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This is another sad example of journalism. The Bozeman Chronicle has been bleeding subscribers for years, partly due to the changing nature of the way people obtain news, and partly due to the Chronicle's substandard reporting due to leftist bias.
This is another sad example of journalism. The Bozeman Chronicle has been bleeding subscribers for years, partly due to the changing nature of the way people obtain news, and partly due to the Chronicle's substandard reporting due to leftist bias.
The below article commits several errors:
- Accepting the premise of the issue as presented by advocates
- Accepting the magnitude of the issue as presented by advocates
- Accepting the characterization of the opposition as presented by advocates
- Interviewing no one from the opposition
- No statement by those who were quoted (all of them advocates) was questioned or challenged
Because of these errors the article comes off as a puff piece, or even an advertisement.
Lastly, if the reader wants to see that these challenged books are hardly innocuous, there are many youtube videos with people reading the content out loud in front of school boards. These school boards don't like it one bit when it's revealed that what's really contained in these books is porn.
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Despite the ongoing national censorship debate (There is no censorship taking place. All these books are still readily available.)
Despite the ongoing national censorship debate (There is no censorship taking place. All these books are still readily available.)
and some Montana libraries’ decision not to recognize the event, local libraries and book lovers in Bozeman are celebrating Banned Books Week with fervor. (There is no banning taking place. All these books are still readily available.)
The national campaign was launched by the American Library Association in 1982 in response to a rise in books being challenged in libraries, bookstores and schools. (The reported accepts the premise that challenging books is a bad thing.)
The national campaign was launched by the American Library Association in 1982 in response to a rise in books being challenged in libraries, bookstores and schools. (The reported accepts the premise that challenging books is a bad thing.)
Four decades later, the ALA has already reported a 20% jump in the number of books being challenged nationwide over 2022 — a record high. (Which correlates to the increase in the infiltration of interest groups and their propaganda into the public schools.)
At least 10 books were challenged in Bozeman and Belgrade between 1985 and 2013, according to a “banned and challenged books map” put together by the Montana State University Library. (!!! Nearly thirty years!!! Clearly there isn't a book banning problem.)
Librarians are cautious about declaring a book “banned” (No, they are not. Generally, they are completely on board with the leftist agenda and are happy to exaggerate, misrepresent, conceal, and dissemble at the drop of a hat.)
At least 10 books were challenged in Bozeman and Belgrade between 1985 and 2013, according to a “banned and challenged books map” put together by the Montana State University Library. (!!! Nearly thirty years!!! Clearly there isn't a book banning problem.)
Librarians are cautious about declaring a book “banned” (No, they are not. Generally, they are completely on board with the leftist agenda and are happy to exaggerate, misrepresent, conceal, and dissemble at the drop of a hat.)
depending on how access to the book is limited, but challenges most often occur in K-12 school libraries where parents are trying to control what their young children can read, said Christina Trunnel, assistant dean of the MSU Library. (Trunnel is the one who said librarians are "cautious." We shall now read on to see how objective she is as a commentator.)
“When you challenge a book, you’re taking that away from other parents and their right to choose,” she said. (This is the sad state of education, at least at the local college library. Trunnel cannot even articulate a coherent talking point:
“When you challenge a book, you’re taking that away from other parents and their right to choose,” she said. (This is the sad state of education, at least at the local college library. Trunnel cannot even articulate a coherent talking point:
- First, a book that is challenged does not mean a successful challenge.
- Second, a book that is successfully challenged does not mean it is removed, it might simply be limited according to age appropriateness.
- Third, even if a book is completely removed, it is still available.
- Fourth, it is hyperbolic to suggest that anyone's right to read is being violated.
In fact, every librarian everywhere makes choices every day what books will be purchased and placed on their shelves, and none of them are ever called censors.
And we note the irony of those who remove books like Song Of the South and Huckleberry Finn, or who are suppressing movies because of their newly discovered "offensive" content.)
Many of the books challenged in the Bozeman area, according to the map, follow national trends, and include titles like “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” by Judy Blume and “What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know” by Sonya Sones. (The first book was written in 1970, and probably has been challenged because of its talk about menstruation. Who knows? We really don't care.
The second book [you can read it here] has a lot of "f" words, as well as other frequent swear words. What strikes us about this book is how it tries to come off as hip and cool, as if all teenagers talked like this. But to us the dialogue feels contrived and artificial.
There's no one presented in the book who is virtuous, thoughtful, or restrained. Within three chapters it goes gay, presenting a gay encounter as if every teenage boy has these completely normal gay feelings in secret while simultaneously dating a girl.
We were unable to finish the book. It's so pedantic and base that we could not ascertain why educators so viciously defend it, aside from its shock value. It has no literary merit whatsoever.)
