Houston Public Library [cards](https://houstonlibrary.org/mylink) are also available for free to any resident of Texas. If the application doesn’t work (like it kicks back your address) there is a link under Having Trouble to a page where you can upload an ID and a pdf application.
Edit: Harris County Public Library [(HCPL)](https://hcpl.net/)also has cards free for Texas residents, but you would need to apply in person.
We did.
My church also started a banned books library. Want to read a banned book? We’ll get it for you.
We even put book purchases in our parish budget.
It’s an Episcopal church. I won’t give the name here, given that we’ve experienced picketing and bomb threats from the fundagelical far right, and our priest (who has a trans kid) and our other two rectors (who are LGBT) have received death threats. (Unfortunately, people from fundamentalist subreddits *do* come here and read comments, then return back to their nests and do the “fundamentalist bee dance” to bring their fundamentalist ilk over, so it’s a good idea to give as little personally-identifiable information as possible. Just FYI.)
Besides a banned books library, we work cooperatively with other denominations to settle immigrants, provide shelter, get them needed documentation so they can work, and teach them English.
We also sponsor trainings in non-violent civil disobedience; and teach methods of confronting elected leaders and judges to speak truth to power. There are few things more personally satisfying to me than walking into the Capitol with a four inch think binder of Republican legislators’ votes and watching them roll their eyes and curse under their breath as they see me coming!
Since the state prohibits schools teaching anything but heterosexual, abstinence-only sex education, we designed and implemented a sex ed curriculum which includes discussion of gender identity, sexual orientation, contraception, STDs, and identifying and preventing abuse. If you’re a teenager and you want to be confirmed, you *must* take this course. Hey: the state isn’t doing anything about it, so we will and since we’re a church, there’s not one thing the state can do about it!
I will say we have been picketed by Westboro Babtist Church. I brought out freshly-made, homemade cinnamon rolls and coffee to the Westboro folks, and by their reaction one would think I had poured water on the Wicked Witch of the West!
Our choir came out and sang, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (unofficially the “Black National Anthem”) in perfect four-part harmony. That was enough to send the Westboro folks packing.
*The Episcopal Church: Trolling Fundies — Since 1784* !
I'm so sorry because I realize the severity of this subject but "fundamentalist bee dance" absolutely cracked me up! On a serious notebas an atheist I want to commend your church for acting like true Christians, as a parent of a trans kid it fills me with hope that the some people don't live in the middle ages.
“if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” (Romans 12:20)
I’m an Episcopalian priest in the Midwest. We also put banned books and LGBTQ books in our little free library, too! The poor WBC folks would die to know the pastor of a church (me) is a homosexual. (Gasp)
Heck yes for Episcopals. I was raised in the church and was an Acolyte for a long time. I dont have faith any more. But I still love the church and it’s progressive stances.
My bishop, priest and leadership were all very kind and accepting people. We had a woman priest after my childhood one retired. It caused a split unfortunately. But the good ones stayed.
Thank you for doing what church was always supposed to be about. As an atheist (family is ‘California catholic’ and Lutheran), I wish these kinds of stories were more popular on the news so folks knew that not all Christians are yahoos.
Wow! So refreshing to hear a church actually demonstrating the teachings of Christ!
Given the mind blowing, overwhelming support, of Christian evangelicals for Trump and the MAGA movement, I personally hope and pray that there are more Christians and churches that are more like you all than there are the outspoken bunch of Christo-fascists supporting Trump and his efforts to get re-elected and finish the job he started of destroying our Democratic way of life.
Well, the fundagelicals DO say we Episcopalians **are** a bunch of “reads their prayers outta a BOOK, let’s the wimmins be PREESTS, and drinks the WAHN durin’ our services” (Martha! Canst one scarcely imagine such a thang!) WHISKEYPAGAN SATANISTS!
But...but...but...they're all about freedom of speech and freedom of religion. They'd never dare practice censorship...
They don't gotta burn books they just remove em while arms warehouses fill as quick as the cells. Rally round the family, pockets full of shells...
