My Letter was Published!

Hello everyone!



In the July 15th, 2007 edition of the Library Journal there was a letter to the editor that lambasted Christians for challenging books in a library somewhere in the South. The writer, a professor at a local college, was pretty upset over this and the following is what he wrote:



-- Library Journal, 7/15/2007
Red State “Christians”
It seemed rather insane when Southerners overreacted to John Lennon's statement about Jesus. After recently reviewing his remarks on a video, I have concluded that he was stating a fact and never intended to elevate the Beatles to a divine level. Those of us who grew up in the “Blue” states were reasonable enough to realize this.
Today, we have supposed Christians in the South overreacting to material in public libraries. The most recent is a father claiming his sons had “sleepless nights” after reading a public library book about lesbian sex (“'Obscene' PL Book on Lesbian Sex?” LJ 5/15/07, p. 19). I recall having sleepless nights as a child, after reading or viewing thriller, suspense, or mystery books and movies. No one thought anything about that. I recall having sleepless nights when a video depicted a live decapitation. These scenes are played over and over on the Internet, but I hear nothing about this. Yet a book about sex and love? How absurd.
This is not government censorship but censorship by private groups, so there is nothing we can do? That is, until the Christian right wing wears us all down (and the government, too), so that we all abide by their viewing habits? I resent what these narrow-minded Red State “Christians” are doing to America.—Douglas W. Cornwell, Assoc. Prof., Palm Beach Community Coll., Lake Worth, FL

The link to the online letter is: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6457210.html

Anyhow, for the obvious reasons I took exception to the letter and its tone and so I wrote in my own letter to the editor, which I was pleased to have published in the October 15th, 2007 edition of the magazine. The letter was not published in its entirety, but that is understandable due to space constraints. The following is what was published:

Patrons have the right
I take exception to Douglas Cornwell's angry and...intolerant views toward “Christians” (“Red State 'Christians,'” Feedback, LJ 7/07, p. 10).... Why are Christians considered “narrow-minded”? Is it merely because they hold an opinion that is contrary to his own? I fear for the day when librarians and library support workers are unable to hold a normal conversation with those with whom they disagree....
Library patrons...have the right to question material, and we should not become defensive or angry when they do so. If we don't want the public to have any input in what we...do, we should remove the process that permits them to do so and be intellectually honest enough to stop accepting public funds....
Whatever we may think of him and his claims...a patron, a taxpayer, and a fellow citizen has every right to hold and voice his opinions....—Ezequiel Luna, Lib. Assoc., Nampa, ID

The link to my letter is: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6490642.html You'll need to scroll down as it is the third letter published.

Here is the full text that I sent in to the editor:

I would like to address the letter submitted by Mr. Douglas W. Cornwell of Lake Worth, Florida:

I take exception to Mr. Cornwell’s angry and, ironically enough, intolerant views towards “Christians” (his use of quotation marks speaks volumes about his attitude). First off, why are Christians considered “narrow-minded”? Is it merely because they hold an opinion that is contrary to his own? I fear for the day when Librarians and library support workers are unable to hold a normal conversation with those whom they disagree with…or is that day already here?

At any rate, library customers or patrons (whatever term you use for them!) have the right to question material and we should not become defensive or angry when they do so. If we don’t want the public to have any input in what we as information professionals do, then we should remove the process which permits them to do so, and while we’re at it we should be intellectually honest enough to stop accepting public funds from the very people whose input we seem to resent.

Ultimately, the issue here is not whether that gentleman had a valid concern over the book that supposedly caused his son’s “sleepness nights,” but whether he had/has the right to bring those concerns to the attention of library personnel. Whatever we may think of him and his claims, his religion or lack thereof is irrelevant. He is first and foremost a patron, a taxpayer, and a fellow citizen with every right to hold and voice his opinions.

At any rate, the content of Mr. Cornwell’s letter made it pretty obvious what his attitude is towards Christians, but his divisive comments have no place in a public library. As a Christian myself, I recognize my job is to help a customer/patron find the information s/he needs or wants. If and when I am asked to assist someone find information that I find personally offensive, I direct them to it in as pleasant and professional a manner as with ANY other person. Isn’t that what we claim is our job?

Ezequiel Luna
Library Associate
Nampa, Idaho

I think it was pretty cool that it got published and I'm sure that in the next few issues I might get some uncharitable feedback from others but oh well. I said what I needed to say and that's that right? May He receive the honor and the glory through it all.