Letters to the editor Sept. 25

Library trustees out of line

I cannot believe the ImagineIF library trustees’ continued stubbornness on imposing their own viewpoints and censorship on the community. It might sound like a compromise to segregate a book they disapprove of to a “parent resource shelf” (as they just did with an antiracist book in their Sept. 22 meeting), but it actually reduces access (and anonymity, since the patron must ask for the book), and it treats one juvenile book differently than another.

There are a million things a parent could disapprove of their child happening across in the book section: a Jehovah’s Witness might dislike a book about birthdays, a fundamentalist Christian might worry about their child encountering a book about Halloween, an atheist may worry about their child encountering a children’s Bible. But we wouldn’t say to segregate or ban those books because we understand that would be endless, and it would fundamentally reduce access for other people who find those books useful. If we took out every book that made somebody uncomfortable, we’d have precious few (if any) left!

I am a Christian. I believe in original sin. But some who do not believe in God may worry that children will happen across Christian books and be made to feel guilty or shameful about sin. They have every bit as much of an argument as those do who segregate antiracist books because the book might make a child feel bad about complicity with racism. This is ridiculous, and the trustees need to stop using their power in this way. Montanans do not appreciate government control of their media choices.

Parents have the responsibility to monitor their children’s media choices; the trustees do not. This needs to stop.

— Rebecca Miller, Kalispell

Zinke’s falsehoods

I was disturbed to read Ryan Zinke’s opinion on what’s being taught in Montana schools (Fixing the department of ‘miseducation’). He claims that what was being taught in the classroom was not the classics, math, or the Lewis and Clark’s Corps of discovery and that critical thinking is being replaced by critical race theory.

If he truly cared about getting this right he could speak to teachers in our local schools. Sadly, he doesn’t care what he doesn’t know. He’s playing to an audience that believes these falsehoods and he believes it is in his interest to perpetuate false information.

Is one who would repeat rhetoric he believes will get him elected despite it being blatantly false, a person we want to represent Montana in Congress? I hope not.

We have an opportunity in Monica Tranel to elect a representative that is well informed and has a pulse on the challenges and concerns in our communities. She has spent the last year traveling the western district, reaching out to folks, listening to the challenges we face.

Tranel and Libertarian John Lamb, have been holding debates and forums all over western Montana. They have asked to do debates in 16 counties; Ryan has shown up for one. Showing up and speaking to what you believe is in the interest of Montanans is what representative democracy is about. Where are you Ryan Zinke?

Monica is committed to a sustainable future. She knows that stopping climate change and protecting public lands are essential to creating a safe and sustainable future for us all. As a lawyer she has been an advocate for renewable energy producers, she will work to foster a new economy that will provide Montana with clean, renewable, reliable and low cost energy.

Please vote for Monica Tranel, we need a representative in Congress that shows up and will act with integrity on our behalf.

— Tracy Mayer, Kalispell

Personal freedom

Up to now, men have been, for the most part, the silent partners in the discussion of abortion rights. It has been seen primarily as a women’s issue.

However, we all know it takes two people to create a pregnancy. Despite that, it has been women who have shouldered the burden of ending unwanted pregnancies despite being one half of the equation.

So what about the male role during the lifetime of Roe V Wade? There must have been thousands of men who were grateful, relieved and thankful when their partner was allowed to terminate their unwanted pregnancy. Men who were then allowed to go on with their lives with out the interruption and the burden of unwanted parenthood; men who were not willing, ready or able to become parents.

My note to Montana men is be careful who you vote for. Legislators (like Ryan Zinke) who want to take away a woman’s right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy are going to limit both women’s and men’s life choices in many critical ways. These are deeply personal and complex issues and to take away this right should be seen as a loss of personal freedom for both men and women.

—Marcia Peck, Bigfork