Posted on 08/20/2005 8:00:43 PM PDT by 4lifeandliberty
"Banishment" from a Public Library? August 20, 2005
I recently received a letter from a local Public Library that was not unexpected. Over the years I have sought to educate the public with regard to the murder of the preborn. Public libraries are a great place to disperse information.
In most Public Libraries you can find books with graphic nudity, perversion, introductions to the sodomite lifestyle and the like. The American Library Association will let most anything pass as "good literature" and they raise their voice against "censorship" if ever a "prudish" individual questions a selection in the collection of literature on their shelves.
The ALA opposes any restrictions on access to pornography in public libraries--even for children.
Here is the the letter I received. -------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Green:
On Friday, August 12th, a library staff member observed you inserting anti-abortion cards in several books in the Young Adult section of the Powhatan County Public Library. These cards have also been found throughout the Adult collection, the Front Display Case, the Meeting Room hallway and the Men's bathroom.
Library policy forbids soliciting, campaigning and petitioning in the Library and in and around Library entryways. Furthermore, materials placed in public display areas must be suitable for viewing by all ages. No materials may be distributed to the public without the Library Director's approval.
Failure to comply with library policies will result in banishment from the Powhatan County Public Library.
Sincerely, Kim Armentrout Library Director ------------------------------------------------------------------
I must say that this is the first threat of banishment I have ever received. I wonder if I had brought pornography into the library, would I have received the same letter.
Let me explain.
Some time ago I approached the Library Director to ask why there were no internet filters on the computers that were available for public use. Many Public Libraries are notorious for making internet pornography accessable to their patrons.
I heard several of the same excuses that I had heard before at other Public Libraries.
"It's not a problem here" and "filters are too expensive".
I even offered to pay for the filtering software. Ultimately, the truth seems to be that many Public Libraries just simply don't want to place any limits on the internet pornography that can be accessed on their computer screens.
As I looked through this particular library, I saw books with photographs of graphic sex that had been approved by the Library Director.
I saw books in the Young Adult section that encouaged young girls to have their preborn babies killed and even provided contact information for abortion providers.
The items that are "suitable for viewing by all ages" in this library are clearly not items that would make it onto lists of most people.
So here I stand, with the threat of "banishment" hanging over my head. What are my options here?
1. I could just forget about the murdered preborn and the command to speak out on their behalf. I could simply hang out with the children at the Library looking at the porn in their books and on their computers. This would be acceptable to the ALA and I probably wouldn't receive any threatening letters.
or
2. I could just go on speaking out on behalf of my King wherever that may be. This may not be nearly as acceptable to those who stock the bookshelves but I think it is the better of the two choices.
I encourage you to stand against the flood of sin that seeks to overwhelm the young people in your community. You can make a difference for good. Though you may find yourself "banished", there will be a place prepared for you if you remain faithful to your King.
They probably have a policy for posting material of significance to the community and even a table for distributing other material.
I'd get a copy of their policy and then attempt to accomplish what you hope to through their own policies.
So this guy did it on purpose ~ big deal ~ folks taking out the books were not forced to read the stuff.
I view such things as just part of the process of having public lending libraries. Obviously the Head Librarian at that particular library is a fascist pig, eh?!
Parental supervision is a better control than having the state tell me what I, as an adult, may access off of the internet.
I am not surprised. As I said, the letter was not unexpected. This, however, won't stop me from opposing sin wherever it rears it's head even if it is in a public library.
softwarecreator wrote:
"Although your cause may be noble, do you feel like that is the right place for you to put your "information" when it is clearly stated that you cannot do so?"
My reply:
The short answer is yes.
cyborg wrote:
"Some people get a little obsessed about saving people from the consequences of their choices."
My response:
You've got that right. I even heard of a man who let himself be nailed to a tree to save people from the consequencse of their sin. Talk about obsessive!
I don't equate mere human beings with God.
The filters are in place for children only and as an adult you would have complete access.
softwarecreator wrote:
"I agree with you. No one can debate that the guy's cause is a good one, but ...
Hanging around in library bathrooms kinda makes you a bit creepy, you know? If I went into a bathroom and some guy, who was obviously hanging out there, came around the corner trying to "hand" me something, he would be requiring medical attention real fast."
Let's stick to reality here. No one was every hanging out in a bathroom passing out literature. A piece of literature was found on the bathroom sink.
jude24 wrote:
"Why should you have the right to distribute your fliers in library books? Should that right be extended to Planned Parenthood as well?
And, as regards internet pornography, who appointed you the judge of what others should or should not be able to access? Bearing in mind, I write this a pro-lifer who considers pornography dangerous to the mind. But neither you nor I have the authority to tell anyone else what they can research."
"Now thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations." Ezek. 22:2
I know I would take offense, and do, to people trying to push their personal agendas on me. I just wonder if you would have a problem with the Pro-Abortion zeolots sticking brochures at you.
Well, unless it grew out of the procelain, you had to have been hanging around there to put it on the sink. And let's not pretend that you just happened to need to use the facilities and just happen to have a brochure with you, because that is too far fetched. As I said before ... creepy.
Cvengr wrote:
"Our King doesn't direct us to disobey legitimate authority. Neither does our action as do-gooder's elevate or promote a Christian way of life. We all have opportunities to witness and are commanded to do so, but that witness needs to lead one to Him on His grounds."
I assume you are opposed to smuggling Bibles into closed (by the lawful Authorities) Countries also. How about preaching even when the lawful authority forbids it?
One book had detailed conversations of teenage boys boasting of their sexual escapades. This went on for several pages.
When my daughter came out, I made her read some of the material in the book. "Did you know that was in there?" I asked. She denied any knowledge.
We drove back to the library and I tore the book in half and put it in the return slot.
Two wrights made an airplane.
Good for you.
I'd go to the city council and get the policy changed. They pay the money for the libary budget.
National governance is one of four divine istitutions established by God. It is designed for believer and unbeliever alike for responsible behavior within the world.
The other three institutions include human dominion or volition, marriage, and family.
We have received the Great Commission to communicate the gospel to the world.
If one attempts to use the Great Commission as justification to disobey authority, one may want to be sure that they are not disobeying the will of God by disobeying legitimate authority designed to govern believer and unbeliever alike.
There are many occasions when a do-gooder falls into a trap of legalism or ultra-conservatism, ignoring the chaos they cause in their wake when they act self-righteously while not filled with the spirit.
More tactfully, there may be tests ongoing in the plan of God, where such an unbelieving nation plays a different role in the history of mankind, e.g. as an example for the angelic domain. In such a situation, a Crusader rushing forward in direct disobedience to legitimate authority merely places him in an act of disobedience to the institutions God has established. Such an action might even prolong the national disobedience or harden hearts further from turning to the Lord.
On the opposite realm of possibility, there might be systems of governance wherein illegitimate actions have given temporary power to some persons opposing the will of God, in which one might appeal to a higher legitimate authority and successfully win, thereby having legitimate authority to deliver Bibles and preach accordingly to particular unbelievers it sought to reach earlier.
The object of fulfilling the Great Commission does not supercede the believer's walk with the Lord. If an apparant paradox arises, our priority is to remain in fellowship with Him through Christ.
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