LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – December 12th, 2024

Thanks from 4-H

Dear Editor,

The Rio Blanco County (RBC) 4-H Staff, 4-H Program, and 4-H Youth Fund would like to thank the community for their generous support this past week. A big thank you to Mountain Valley Bank (MVB) for hosting their annual Charity Challenge and selecting 4-H as one of the non-profit organizations. MVB matched the community’s 4-H donations with a $150 contribution. Another big thank you to D.C. Collins’ family for their continued support of 4-H throughout the years and for choosing the 4-H Youth Fund as the recipient of her memorial donations. We will miss D.C. and send you our heartfelt condolences.

Finally, thank you to the community for turning out big to support 4-H and giving generously. With your support, the MVB Charity Challenge raised $2,250 from the community and bank contributions in support of RBC 4-H youth. The funds raised will go to the RBC 4-H Youth Fund to continue their work providing 4-H scholarship and leadership opportunities to local youth. A big thank you to everyone for helping “Make the Best Better”!

Tonya Merz

RBC 4-H Specialist 

Attempt to bring clarity to library board issues

Dear Editor,

There are many confusing issues to be dealt with today. The world of the middle east is confusing. Our national policies are very confusing.

Our own county has confusing issues, like the wolf introduction/reintroduction? One part of the state has voted to impose wolves on this part of the state. All officials say their hands are tied.  

We are dealing with some confusing topics on the Library Board as well. This letter is a continuing attempt to bring clarity. The term “book banning” has come up in editorials and Library Board Meetings. However, restricting book access is not book-banning.  

Alcohol has restricted access, but alcohol is not banned. Guns are subject to restrictions yet not banned. Many areas of our society and marketplace have restrictions on access. Restricted material is not prohibited material, but simply a barrier to access.

Choosing to apply values that are representative and healthy for our community in making book purchases with the county’s tax dollars is not banning books.  Establishing policies to guide book choices does not ban every book not purchased.  I think this is a point of confusion in the community. No books have been banned, or are they being banned and none of this is a 1st Amendment encroachment.

I am a fan and supporter of the Meeker Regional Library.  I would not have agreed to step into a Library Board position if I thought otherwise.  It is amazing that we have this Library facility in our small community.  

Over the past three years, at least, I have seen material promoted with a liberal-left social agenda that I believe is destructive to our community.  The latest National election and Rio Blanco County election show a majority of voters do not support this extreme social agenda as well.  

I am not disputing the appropriateness of various historical literature works the likes of “Mice and Men” or “Homer.”  I am in complete opposition to spending Rio Blanco tax monies on books that are targeted for younger readers that promote and legitimatize the pro-homosexuality and transgender social agenda.  If the library does not purchase these books that is not the same as banning these books.

Many titles have been added to our library that promote a left-leaning, progressive social agenda, such as “Gender Queer.”  An equal representation of books to counter this ideology is not in place.  I, along with other Library Board members are working to implement and improve our book collection policies.

In doing so, I hope our library tax dollars are spent in a neutral manner that accurately reflect the traditional, family-oriented values our community upholds.

John Moffitt

Meeker 

Book banning as mind control

Dear Editor,

It is easy to agree with those who say they want to ban books for children that are pornographic. Most reasonable and sane individuals don’t want children, or the rest of us for that matter, exposed to the dirty pollution of horrible corrupt thoughts. Immediately our minds turn to wonder at the future damage caused by corruption. We naturally rebel at the thought that by allowing warped thinking we may create future criminals. So, there is a hue and cry raised to ban books perceived to be pornographic. 

Danger lurks here. It is strange to think that danger lurks in the library board meetings. Board members who want to influence which books are on library shelves because their belief systems are corrupt. Clothed in supposed religious beliefs, these individuals try all manner of ways to ply their influence. This begins with seemingly innocent requests. “We want to review the books being purchased by the library.” Which of course seems reasonable. Books acquired by the library is the responsibility of the library director who goes through rigorous training to know how to make the best choices. 

However, the next step for board members, is to exert influence by judging which books are acceptable. This act of judgment is illegal for board members to state. The law states that members of the library board should not have an agenda. Further, their role and responsibility are to ensure that the library functions well. Such things as whether the roof of the library building need repair is a far higher priority than which books are on the shelf. Are the library staff members providing support and help to community members who need it? Is the library a safe place for patrons to learn? Do the library programs function to support the growth of the community?

So what happens when the request is denied? Requests become ceaseless. And with each rejection the board members build a case against the library director. This case is not that the director is wrong, after all the director is following the law, it is that the director does not do what he or she is told. In other words, that individual is insubordinate. And of course, no boss can afford to have insubordinate employees. So, the board orders a performance review of the director. The short-term goal is the removal of the director. This is where book banning takes a nasty turn. At least one individual may lose their job and income. The power play has real teeth that can and will harm an individual. The consequence of this act is multi-faceted. First the long-term goal is to create an atmosphere of fear. Staff members fear for their jobs too. Opposition is squelched for fear of retaliation. The general population falls in line. Book banners must be right as they get what they want and if you oppose them, you are in jeopardy.  

At this point, significant harm falls on all people. It is no longer a matter of one person being hurt. Everyone with a curious mind finds that others are judging what is appropriate for them to read. They are subject to mind control by agendas that are not their own. It is a matter of being lied to by omission. How much of our futures are compromised by those who fear the ideas of others which may not be their own?

History is full of examples of book banners who have persecuted, jailed, abused, and even killed people who had different ideas. 

No reasonable or sane person wants to see others or themselves exposed to corruption. Book banning is an extreme form of corruption. It is not for the good of others, it is for control. One of the worst aspects of book banning is the insidious appeal to goodness while hiding the true agendas of the banners.

Do not believe what is written here. Go to the library board meetings, they are open to the public. Listen to the sneaky, underhanded, dishonest ways in which the proponents of book banning seek to hide their agendas while trying to impose their will on others. Listen to the ways in which they try to undermine others. If you care about learning, knowledge, and especially your freedom, oppose them.

Jay Sullivan

Meeker