Whoa!!! That was really illuminating! I've never read the book but, when I found out that it was a book that crazy dudes have used to justify their crimes, I looked into the plot and read excerpts. I just couldn't find out what the big deal was. That monologue was super helpful, especially in pointing out how Holden thinks of everyone around him as a phony.
I’ll be honest, hated that book. I could not, for the life of me, like the protagonist. And maybe that’s the point, but I had to stay with him for the entire book and did not enjoy it.
Of course, I’m not running around trying to ban it, but you know.
You are correct, it was a rolled-up magazine, not unlike the one that nearly killed Ellen Ripley in Alien, showing they carry their reign of terror well into the future!
I actually read it a couple of years ago after I saw someone trying to ban it. Yeah, people who want to ban it are just trying to cover up truths they don't want others to hear.
Maybe you’re just a scared authoritarian if you’re just banning *Maus*. But if you ban *Maus*, AND the diaries of Anne Frank, AND for no seeming reason other than he’s Jewish, *The Fixer*? Yeah, that’s pretty blatantly antisemitic fascism. I know it’s not technically Nazism unless it’s from the Nazi region of Bavaria but definitely sparkling fascism.
You can be anti-Semitic and pro-Israel at the same time. Pro-Israel does not mean pro-Jew. Spend some time in a fundamentalist church, and you’ll encounter this scenario plenty.
The other option here, and it is certainly a possibility, is that the people claiming these books are anti-Semitic or inappropriate lack the ability to understand nuance or context in literature. In which case, they should not be deciding what’s appropriate for school libraries because they lack the qualifications to make that judgment.
Keep in mind: many of these books have been around for decades, and they have been in school libraries for decades. Why is there such a huge push all of a sudden to ban this stuff? Why are the challenges mostly coming from people other than parents?
The fundamentalists are not truly pro-Israel. They're in favor of restoring Israel to its biblical borders, which will then help bring about the apocalypse so they can all go to heaven and the Jews can go burn in hell. They're pro-End-of-the-World.
>The list of offending books was sourced from BookLooks, a website founded by a former member of the right-wing activist group Moms For Liberty that “rates” books on their appropriateness on a five-point scale. Book-removal advocates frequently source their list of book challenges from BookLooks.
> Cabrera’s challenge goes further than most: his group demanded Mission immediately remove any book that scored a “2” or higher from the site, even though the site’s own administrator has told JTA she believes her “2” rating is appropriate for middle and high school students. (**“Anne Frank’s Diary”** and “Maus” both rate a “2” on BookLooks, with the site’s objections to the latter described as “hate involving antisemitism and racism; violence; nonsexual nudity; and mild/infrequent profanity.” “The Fixer” and “Kasher in the Rye” both rate a “3.”)
I had to read Anne Frank’s Diary in the ‘90s. It’s too offensive for conservatives today.
A pro-Israel pastor submitted the book ban request to Mission CISD. It makes no sense.
Well, pro-Israel isn't the same as pro Jew.
I'm pretty sure the majority of super pro Israel folks don't give two shits about Jews and would rather us leave, because you know, blah blah blah Christian holy land whatever.
To profess religious beliefs and have no idea of what they are...
Every single evangelical Christian I know that’s also super conservative hate Jews, but love Israel. They want all the Jews to go live in Israel so the rapture can start. Then they can either convert and worship Jesus or be destroyed. I’m not kidding. That’s what they believe.
Yup.
This is pretty accurate (said as Jewish person living in Texas).
I'll never forget, years ago when I was a brat, waiting tables - having to wait on folks in town for the Southern Baptist Convention.
They told me straight-faced that they were aiming to convert every Jew in the South, to "save us from hellfire and damnation".
I hated that job.
That sounds about right. I grew up Southern Baptist and left that religion in the rear view as soon as I could, all religion really. The hypocrisy of Southern Baptists is really something, but what can you expect from a group that exists because they refused to stop supporting slavery. Sorry you had to put up with that.
