Letters to the editor Feb. 28

Book challenge

I’m beyond frustrated with how the library has handled my book challenge.

In its collection policy, the library lays out how a citizen can complain about material. In October last year, I filled out the required form and handed it in. To this day, nobody at ImagineIf has engaged in a discussion of the issues I raised, among them the concern that “Gender Queer” is pornographic and not appropriate for the age-group the book is officially recommended for, which is grades 9 and up.

All I ever hear is once a book is added to the collection, it can’t be removed, except if it is falling apart or nobody has checked it out in a long time.

Why did I fill out the form then? What is the purpose of the complaint form if all library materials, once bought, become unassailable and can’t ever be removed?

The other argument that is used to stop any discussion of “Gender Queer” is the book’s topic. But the topic alone doesn’t make a book good or bad.

What I’m objecting to is the pornographic nature of the book, and the fact that it is in picture form, which makes it accessible to all ages. Whether the image on page 167 shows oral sex with two females and a dildo, or oral sex involving a man and a woman is irrelevant. Whether the pedophilic image on page 135 depicts the erotic fantasy of a biological female or a transgender male doesn’t matter.

Let’s stop accusing people of being transphobic and let’s discuss instead which books are useful and age appropriate, and which ones are inappropriate for the targeted age group and not at all helpful. I maintain that “Gender Queer” falls in the second category, and that’s why I complained about it.

— Carmen Cuthbertson, Kalispell

Open forum for ideas

As an avid reader and one interested in history, I was dismayed to read that your local library is seriously considering banning certain books that a small segment of the local population find objectionable. Once that begins, where does it end?

In May 1933, a ritual book burning was held in Berlins Opera Square. There is a certain irony there too. Some 25,000 books that were deemed by the burners to be un-German were burned and a crowd of some 40,000 people showed up to hear Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels speak. We all know how that turned out.

Why are some people so afraid of ideas they do not agree with? And, why are they so afraid that their kids will be brainwashed by them? Are they afraid that they cannot pass on their values to their kids? Why should that be? Or, is it just a desire to force others to believe as they believe?

Banning books is a sign of mental weakness. We should be encouraging our kids to be critical thinkers. If we do that, they will be able to evaluate all information that comes their way and determine whether it makes sense for them of not. And it is important for us old timers to remember that the future belongs to them not us.

Please support the traditional role of the library as an open forum for ideas.

— Harvey Nyberg, Lewistown

Trailhead mess

Here’s a mid-winter report on the chronic dog poop problem on the trail at Lion Mountain in Whitefish. In a word, disgusting.

Although my dog and I have shoveled along the trail at least 8 times this winter — sometimes just a few days apart — we’ve routinely encountered 30 or more deposits per trip. Not surprisingly, the same issue applies to the Haskill Basin trailhead and other heavily used areas. The problem is especially acute within the first quarter mile of such trails and, although owner-abandoned poop is a year-round issue, it’s especially trail centric and glaring during winter.

Sadly, most dog owners can’t be counted on to act responsibly and the poop issue is only going to worsen over time. Therefore the various managing entities need to face this fact: We have a basic littering problem that needs formal management, not sporadic volunteerism.

— Steve Barrett, Kalispell

Will of the people

The good citizens of Whitefish have finally gone to the Dark Side. They have elected a city councilor, Steve Qunell, who believes “We cannot make a decision based on the will of the people; we have to make a decision based on the facts.”

That is a direct quote he made after the council voted to deny the Big Mountain housing project. The same City Council approved the new Town Pump south of town even though the public support was almost zero. How pretty it is now that the row of trees disappeared the first day of construction.

Yes, the council must follow the law when applicable. Whitefish is not alone. Kalispell has approved numerous subdivisions without any regard for the “will of the people.” Flathead County thumbed their noses to us during the Creston water-bottling plant hearings. We even had a vote on the ballot during the election.

When we elect leaders who do not believe in the “will of the people” it never works out. The people have to take responsibility for their actions. I seem to remember when a country elected a leader who did not like “the will of the people.” His name was Adolf. How did that work out?

— Gil Conrad, Kalispell