Rochester should have held hearing on LGBTQ+ books: Letters
Rochester should have held hearing on LGBTQ+ books
Sept. 15 -- To the Editor:
Foster's reported that Rochester City Council rejected a bid to ban 4 LGBTQAI+ books. I found the article as reported to be somewhat confusing. Was this a rejection of the proposal or a denial to discuss the proposal? The content of the article states the latter, while the title of the article states the former. I am of the opinion that when a member of the council, who also happens to be a state senator, recommends an agenda item relating to our children to be a topic of discussion, it deserves more serious consideration. Since book banning is such a hot topic, I took the opportunity to approach Senator Gray and to ask him of his intent.
More: Rochester council, and community, reject bid to ban four LGBTQ+ books: 'This is an attack'
Senator Gray said he had been misquoted. He told me his intent was not to ban any books, but rather to relocate them within the library. In addition, I decided to take a closer look at one of the books entitled "Gender Queer." It indeed depicts children performing acts upon other children. Advocates claim this is simply an instructional effort to assist those questioning to self-identify and confirm their true identity. Those who disagree may be reminded of the famous expression, "I don't know how to identify it, but I know it when I see it."
More: A Rochester councilor wants to ban four LGBTQ+ books. He's told he can't and shouldn't.
Where in the library should these books be placed, and how should they be referenced? At this time, I am personally unsure, but I do agree with Senator Gray in that this should be opened for city council discussion.
Randal Heller
Barrington
For history to be useful, it must be truthful
Sept. 11 – To the Editor:
While drafting my speech for the Black Lives Matter rally in Durham, I decided to look into our own laundry basket as I suspected we in this notably blue town were part of that history. Fortunately, Janet Mackey of Durham with a deep family history here, has made the topic a focus of her scholarship and excellent writing.
She informed me that in the early 18th century, 17 or so families in Durham owned a total of 35 slaves including those whose names now identify streets in the town such as Chesley. It turns out that slaves served the family on Durham's historic Wagon Hill Farm for example, most likely doing domestic service. General Sullivan, the revolutionary war hero, owned slaves at his historic home on the Oyster River in Durham housed in a smaller abode in the back of his property.
More: The truth about slavery in Portsmouth home's history, from Moffatt-Ladd House's new director
On a positive note, Ms. Mackey also advised me that a strong abolitionist movement developed in Durham in the early 19th century and the number of slaves in town dropped to three. In the 1830s, she reports that over 100 Durham women petitioned Congress to abolish slavery which they had by then abolished in Durham. It seems Durham's history of spawning strong women leaders began well before Dudley Dudley and others fought to expel Onasis and his plan for a massive oil refinery on Durham Point.
For history to be useful, it must be truthful.
Wayne Burton
Durham
Don't be fooled. Republicans want to ban abortion in all 50 states.
Sept. 16 – To the Editor:
The dog finally caught the car.
After decades of working to get the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Republican Party is feeling the backlash.
They don't know what to do. Some states are moving to completely outlaw abortion, while South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is proposing a national ban. GOP candidates are scrubbing their websites to hide their real positions. Others, like Don Bolduc, are "pivoting."
Don't be fooled. The true Republican goal is to outlaw abortion in all 50 states with no exceptions.
The answer? Vote a straight Democratic ticket on November 8.
Larry Drake
Portsmouth
Candidates matter. That's why I'm voting for Sherman, Hassan and Pappas
Sept. 15 -- To the Editor:
According to Governor Sununu who has now thrown his support to election denier Bolduc “candidates don’t matter."
I respectfully disagree with the Governor. Candidates matter a lot.
When a candidate lies about the results of the 2020 election, that matters.
When a candidate like Paul LePage has a history of racist words and policies, that matters.
There are candidates like Tom Sherman, Maggie Hassan and Chris Pappas who have positive ideas for our state and country. Because candidates matter, I will be voting for them.
Laura Rundell
Dover
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Rochester NH should have held hearing on LGBTQ+ books: Letters