Most of the more than 800 books pulled from shelves across the country between July 2021 and June 2022 centered on race, racism, sexuality and LGBTQ+ issues, according to a 2022 report from PEN America, a nonprofit organization that advocates for free speech. (That is, pet leftist issues, likely presented as raw as possible in only the most favorable light.)
Parents have also objected to themes like witchcraft and sorcery over the years.
Last school year, the Bozeman Public Schools board voted to keep the novel, “The Marrow Thieves,” by Cherie Dimaline, as part of Gallatin High School’s ninth grade curriculum despite a parent’s concerns it contained “anti-white” and “anti-Catholic” themes, uses profanity and depicts human sexuality and sexual acts. (These significant issues are presented without comment.)
People challenge books because representing people and ideas outside of the “normal human experience” make some people uncomfortable, said Jamie Winter, manager of the independent bookstore, Country Bookshelf, in Bozeman. (The journalist publishes a hostile representation of the opposition's motives, but did not actually find someone of the opposition to tell their side.
Most of the more than 800 books pulled from shelves across the country between July 2021 and June 2022 centered on race, racism, sexuality and LGBTQ+ issues, according to a 2022 report from PEN America, a nonprofit organization that advocates for free speech. (That is, pet leftist issues, likely presented as raw as possible in only the most favorable light.)
Parents have also objected to themes like witchcraft and sorcery over the years.
Last school year, the Bozeman Public Schools board voted to keep the novel, “The Marrow Thieves,” by Cherie Dimaline, as part of Gallatin High School’s ninth grade curriculum despite a parent’s concerns it contained “anti-white” and “anti-Catholic” themes, uses profanity and depicts human sexuality and sexual acts. (These significant issues are presented without comment.)
People challenge books because representing people and ideas outside of the “normal human experience” make some people uncomfortable, said Jamie Winter, manager of the independent bookstore, Country Bookshelf, in Bozeman. (The journalist publishes a hostile representation of the opposition's motives, but did not actually find someone of the opposition to tell their side.
Jamie Winter works in a bookstore and is hardly an expert. What people are uncomfortable with is simply speculation, phrased in such a way as to suggest that the opposition is simply narrow-minded and bigoted.)
Winter said books often see a spike in sales once they are banned because people want to know why they are being challenged. (??? A "banned" book has increased sales? How is it possible to ban a book and people are still able to buy it?)
“A lot of people — a couple people on staff have even said — those books that are questioned or banned are ones where they saw themselves for the first time,” Winter said. “They were able to relate in a way they weren’t able to before. Taking those out of people’s hands — that’s doing a disservice to the entire population.” (We wonder if Winter has a similar opinion of, say, child porn.)
Though the bookstore isn’t formally celebrating Banned Books Week, Winter said “every day is a banned book day” in the store.
Winter said many of the bookstore’s staff members never felt like their parents controlled what they could or couldn’t read, which led to them becoming “voracious readers.” (Continuing with inept talking points, Winter makes a Category Error, connecting "control" to the amount of reading.)
“If you’re dictating what students can and can’t read, you’re damaging their desire to read,” Winter said. (Doubling down on the Category Error. From our own experience, we were never able to read Playboy. Our desire to read is not connected to that.
Winter said books often see a spike in sales once they are banned because people want to know why they are being challenged. (??? A "banned" book has increased sales? How is it possible to ban a book and people are still able to buy it?)
“A lot of people — a couple people on staff have even said — those books that are questioned or banned are ones where they saw themselves for the first time,” Winter said. “They were able to relate in a way they weren’t able to before. Taking those out of people’s hands — that’s doing a disservice to the entire population.” (We wonder if Winter has a similar opinion of, say, child porn.)
Though the bookstore isn’t formally celebrating Banned Books Week, Winter said “every day is a banned book day” in the store.
Winter said many of the bookstore’s staff members never felt like their parents controlled what they could or couldn’t read, which led to them becoming “voracious readers.” (Continuing with inept talking points, Winter makes a Category Error, connecting "control" to the amount of reading.)
“If you’re dictating what students can and can’t read, you’re damaging their desire to read,” Winter said. (Doubling down on the Category Error. From our own experience, we were never able to read Playboy. Our desire to read is not connected to that.
Winter makes an insipid point.)
“Kids can self-monitor and I don’t think we give them enough credit for that.” (Which we suppose can be extended to mean that kids require no direction or boundaries in any area of life. Parents should therefore butt out. Let the kids decide for themselves.)
The Bozeman Public Library did celebrate Banned Book Weeks with multiple events and a banned books display in its youth section. Nationally, some public libraries systems have faced pushback for recognizing the week or have even banned Banned Books Week events.
