Jesmyluk

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The Negative Impact of Censorship on American Public Libraries

Censorship has been around for as long as humans have been around, it ebbs and flows in an unrelenting stream throughout time and when used judiciously by trained professionals does serve a useful purpose, offering protection from harmful things to those who either cannot or do not know how to protect themselves. This country is currently experiencing an inordinate amount of censorship in American public libraries. This current flow of censorship has been filled with vitriol, and harassment, in the form of book challenges/book banning, proposals of harsh laws that call for punishing librarians and libraries, and outlawing story hours for preschoolers led by drag queens. The books most likely to be banned are those that are written by or for people of color or people in the LGBTQIA+ community, in other words, the most marginalized members of society among us. The amount of higher education required to obtain a degree in library sciences is considerable. To become a librarian, one m

Letter to Liam

Hello, my darling boy. I miss you so much. It's been a whirlwind of a year that found us constantly thinking about you and wishing you were with us in person rather than in spirit, to share in all the activities. 2 years ago today you left us. I know your little body was tired and, that made your soul tired as well. But I'm a selfish mom, I'd rather have you here with me. I still sleep with your blanket and pillow every night. I don't honestly know if that will ever stop as I love having something you loved so much with me. I love holding it while I sleep and several times I have had vivid dreams of us together, although I prefer to think of them not as dreams but as you coming and visiting me while I sleep, because that way I get to actually see, hold, and talk to you again. Your birthday is just a couple of months away now, you'd be 22 this year. There are so many things that I still can't do without you because it hurts too much. I still watch Doctor Who b

There and Back Again; My Religious Journey

I was born in rural Michigan. My mother had been raised Catholic & when she married my biological father she converted to Methodism. So I was baptized into the Methodist church as a baby. Obviously, I have no memory of this. About 3 years later, my biological father left my mother for another woman. He fought for 2 years to get custody of my 2 older siblings & myself. It was decided there would be a 6-month split. He would get us for 6 months, leaving my mother with one weekend a month to spend with us, & then it would be reversed. She would get us for 6 months, leaving him with one weekend a month. He went first but before that first 6-month split was completed all 3 of us had been kicked back to mom, he wanted nothing to do with us. I never saw him or heard from him again. Nice guy, right? Leaving my mom to raise 3 kids on her own in rural Michigan. I don't know what his demons were & frankly I don't care. Karma sorted him out. When I was 15, my mo

Your Beliefs Do Not Dictate My Rights

Before I get into this remember I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I am a registered Independent bleeding heart liberal. Every time a conservative says something akin to the phrase "progress for the sake of progress is a bad thing" or "things were better the way they were before Roe v Wade," I think of the scene towards the beginning of Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, (yeah, I'm a geek, deal with it) where Umbridge is introducing herself to the students & staff &, although very thinly veiled, lets everyone know that the Minister of Magic, (: ie the government) are monitoring & soon will take over at Hogwarts. For the benefit of the students of course. That's who they really care about. Never mind that Umbridge actually hates kids. Mostly because she can't control them. At least not without torturing them first. At this time in history, GOP members ARE the Umbridges in the US. With Mitch McConnell channeling her so