Letters to the Editor

To the editor,

As I have mentioned before, don't let "their" opinion be yours. Take time to visit the library, talk to Todd, the director, and see how much the library has to offer. In a recent conversation with a friend, they mentioned the library having pornography, but in the same conversation, admitted to not having been to the library or talked to Todd.

In my opinion, moving a book is not about keeping our children safe, but more about control. Keeping our children safe is a whole lot more than moving a book, or closing a library that does an immense amount of good for this community.

I advocate to take that same energy and have gatherings with parents on how to have those difficult conversations. Keep communications open and be nonjudgmental. What age is considered "young adults?" It differs, but some suggest 13-18, others 14-18. That is the age that the young adults' experiment with sex, drugs, drinking, and their identity. Two of my friends, locally, have grandchildren, one of whom, at 13, declares herself as bi-gender, and the other, a grandson at 15, declares he would like to be a girl. Moving a book is not going to change them, but perhaps, instead of suicide because no one understands them, the book validates their feelings and thoughts.

Reading a book about being gay, is not going to make anyone gay, and praying away gayness, doesn't work.

Keeping children safe? How about at a very early age, have a conversation that says it's not okay for anyone to touch you, including priests, neighbors, uncles, etc.

Keeping children safe? How about having a conversation about sex, and why it might be a good idea to wait until this young adult becomes an adult. If the decision had been made, then let's talk about being protected, so a decision to keep the baby, have an abortion, or adopt out the child is NEVER a conversation that will become a reality. I recently had a conversation with a renter's daughter, 18, who I knew had a boyfriend. "Sally," I hear you have a boyfriend." Sally: "yes Yes, and he is so awesome." Me: "Are you having sex?" Sally became doe-eyed and said quietly, "yes." I said, "I don't care, but I hope you are protected because the last thing you need is a baby to interrupt your career choice." With relief, she said she was and agreed.

Keeping children safe? I believe parents should have a conversation with those who play video games that kill opponents. Mom/Dad:, "You know that's not real life, because in real life, they don't get to return for another game."

Keeping children safe? Many, if not most, have phones or iPads. Online dating apps are easy to get. Have a conversation about how many adults target young children, and pretend to be high school kids, often talking them into taking explicit pictures.

Keeping children safe? Many, if not most, have televisions in their rooms. Shows after 9 p.m. often show couples in bed, under the sheets. Or movies rated R that make me blush. Pornography is different to all. For, some its movies showing actors mostly naked, having sex. For others it is the same sex kissing and then having sex, and for yet others it's the hard core, graphic, descriptive wording and actions. Both my boys were taken to a strip joint after they turned 18, and both were embarrassed for the girls, saying that they could have been someone's sister.

Keeping children safe? Has any parent checked their kids' search history? A kid doesn't have to search out a library book to satisfy their curiosity. Google, "What does it mean to be a transgender?" or "I'm attracted to the same sex." And I won't name more explicit words they can check out.

Keep children safe? Some parents believe drinking is ok. After all, in high school, it's common to have keggers, except nowadays, they mix in drugs. A sad story, a local Walla Walla father lost his 14-year-old daughter to drinking heavily, then choking on her vomit. How do parents move on from that, adding guilt to the grief?

In my opinion, I think moving a few books around isn't going to keep our children safe. I think learning how to have open and non -judgmental conversations on both sides is a start. True story-My dad said, "Sis, there will be plenty of time after you are married," implying of course, sex. My mom says, "yeah, too much time."

And that was the end of that conversation A friend told me; her mom gave her a book called "Everything you wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask." She said she's pretty sure her grandma gave it to her mom.

A library is a valuable asset to any community. Closing it down is not going to keep our children safe. Giving them verbal communication skills and the knowledge of what to be aware of, will. In my opinion.

Teeny McMunn

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

Whose Freedoms?

Some fellow Americans seem to have forgotten the freedoms all citizens have enjoyed for years: If you don't want an abortion, you don't have to have one; if you don't want to marry someone of the same gender, you can choose to marry the opposite gender; if you don't want to change your gender, you don't have to: if you don't want to go to a public library where there is a drag queen story hour, you and your children don't have to go to the event; if you don't want your children reading the truth about slavery, Indian massacres, and LGBTQ+ people, you don't have to provide those books for them; if you don't like the curriculum in public schools, homeschool your children; if you don't believe that Jesus said "love you enemies" you don't have to. Everyone should be allowed to live in freedom and not worry about being harassed, arrested, shot or killed. It is not necessary to force your "freedoms" on others.

Nancy Street

Cheney, Wash.

To the editor,

Carl Sagan was a well-known American astronomer, science communicator, and author.

He said, "The universe is a pretty big place. If it's just us, seems like an awful waste of space."

Reportedly he believed space faring beings have visited earth for a long time. But after he was threatened for saying that by some very powerful people he just started saying, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."

Doctor Steven Greer (medical Doctor) says that extraordinary evidence existed then and just continues to pile up. In 2001 Doctor Greer presented "The Disclosure Project" to the general public at the National Press Club featuring Corporate and military witnesses telling their experiences with alien technology. This meeting generated the largest audience the Club ever had.

On June twelfth Dr. Greer will once again be presenting a huge group of additional witnesses and evidence at the National Press Club.

Unlike most of those who talk seriously about contact with extra-terrestrial beings, Dr Greer does not speak of them in terms of threat, quite the opposite, he speaks of these beings as, not only technically advanced, but as spiritually advanced as well and this, he claims, is from his personal experience of contact. He also claims that earth-based corporations have had alien derived technologies for decades that could eliminate the need for fossil fuels and the causes of poverty within a generation.

I understand a Web-link to the June 12 event will be provided soon at http://www.siriusdisclosure.com-I check it daily. Please do the same.

Jeremy Street

Cheney, Wash.