Kalispell’s ImagineIF Libraries didn’t recognize (sic) the week after the library’s Board of Trustees advised staff against it.
Board Chair David Ingram said trustees have distances (sic) themselves from the American Library Association since voting to leave it in December 2021, according to reports by the Daily Inter Lake. The Montana State Library broke away from the association this summer, citing similar reasoning — that the group allegedly promotes “Marxists politics.” (This is put in scare quotes. The incurious journalist does not take the time to investigate the assertion and report on his findings. That would be too much trouble.)
Trustee Doug Adams called the celebration “too divisive.” Flathead’s libraries made a similar decision.
In Bozeman, Library Director Susan Gregory was proud to host conversations about censorship, including an discussion with Montana Free Press reporters on Tuesday about how legislation introduced during Montana’s most recent session affects public libraries. (we wonder if there have been any "conversations" including the opposition.)
Only one book has been challenged at the library in the past two years — and was not removed, Gregory said. (Clearly "banned book week" is overblown hype.)
The book, “When Aidan Became a Brother” by Kyle Lukoff, is about a transgender boy.
Gregory said the rarity of book challenges in Bozeman “says quite a bit about the community” and its appreciation for representation in books. (No, it tells us that there is no book banning problem. The issue is exaggerated by activists who want their agendas inserted into libraries.)
“Other communities, especially in Texas, Florida and Missouri, are probably more proactive in going through their library collections and protesting books,” Gregory said.
When the library gets a book challenge, Gregory said, staff will review the book and decide whether to pull it from shelves. If the librarians decide the book should stay and the challenger still isn’t satisfied, they can take their request to the library’s board of trustees.
In addition to compiling the challenged book map, the MSU Library also celebrated Banned Books Week by giving away more than 600 books in under two hours Sunday. The books were about anything from LGBTQ+ topics, military personnel, indigenous people to religion. (We wonder how many Bibles were given away.)
Trunnell said MSU makes an effort to represent “the whole population” through books.
“It’s important to see yourself reflected on the pages of books,” she said. (We doubt that there are any books that conservatives or Christians see themselves.)
Last year was the first year the library held a book giveaway in honor of Banned Books Week, Trunnell said. Organized by MSU librarian Star Bradley, about 250 books were given out. Next year, MSU hopes to give away 750 books.
The Bozeman Public Library did celebrate Banned Book Weeks with multiple events and a banned books display in its youth section. Nationally, some public libraries systems have faced pushback for recognizing the week or have even banned Banned Books Week events.
Kalispell’s ImagineIF Libraries didn’t recognize (sic) the week after the library’s Board of Trustees advised staff against it.
Board Chair David Ingram said trustees have distances (sic) themselves from the American Library Association since voting to leave it in December 2021, according to reports by the Daily Inter Lake. The Montana State Library broke away from the association this summer, citing similar reasoning — that the group allegedly promotes “Marxists politics.” (This is put in scare quotes. The incurious journalist does not take the time to investigate the assertion and report on his findings. That would be too much trouble.)
Trustee Doug Adams called the celebration “too divisive.” Flathead’s libraries made a similar decision.
In Bozeman, Library Director Susan Gregory was proud to host conversations about censorship, including an discussion with Montana Free Press reporters on Tuesday about how legislation introduced during Montana’s most recent session affects public libraries. (we wonder if there have been any "conversations" including the opposition.)
Only one book has been challenged at the library in the past two years — and was not removed, Gregory said. (Clearly "banned book week" is overblown hype.)
The book, “When Aidan Became a Brother” by Kyle Lukoff, is about a transgender boy.
Gregory said the rarity of book challenges in Bozeman “says quite a bit about the community” and its appreciation for representation in books. (No, it tells us that there is no book banning problem. The issue is exaggerated by activists who want their agendas inserted into libraries.)
“Other communities, especially in Texas, Florida and Missouri, are probably more proactive in going through their library collections and protesting books,” Gregory said.
When the library gets a book challenge, Gregory said, staff will review the book and decide whether to pull it from shelves. If the librarians decide the book should stay and the challenger still isn’t satisfied, they can take their request to the library’s board of trustees.
In addition to compiling the challenged book map, the MSU Library also celebrated Banned Books Week by giving away more than 600 books in under two hours Sunday. The books were about anything from LGBTQ+ topics, military personnel, indigenous people to religion. (We wonder how many Bibles were given away.)
Trunnell said MSU makes an effort to represent “the whole population” through books.
“It’s important to see yourself reflected on the pages of books,” she said. (We doubt that there are any books that conservatives or Christians see themselves.)
Last year was the first year the library held a book giveaway in honor of Banned Books Week, Trunnell said. Organized by MSU librarian Star Bradley, about 250 books were given out. Next year, MSU hopes to give away 750 books.
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