank you for focusing attention on this travesty. I encourage thoughtful people to consider getting on their library boards because all our libraries are in jeopardy when board members have an agenda to control what we can read.
Ken is the emcee for a banned book reading at the Saratoga Springs Library this Thursday, 10/5 at 6pm. I will be reading from Fahrenheit 451 and dedicate my reading to the Luzerne library staff. Please attend in solidarity with their defense of civil liberties and creative expression. -Pat
This is why these small upstate towns are fading away. The “adults” scare away the children, who tend to be more liberal minded. They leave and don’t come back. You see it in places like Cambridge, where the average person with an Indian sticker on their car is 57 and disheveled. They become the majority and then these towns aren’t so quaint anymore.
First, three disclaimers: (1) I am a retired American Baptist minister; (2) much as I detest labels, I have been labeled by both friend and foe as progressive and liberal; and, (3) in the 1980’s I served six years—two as president—on the board of trustees of the Washington County (Ohio) Public Library, with an anchor library in Marietta,OH; three branch libraries; and a bookmobile serving remote rural areas.
During those six years, I cannot recall that I, nor the board as a whole, was ever involved in any book banning situation. If there were any, it was probably handled by the professional staff.
It is not the role of a library board of trustees to micromanage the daily operations of the library.
It is the role of the board, along with its fiduciary responsibilities, to define the mission of the library, set policies, and determine goals; and then hire professional staff to implement the same and direct the daily operations.
I suggest a reading of the Library Bill of Rights, which I affirm.
Finally, Will, as to your use of the word “gospel” in your title “the gospel of intolerance”—the word is a translation of a Greek word “euangelion” combining two words: “eu” meaning “good” and “angelion” meaning “news”.
Gospel literally means “good news.”
There is nothing good about the news of intolerance!!!
I am an avid reader and support the Rockwell Falls library. I was stunned when I tried to go there last week and found it closed because of someone's campaign against making certain books available. If you don't like those books, don't read them but don't try to decide for me what I can read. You don't control my life. Stuck to your own!!
In addition to intolerance, it strikes me that here again is another example of a leader of a non-tax-paying institution imposing their distorted view of reality on the tax-paying rest of us.
I am in my 70’s and have learned as much from books I’ve disagreed with than from my parents or teachers. One primary example is to stay away from drugs and suspicious people.
Hi David Josh Jacquard is the pastor at Victory Bible Baptist Church. He has a Facebook page where he explains his position.
It makes you wonder if this is what the minister behind this censorship considers a victory. It’s certainly a sad day for the thinking people of Lake Luzerne.
Indeed. A very sad day for all the citizens of Lake Luzerne. Parental rights have been taken away when someone else tries to tell me what my child should/should not read.
Well said.
The loss of a library is terrible! The Community needs it. May it open successfully again.
Having been born and raised in Glens Falls, the Crandall Library was a treasure trove before the days of the internet. How sad for the community, and especially the students, of Lake Luzerne. Conservatives want to restrict the access of all things to all people. They demand the right to choose for themselves AND for everyone else. Shame on them.
I like your point about leading a charge through ignorance. I can't wait for these rigid "holier than thou" people to be unmasked as hypocritical extremists, who tolerate and conceal their own indelicate secrets, but rail against their version of immorality. They shout about squandering taxpayer monies, but try every trick not to have to pay their own taxes, just like their heroes. That's what's repulsive to me.
P.S. Thanks for showing me what a wooly bear turns into. That's a beautiful butterfly!
Thank you for focusing attention on this travesty. I encourage thoughtful people to consider getting on their library boards because all our libraries are in jeopardy when board members have an agenda to control what we can read.
Ken is the emcee for a banned book reading at the Saratoga Springs Library this Thursday, 10/5 at 6pm. I will be reading from Fahrenheit 451 and dedicate my reading to the Luzerne library staff. Please attend in solidarity with their defense of civil liberties and creative expression. -Pat
Go Pat!
This is why these small upstate towns are fading away. The “adults” scare away the children, who tend to be more liberal minded. They leave and don’t come back. You see it in places like Cambridge, where the average person with an Indian sticker on their car is 57 and disheveled. They become the majority and then these towns aren’t so quaint anymore.
First, three disclaimers: (1) I am a retired American Baptist minister; (2) much as I detest labels, I have been labeled by both friend and foe as progressive and liberal; and, (3) in the 1980’s I served six years—two as president—on the board of trustees of the Washington County (Ohio) Public Library, with an anchor library in Marietta,OH; three branch libraries; and a bookmobile serving remote rural areas.
During those six years, I cannot recall that I, nor the board as a whole, was ever involved in any book banning situation. If there were any, it was probably handled by the professional staff.
It is not the role of a library board of trustees to micromanage the daily operations of the library.
It is the role of the board, along with its fiduciary responsibilities, to define the mission of the library, set policies, and determine goals; and then hire professional staff to implement the same and direct the daily operations.
I suggest a reading of the Library Bill of Rights, which I affirm.
Finally, Will, as to your use of the word “gospel” in your title “the gospel of intolerance”—the word is a translation of a Greek word “euangelion” combining two words: “eu” meaning “good” and “angelion” meaning “news”.
Gospel literally means “good news.”
There is nothing good about the news of intolerance!!!
I am an avid reader and support the Rockwell Falls library. I was stunned when I tried to go there last week and found it closed because of someone's campaign against making certain books available. If you don't like those books, don't read them but don't try to decide for me what I can read. You don't control my life. Stuck to your own!!
Will,
Thanks for your observations.
In addition to intolerance, it strikes me that here again is another example of a leader of a non-tax-paying institution imposing their distorted view of reality on the tax-paying rest of us.
My best to you and Bella.
I am in my 70’s and have learned as much from books I’ve disagreed with than from my parents or teachers. One primary example is to stay away from drugs and suspicious people.
I totally agree with you re the new person they hire at the Luzerne Library.