By a majority vote of the Kalona Library board of trustees, the book “Gender Queer” retained a place in the library.

Did the vote represent the community?

If a majority of voting citizens believe “Gender Queer” belongs on the shelf of their library, then yes. But such decisions are not made by secret ballot. Mayors and city council members are elected with the hope they will appoint library board trustees who will in turn screen books in accordance with the values of the community.

Did that happen? If so, the system has worked in accordance with the will of the community.

Of course, sometimes within a perfectly good system, words are used devoid of their actual meaning. Take ‘tolerance’ and ‘diversity’ for example. Who uses those words, and when have they ever been used to promote the tolerance of views contrary to their own? Do proponents of the gay agenda advocate tolerance towards members of the community who hold Biblical views on sex and gender? Does Planned Parenthood invite diverse opinions against abortion? Of course not. People seek competition only when they want to play games.

Michael Mallie

Kalona