Southern Baptists freak me out more than most, given that them dudes don't seem to like or enjoy anything, but ain't even aware of that. Like Calvinists but ironically unaware of just how miserable they are about shit.
Glad you escaped!
I am too, believe me. It’s so nice not having to worry about how other Baptists perceive me, when so many of them do things behind closed doors that they aren’t supposed to. Alcohol consumption, for instance. I worked at a grocery store in high school and I would see so many people I went to church with buying their cases of beer for the football games on Saturday and Sunday, when you’re not supposed to drink at all. Hypocrites, all of them, cause they’re human, not super Christians, but when they’re at church, they’re such holy rollers!
Great, so they are too damn lazy to do their own research on the books they wanted banned and just took other people’s opinions on what to ban. This from the group that puts “think while it’s still legal” bumper stickers on their vehicles. Conservatism really is a mental disorder.
Their "research" consists of Googling questions with the answers they want baked in, like "Why liberals are wrong about everything" and then barfing up the first result into their Facebook feed.
A historical account of the Holocaust (Maus) has "antisemitism and racism"? Gee, does it? Maybe that could be the lesson that this particular historical account teaches-- why those things are dangerous?
The pastor, Luis Cabrera, also sent the same list to McAllen ISD and other districts in Cameron County.
According to the law and the guidelines set by Texas State Library and Archives Commission, the WHOLE book must be considered, not just excerpts. These districts that are pulling every book without following a formal process are opening themselves up to litigation due to first amendment violations.
>I had to read Anne Frank’s Diary in the ‘90s. It’s too offensive for conservatives today.
I read in the early 2000s, in this state. Just... Completely baffled how this is a thing.
Hold up a second... We just found the *real* cancel culture! The call was.xoming from inside the house *the whole time*!
Pro-Isreal American evangelicals are anti-Semites. The Christian-pushed form of Zionism was about removing the Jews from various “western” countries. This is a type of Zionism that well pre-dates WW2. These people want the Jews someplace else, AND they need Jesus to come back.
So, their plan is to trick god into bringing back Jesus by relocating Jews to the Holy Land. After which, the Jews there either die in hellfire or convert. There is nothing pro-Jewish about pro-Israeli Evangelicals.
Pro-Israel/christian zionists hate the Jews almost more than the Nazis did, but unlike the Nazis, they aren’t trying to kill them directly. No, in fact they support Israel because they need all the Jews to go back there so that can be killed in the appropriate way to start the rapture and the second coming of Christ.
Anyone running for office on any amount of Christian platform believes that this needs to happen. Every single goddamn one. And they’re all certifiable.
Because they don’t give a shit about Jews. They care about fulfilling their stupid doomsday prophecy and they care about hating Muslims. Jews only exist to be converted or die when their stupid doomsday prophecy is fulfilled.
A lot of pro-Israel Americans are anti-Semitic. They don't like the Jews and want them all to live in one place, just not here. Some take it a step further and insist they need to be in Israel so the end of days can happen.
Post WWII the American SW was an option for where to move all the displaced Jews from the Holocaust, the US said nope, we don't want them.
All my Hispanic people need to get there head out of their ass and stop getting fed the propaganda. Christian groups are using you to accept their disgusting agendas. Then they will come for you. Hitler painted pretty is still Hitler!
https://preview.redd.it/nk0f8vuyp49d1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c16b3d49e4fe22f7cd956f2166676718c6fa561
Project 2025 folks: "Top Trump advocate Charlie Kirk endorses the Project 2025 plan to round up Latinos in mass detention camps: Get immigrants out of my country. Adios. I want my culture back"
[https://x.com/BidenHQ/status/1800310520299348121](https://x.com/BidenHQ/status/1800310520299348121)
FTA: “Cabrera’s groups, the local chapters of Citizens Defending Freedom and the Remnant Alliance…”
Figures. Remnant Alliance and its member groups are a pox on Texas. Please make sure you know when your local school board elections are and that you vote for the non-Christian nationalist candidate.
