Parents should want their kids to be educated, open-minded, compassionate people. Thought-provoking books of life stories, with themes, characters and places far different from them, is an important way for young people to explore the world before leaving the proverbial nest.

At local level, we are seeing an increase of attacks on school libraries demanding the banning of books. Let’s just be honest: mostly banning books about those that are not white, straight or Christian, and books that contain (big gasp) sex!

First, we must all keep in mind that different is not the same as malevolent. Being gay, transgender, urban, dark-skinned, Muslim, immigrant, etc., does not correlate with malevolent behavior.

Purging libraries of books makes some feel empowered, as though we are standing up to evil for the sake of the kids.

It is easier to take misunderstood people not considered “normal” to us, scapegoat them for the world’s problems, and try to blind our kids from their existence through book bans, as opposed to dealing with real problems like drugs, depression, bullying, etc. (Which, ironically, is often the result of people feeling isolated from society, unaccepted for who they are and lacking a sense of belonging.)

Those wanting to ban books will push and crusade until libraries become vandalized, battle-drawn places eventually shuttered. Teachers, already in short supply, will no longer want to teach as their job is hijacked by things like textbook wording debates, and dirty accusations about “CRT” and “indoctrination.”

I feel saddest for the children. It’s a great big, wonderful, exciting, messy, complicated and sometimes dangerous world out there. These poor kids won’t be able to function in a diverse landscape, will learn to fear or hate all that’s different, unable to fully embrace and appreciate all the good to be found in our differences.

It can’t be said enough: people may be different from you, but “different” is not malevolent. Seeking to understand, refraining from constant judgment and practicing tolerance is a far better answer than trying to ignore, blame or eliminate the existence of those different from us.

Christine Loncar

Lehighton