Letters to the Editor

To the editor,

I find it interesting that you want to shut down the library because you don't like some of the books that are on the shelf. When I was a teenager, they had an adult only section in the library. I couldn't check out any books from there. Are you also going to ban TV shows and movies? Some of the shows now have same sex couples groping each other and deep kissing. I've stopped watching two of my shows for this reason. I did let the producers know why I've stopped watching them. I also don't like watching straight couples groping each other and deep kissing. It distracts from the show. Lots of the shows on regular TV are soft porn ones now. I think the parents should decide what their children should read. We are a democratic country. Not Russia or China where the government tells their people what to think and do. The library has so many programs for everyone. At least the ones here in Vancouver, WA do.

Debbie S. Simonds

Vancouver, Wash.

To the editor,

I better start with a trigger warning as I am certain someone will be "offended" by something that follows. I wonder how many Columbia County Library Board members knew that the current American Library Association (ALA) president is a proud, self-described Marxist? I wonder how many library patrons and Columbia County residents know that, and how many think it's actually a good thing to have an activist Marxist lead the once-worthy-of-respect organization? I wonder how many are aware that more states are following Montana to sever ties with the ALA (https://thefederalist.com/2023/07/21/legislators-in-four-more-states-prepare-to-ditch-american-library-association/)? I expect at least some of our county neighbors consider the fact that the ALA elected Emily Drabinski, who wants to re-center children's libraries on "notions of queerness" and share sexually explicit content with children, to be an indication of real progress in the ALA and our society (https://wfin.com/fox-political-news/marxist-lesbian-library-group-president-denounced-angry-white-mob-parents-in-push-for-queerness/). And, no doubt, we should unite to celebrate Drabinski's election and agenda.

I wonder how many are aware of the goals of the alliance of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations to advance children's exposure to sexuality by teaching comprehensive sexuality education and advancing the portrayal of children as sexual beings (https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/global-network-promotes-sexual-rights-for-children-5455257)? Maybe it's a mere coincidence the objectives of this global network and Drabinski appear to have much in common!

I urge our Library to cancel its membership in the American and Washington Library Associations and consider joining an alternate organization such as the the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL), (https://www.arsl.org/).

And, based on our Library's collection policy (and with consideration of the stated criteria including public demand & interest, subject area information, diversity, timeliness, community relevance, authority & competence of the authors, accuracy, balance & diversity of viewpoint, and quality of writing), I request that our library obtain materials which parents, grandparents and other adults may access to better understand the origins, motivations, and destructive consequences of such ideologies as Critical Race Theory, Critical Gender Theory, along with other contemporary iterations of Marxism. With this goal in mind, I suggest the following books be added to the Columbia County Library's collection: "Stolen Youth" by Bethany Mandel & Karol Markowicz, "Lost in Trans Nation, a child psychiatrist's guide out of the madness" by Dr. Miriam Grossman, "Irreversible Damage: the transgender craze seducing our daughters" by Abigail Shrier, "America's Cultural Revolution" by Christopher Rufo, and "The Diversity Delusion: How Race and Gender Pandering Corrupt the University and Undermine Our Culture" by Heather Mac Donald.

Thomas W. Utt, DDS, LTC (Ret) US Army

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

This is a letter of support for the Columbia County library staying open! The group of people that would have it closed have offered zero evidence of any child ever being harmed by the library, its books, the library board, or the previous library director. Only conjecture: conjecture is a guess, an inference, a theory, or prediction based on guesswork. That's per Webster's definition.

According to the Columbia County prosecuting attorney to the best of his knowledge, there has never been a reported case of child abuse at the library. I followed up with the Sheriff's Office and checked with their records as far back as they keep them, which is since October 1999, there has never been a case of child abuse associated with the library.

Child abuse is a very serious problem in the country with around 600,000 cases annually. It's estimated that 77% of the children are victimized by one or both of their parents.

Based on the above information I've asked the county commissioners at their work session meeting July 24th, 2023, to consider making the library and other county operated properties designated as safe places. Also, I asked them to consider joining the National Safe Place Network (NSPN).

As far as the budget issues are concerned another conjecture, they have presented no evidence of a similar library with a smaller budget.

Please, keep the library open!!!

Gerald M. Kaiser

Dayton, Wash.