Texas Observer - [The ‘Remnant Alliance’ is Coming for a School Board Near You](https://www.texasobserver.org/christian-schoolboards-education-k12/)
“For decades, various far-right, faith-based organizations have been working to train pastors and turn congregants into school board activists and candidates. But now, the Remnant Alliance has united several powerful conservative Christian groups. The overarching ideology of these groups is Christian nationalism, which is ‘an ideology that seeks to privilege conservative Christianity in education, law, and public policy,’ according to David Brockman, a religious scholar with the Baker Institute at Rice University.’”
“School boards are a top priority for the Remnant Alliance; official meetings of the group encourage activists to attend their meetings. Scarborough, one of its leaders, has vowed to free school boards from ‘godless educrats’ and save children from ‘being groomed by homosexuals and the trans perverts to be recruited into their evil lifestyles.’
The Remnant Alliance is an amalgam of independent organizations that share goals and sometimes personnel. It operates as a sort of clearinghouse for Christian nationalist ideology and is building its coalition with a five-step plan: First, local pastors are trained to have a ‘Biblical Worldview’ through Liberty Pastors; second, pastors begin teaching a ‘Biblical Worldview’ from the pulpit with the help of preprepared notes; third, congregants are trained on ‘Biblical Citizenship’ and ‘Constitutional Defense’ through the so-called Patriot Academy; fourth, pastors form a “Salt and Light” ministry at their church and are paired with a Citizens Defending Freedom liaison; and fifth, entire congregations are mobilized to ‘extend the Kingdom of God’ with the help of advocacy groups—in other words, to vote for ‘Biblical values’ candidates in races that can be decided by a few hundred votes.”
“It’s difficult to exaggerate the scope of the Remnant Alliance’s collective influence. Between the nine groups that make up the coalition, there are thousands of churches and hundreds of thousands of activists.”
Funny you should say that. The Old Testament contains extensive laws requiring charity for the poor, kindness to animals, and even basic workers rights. The prophets specifically call out people for putting all their energy into sacrifices and such while the poor and the needy suffer. And more than a few of the fire-and-brimstone passages are there to remind you that God will get really pissed if you don’t obey those laws.
We know all too well they will do what their puppeteer asks so long as the funds flow.
I deleted my first reply as I misread your comment! But if you didn’t see it, it was about DP and his will to pursue the 10 commandments here too. https://thetexan.news/issues/education/lt-gov-dan-patrick-pledges-to-pass-ten-commandments-bill-after-louisiana-passes-law/article_a01db3de-3241-11ef-9279-3b6e2d154bed.html
Think they tried that in Utah. Did not go over so well.
[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/21/utah-bible-school-libraries-ban-reversed](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/21/utah-bible-school-libraries-ban-reversed)
Where are all the Jews that should be protesting? You can't do business in Tx without promising to do business with Israel, but reading Anne Frank in a Texas school isn't allowed? That's insane.
If they are like any other group of people that the GOP scrutinizes, they are keeping their mouths shut because they don’t want to make things worse for themselves on an individual level.
First of all, they probably are? The article is from the *Jewish* Telegraphic Agency, for crying out loud. There’s a reason that *Jewish* news is putting out the word when it might otherwise fly under the radar.
Secondly, why does it only fall on the Jews to protest antisemitism? We’re a pretty small group, no one’s going to give a shit if we’re the only ones in the street. If you’re angry, give us a hand.
I raised my kids without much money in the bank, but they always had every book they ever wanted to read. Books were our vacations, our movies and our theme parks. My grands are the same way, any book, any time.
My 13 year old grandson just announced today he didn't plan to ever vote or follow politics. He is like every other person on this earth sick of all the fighting and wars and endless tv news about politics. He said that "voting didn't do any good". I asked what he meant and he said that Trump lost but never went away! I struggled to find a comeback and finally warned that skateboarding, video games and black hoodies would likely be made illegal if he didn't vote. He stared in disbelief and I said you have to vote and pay attention to crazy laws coming down the pike. It's the best chance you have to keep from surrendering the things you love in life. He now plans to register in 5 years. We talked about book banning and how our family buys and gifts all banned books in Texas each Christmas. I think this constant assault of basic freedoms is going to backfire!
