The cultural war continues to rage and who do we find in the crosshairs once again? Our children.
In recent months, several libraries across the state, including the North Shelby, Prattville, and Auburn public libraries, have come under fire for prominently featuring and promoting LQBTQ books with sexually explicit content to children.
Emboldened by the far-left American Library Association (ALA), the library boards across our state are taking it upon themselves to expose children to mature content that they are not yet developmentally able to consent to or process. These library boards have used language in an absolutely dishonest way, convincing the public that withholding sexually explicit material from children would be wrong and against a child’s First Amendment rights.
Never mind that we don't allow children to drink, drive, own guns, watch R-rated movies, or do anything else that their developing brains and bodies are not yet ready to handle and would be inappropriate for their ages. Library board members are charging ahead, making the giant leap to equate protecting the innocence of children with “censorship” and “book banning.”
North Shelby Library Board president Kay Kelley claimed that removing a Pride display full of LGBTQ books aimed at children and their sexuality would mean having to change the library’s policy on censorship. "I've read every complaint that has come in, and so far, every solution that I've read gets into the censorship,” she said.
Is it censorship to remove books from a prominent display targeting children with sexually inappropriate content? Is Kelley then “censoring” all the other books not included on the display?
In reality, Kelley’s definition is not the true definition of censorship, especially since the citizens of North Shelby were simply asking the library board to remove the display, not the books.
Unfortunately, this is indicative of a much bigger problem we are seeing with leftist professionals who push sexualized material onto our children.
“This is a dangerous time for readers and the public servants who provide access to reading materials,” Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom said. “Readers, particularly students, are losing access to critical information, and librarians and teachers are under attack for doing their jobs.”
The ALA, famous for weaponizing the language surrounding “book banning,” puts out an annual list of the top challenged books in libraries. One hundred percent of the books on the Top 13 list contained “sexually explicit” materials. The first on the list was “Gender Queer,” infamous online for depicting pornographic illustrations of simulated oral sex, masturbation, intercourse, and a girl licking vaginal discharge off her fingers. The rest of the list is just as disturbing.
Yet any parent or concerned citizen who speaks out against such sexually explicit content, freely promoted and available to children, is labeled a bigot, a racist, and a book banner. If these library boards were honest, they would talk about how the main concern is not that the authors are from a diverse background or part of the LGBTQ community but that the content is not in any way suitable for children. If they were honest, they would admit that anyone who desires children to be reading and seeing illustrations of graphic depictions of sexual acts is a predator and a groomer.
Innocent children are not seeking out age-inappropriate materials They come across them because they are marketed and promoted to their age group in the library setting. And since we do not have a rating system for books as we do for other forms of media, there are no content warnings for children, young adults, or their parents to see and then steer clear of such inappropriate material.
Children should not have free rein to read whatever they come across in a library. Instead, they should be able to access the best literature available at each developmental stage. Unfortunately, those thinking this way are increasingly few in number, while those who reject truth and embrace chaos and degeneracy are becoming the norm.
Parents, it is imperative that we not only guard our own children in truth regarding what they read but also that we speak out for other children who have no one to guide them. Do not be swayed by dishonest use of language meant to spread fear and cast shame on those standing against the evil seeking to destroy the innocence of our most vulnerable citizens and loved ones. Our children deserve better, and over my dead body will these progressive, activist groomers be allowed to decide what is appropriate or best for my children.
Lauren is a wife, mother, and writer with a passion for boldly speaking truth. Writing and speaking for over a decade, Lauren has reached millions worldwide. She is known for her Biblical approach to controversial topics and humorous approach to counteracting the lies of the world. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @laurendemoss.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819news.com.
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