In cases where someone is trying to make a stink for attention, usually the best option is to ignore them. But then they go to admin and elected officials who care more about their own bottom line than doing the right thing. And then those people tell the libraries that they have to comply because they want the loud bigots who might cost them their jobs to go away. And then if the librarians don’t comply, they lose their jobs and then no one gets any books.
I mean, the truth is that the American populace needed to revolt 40 years ago, but since that’s not happening and Americans seem incapable of fighting the fascism that’s growing in their lawn by the methods it demands, yeah better to still have libraries than not have them at all.
I mean, that’s a gross exaggeration of these bans. It is genuinely awful that they have weaponized the corruption and incompetence of the American govt system to silence LGBTQ+ voices, but libraries provide a ton of additional services to their local community, even beyond just the books they offer. It is better for them to exist than to not.
I would argue it is not an exaggeration. The bans always start small, because they can get away with the small things. And then it becomes normalized and it always escalates if left unchecked.
A small fight over a few books is a much easier fight to win before it becomes the systematic norm.
And yes, libraries have a ton of other services… for now. Do you think these same lunatics are going to leave the library alone after they’ve gotten rid of the books they don’t agree with? After the book bans, will they still be offering free internet that isn’t censored? Will they still have information for outreach programs that help homeless people, LBGTQ+ folks, people with mental health problems, and assistance for other vulnerable minority groups?
If they are allowed to have their way, they’ll gut all of the services people use, then when nobody is going to the library, they’ll have the excuse they’ve wanted all along to shut it down entirely.
This isn’t hypothetical what-if-ism. It’s happened before.
I mean sure, but what you’re talking about is the now inevitable collapse of American society. Yeah once the fascists start bombing civil services and destroy town halls to consolidate power things will be bad. I don’t believe saying “No” to these book bans and having the entire library shut down today is going to prevent that reality though.
While it’s true they aren’t reading anything, Mom’s for Liberty sends people to libraries just to harass the workers
Am I to infer from this statement that the answer to harassment is silence and submission?
In cases where someone is trying to make a stink for attention, usually the best option is to ignore them. But then they go to admin and elected officials who care more about their own bottom line than doing the right thing. And then those people tell the libraries that they have to comply because they want the loud bigots who might cost them their jobs to go away. And then if the librarians don’t comply, they lose their jobs and then no one gets any books.
So am I to infer from this statement that silence and submission is the answer?
Guess we should just roll over for the Nazis, because putting up a fight is too inconvenient.
I mean, the truth is that the American populace needed to revolt 40 years ago, but since that’s not happening and Americans seem incapable of fighting the fascism that’s growing in their lawn by the methods it demands, yeah better to still have libraries than not have them at all.
Even if the only books they’re allowed to curate are the Bible, The Art of The Deal and Mein Kampf? They’re likely to quit on their own anyway.
I mean, that’s a gross exaggeration of these bans. It is genuinely awful that they have weaponized the corruption and incompetence of the American govt system to silence LGBTQ+ voices, but libraries provide a ton of additional services to their local community, even beyond just the books they offer. It is better for them to exist than to not.
I would argue it is not an exaggeration. The bans always start small, because they can get away with the small things. And then it becomes normalized and it always escalates if left unchecked.
A small fight over a few books is a much easier fight to win before it becomes the systematic norm.
And yes, libraries have a ton of other services… for now. Do you think these same lunatics are going to leave the library alone after they’ve gotten rid of the books they don’t agree with? After the book bans, will they still be offering free internet that isn’t censored? Will they still have information for outreach programs that help homeless people, LBGTQ+ folks, people with mental health problems, and assistance for other vulnerable minority groups?
If they are allowed to have their way, they’ll gut all of the services people use, then when nobody is going to the library, they’ll have the excuse they’ve wanted all along to shut it down entirely.
This isn’t hypothetical what-if-ism. It’s happened before.
I mean sure, but what you’re talking about is the now inevitable collapse of American society. Yeah once the fascists start bombing civil services and destroy town halls to consolidate power things will be bad. I don’t believe saying “No” to these book bans and having the entire library shut down today is going to prevent that reality though.