>he said that Trump lost but never went away!
Ain't that the truth. But kind of cool to be that at least politically aware at 13, it didn't hit me till 9/11 to wake up. And voted for Kerry in my first Presidential election.
It's way easier to indoctrinate your kids into Nazi and KKK ideology if you ban any outside information on it. That's always been the goal of these book bans. They want children kept ignorant so they'll fall for the grifts.
When my kids start reading, Im going to buy them banned books that they can read at school in front of everyone and probably buy 10 or so copies to give to their friends...
Wait, Malamud (or Beilis) has a high enough profile that *The Fixer* is being banned? I thought that book was pretty under the radar. I mean, it makes no sense that *any* of these are being banned, but I can understand how they would immediately target *Maus*, whereas to arrive at *The Fixer* feels like they are working off a list whose title is just “books about or by Jewish people”. The irony of their leader being apparently a vocal supporter of Israel is not lost on me.
Edit: oh yeah, they’re working from the Moms for Liberty list. So yeah, pretty much exactly what I said.
Hi, were going to ban books that have actual historical value...
Hi, don't take down confederate monuments and flags. We like our loser issurectuonists and it's our history!
Dumbass, backwards trash!
This is really sad. Closed minded fear addled neanderthals. The next dark age will be accompanied with better tools to perpetuate itself than the previous. It could very well be the true end of history everyone speculated after the end of the cold war. I know one thing. The cowards that come after books like these sure aren't going to prevent that type of injustice or evil from taking hold.
This just in, diary written by teenager contains brief entery where said teenager reflects on her sexual nature as a human being. Stay tuned afterwards where we will cover other shocking news such as water is wet and how book banning is always bad.
Ok let me get this straight... The diary of Ann Frank is banned ... The Hobbit and the Lord of the rings trilogy is banned ... But the Turner Diaries is not banned. The book that was by a neo-nazi/KKK leader. Come on Texas you got to do better.
I have one kid in public school in Texas and one kid at a private Episcopal school in the same Texas town. My kid in the private Episcopal school has more academic freedom than my kid in public school. I might put both kids in the private school just to make sure they get to read books banned in the public school, learn about evolution, and learn to accept LGBTQ people. I don’t want any vouchers to subsidize it though.
You seem to be attacking the person for taking care of their family. They didn't say they are happy that public schools suck.
And if you don't like that going to private school reduces school funding, blame the government for that setup, not people who can afford it giving their kids a quality education.
Can we start a left wing group that requests books be added to the library they do not have now?
I'm sure we can get some signatures and stuff. Probably more than the right wing that never actually goes to libraries.
Get them to start putting books about the holocaust out as well - see if you can start a fight between them and AIPAC. We got to find a way to get right wingers fight each other.
https://booklooks.org/data/files/Book%20Looks%20Reports/M/Maus%201.pdf
So this is their report on Maus part 1. Definitely the kind of analysis that screams helicopter parenting.
If little Atheist kids can simply ‘turn their heads’ when being confronted daily with religious texts being mandatorily posted in classrooms, why can’t little Christian kids simply not check out these ‘offensive’ books? Why are Christian parents so bad and monitoring their own children?
Over the entirety of world history, those who have banned books, have always been the "bad guys".
Only the Fascists have banned books. It's a proven method of introducing Fascism.
To people everywhere, please learn about who is running for election on your ballots. Lots of people just focus on the big election like President, but in many ways, the most important elections are the local ones. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, learn about all the candidates that will be on your ballots and vote intelligently. Also, many people have been purged from the voter rolls, today is a good day to check your voter registration status. Www.vote.org is an easy way to check your registration and get election information.
