Confessions of a Mad Librarian

Any politician, anyone, who believes that librarians are liberal must be a little daff. Librarians tend to lead quieter, more conservative lives than the rest of us; it just happens that they read. Perhaps they have read the U.S.Constitution, some American history, and know how destructive reactionary impulses of politicians can be. Rep. Gerald Allen (R - AL) should take some time to read the Constitution.
I am a resident of Huntsville, Alabama, and I can say that he does not represent many, even in Alabama. Librarians are the true conservatives: they allow access to all ideas and let the free market of ideas work.

Today's daily quote from A Word A Day seems most apposite to this thread: "Whenever 'A' attempts by law to impose his moral standards upon 'B', 'A' is most likely a scoundrel." -H.L. Mencken, writer, editor, and critic (1880-1956)

Thanks for the Mencken quote ...

April 26, 2005

Dear Alabama State Representative Gerald Allen:

You’re obviously a God-fearing (and homosexual-fearing) man. Good for you! As an American who embraces the 1st Amendment until her ribs hurt, I respect you. It is your opinion that ALL books written by or about homosexuals should be banned in the Great State of Alabama. Within your right, you’re putting your political muscle behind it.

But, here’s the thing. If your fear of homosexuality comes from something you hold dear from reading the Bible, say, a passage from Leviticus (18:22); then, you must push for the correction and punishment of other sins that I’m sure are running rampant in the Great State of Alabama.

--First off, you must reject all those who aspire to theological positions who have “blemishes” (Leviticus 21:17); including those who are blind, lame, born dwarves, or who have scabs or flat noses…or broken bones. (Leviticus 21:18-20) {I know, we have that Separation of Church vs. State thing, but I can tell you’re a man of action! Give Bill Frist a call! He can help you there!}

--Next, you need to round up men who are having sex with menstruating women. Both the man and consenting woman need to be cut off from the people! (Leviticus 20:18)

--Then, you must institute the death penalty for those who swear (Leviticus 24:16), or for those who worship false gods (Deut. 17:1-8). {Note: You could get a nice commendation there from those in the world who are against those who follow the teachings of Islam, Judaism, Buddha…and even from “them folks who hate them damn Humanists”! Then again, your picture might be published in the dictionary next to future definitions of “Taliban” or “Nazi”, but hey, life is full of hard choices!}

And, when you get done persecuting all those sinners, you need to ban the Bible itself. Have you ever really read and digested the story of Sodom and Gomorrah? {I mean, besides all the gay mob sex, how do you think the daughters of Lot, an upstanding citizen of Sodom, got pregnant? Hint: Brett Butler’s joke, “I’m so Southern, I’m related to myself,” is a clue!}

Anything Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, or even Shakespeare wrote about pales in comparison. So, please, brave Alabama State Representative Gerald Allen! Save us from these literate homosexuals of the past, present and future…and then, save us from the Bible, which speaks not only of homosexuality, but sex between family members, forced sex, famine, plague, locusts, and maybe even Howard Stern, if I read enough into it.

Let freedom ring!

I am, like most everyone posting to this site, stunned and incensed that a bill like that proposed by Gerald Allen could be seriously considered by the Alabama or any other state legislature.

But there is an important fact about this story which I think ought to come to light. According to CBS news (where I first read the story on line), "...when the time for the vote in the legislature came there were not enough state legislators present for the vote, so the measure died automatically."

It may be that the bill was presented at a time when it was clear that it could adopted.
Perhaps Allen's goal was not to pass such a blatantly unconstitutional law at all (as it would be quickly attacked and overturned), but to introduce an inflammatory statement and measure into the national discourse on homosexuality.

Why? It certainly has gotten a lot more press than any other bill on the state floor in Alabama, and has put the name Gerald Allen into the minds of Americans across the country. Here I sit, in Philadelphia, seriously considering the actions of this man I hadn't heard of twenty minutes ago. And while it may earn him the (I believe rightful) mockery of many reading this proposal.... it may also earn him the support of those who will remember him as one who stood up, striking against the "Homosexual Agenda" because "it's not healthy for America, it doesn't fit what we stand for" (Allen's words). He will be remembered for this failed affort, and the failure may actually add cachet for future battles...and future elections.

In the wake of the decisions made in State Supreme Courts to reverse the actions of a conservatively driven Congress to continue the life of Terry Schiavo, I think we should be aware of the battles fought by the Christian Right: perhaps they are meant to be lost, to bring outrage and frustration to bear on issues which should be decided by clarity and the precepts of social justice. I believe that as the fight for Bush's judicial appointees heats up, many will remember with scorn and anger the defeats in the Schiavo case and demand the system be "fixed."

...Just as many may, I believe, remember the failure of Gerald Allen to "[protect] the hearts and souls and minds of our children"...and allow Allen and his ilk to use fear of my civil rights as a wedge issue to divide this country.

First of all I do believe that Mr. Allen has read and knows the constitution very well. If some of you would read and understand the time and the elements of the time in which the constitution was written I am positive you would find that Our founding Fathers had no idea that our society would ever become as infected with utter disregard for the "Heterosexual" lifestyle. In fact I am pretty sure that none of them were known "Homosexuals". Due to the fact that they all regarded GOD as the supreme being. This is not the only issue that has made them roll over in their graves I am certain. Although, from where I sit and all of the information that I have aquired regarding homosexuality and its many ugly faces, I cannot do anything but applaud a man with the BALLS to stand up for what he believes! He is not compromisisng his beliefs and he honestly states his beliefs when asked instead of giving a response that "would not ruffle anyones feathers."

THANK YOU,

I grew up in Cottondale and I attended the same school as his children. Mr. Allen is a great man and if you don't like him SORRY!!!! I do like the fact that President Bush has met with him on several different occasions. I would bet that President Bush feels the same way.