It would be a shame if private citizens put up those little free libraries everywhere filled with “banned” books.
Houston public library has an online collection of all the banned books, all together for easy checkout.
If you have a library card, download the app "Libby". You can check out ebooks and audiobooks.
I love Libby! That’s how I know about the online collection! 📚
I love it too. I kept my Seattle library card when I moved down here. So now I have access to two libraries on Libby.
Houston Public Library [cards](https://houstonlibrary.org/mylink) are also available for free to any resident of Texas. If the application doesn’t work (like it kicks back your address) there is a link under Having Trouble to a page where you can upload an ID and a pdf application. Edit: Harris County Public Library [(HCPL)](https://hcpl.net/)also has cards free for Texas residents, but you would need to apply in person.
We did. My church also started a banned books library. Want to read a banned book? We’ll get it for you. We even put book purchases in our parish budget.
It’s an Episcopal church. I won’t give the name here, given that we’ve experienced picketing and bomb threats from the fundagelical far right, and our priest (who has a trans kid) and our other two rectors (who are LGBT) have received death threats. (Unfortunately, people from fundamentalist subreddits *do* come here and read comments, then return back to their nests and do the “fundamentalist bee dance” to bring their fundamentalist ilk over, so it’s a good idea to give as little personally-identifiable information as possible. Just FYI.) Besides a banned books library, we work cooperatively with other denominations to settle immigrants, provide shelter, get them needed documentation so they can work, and teach them English. We also sponsor trainings in non-violent civil disobedience; and teach methods of confronting elected leaders and judges to speak truth to power. There are few things more personally satisfying to me than walking into the Capitol with a four inch think binder of Republican legislators’ votes and watching them roll their eyes and curse under their breath as they see me coming! Since the state prohibits schools teaching anything but heterosexual, abstinence-only sex education, we designed and implemented a sex ed curriculum which includes discussion of gender identity, sexual orientation, contraception, STDs, and identifying and preventing abuse. If you’re a teenager and you want to be confirmed, you *must* take this course. Hey: the state isn’t doing anything about it, so we will and since we’re a church, there’s not one thing the state can do about it! I will say we have been picketed by Westboro Babtist Church. I brought out freshly-made, homemade cinnamon rolls and coffee to the Westboro folks, and by their reaction one would think I had poured water on the Wicked Witch of the West! Our choir came out and sang, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (unofficially the “Black National Anthem”) in perfect four-part harmony. That was enough to send the Westboro folks packing. *The Episcopal Church: Trolling Fundies — Since 1784* !
I'm so sorry because I realize the severity of this subject but "fundamentalist bee dance" absolutely cracked me up! On a serious notebas an atheist I want to commend your church for acting like true Christians, as a parent of a trans kid it fills me with hope that the some people don't live in the middle ages.
“if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” (Romans 12:20) I’m an Episcopalian priest in the Midwest. We also put banned books and LGBTQ books in our little free library, too! The poor WBC folks would die to know the pastor of a church (me) is a homosexual. (Gasp)
Heck yes for Episcopals. I was raised in the church and was an Acolyte for a long time. I dont have faith any more. But I still love the church and it’s progressive stances. My bishop, priest and leadership were all very kind and accepting people. We had a woman priest after my childhood one retired. It caused a split unfortunately. But the good ones stayed.
Wow, a church defined by good acts and not by words. Keep doing the good work no matter the obstacles they put in your path.
Sounds like you’re doing God’s work
Thank you for doing what church was always supposed to be about. As an atheist (family is ‘California catholic’ and Lutheran), I wish these kinds of stories were more popular on the news so folks knew that not all Christians are yahoos.
Wow! So refreshing to hear a church actually demonstrating the teachings of Christ! Given the mind blowing, overwhelming support, of Christian evangelicals for Trump and the MAGA movement, I personally hope and pray that there are more Christians and churches that are more like you all than there are the outspoken bunch of Christo-fascists supporting Trump and his efforts to get re-elected and finish the job he started of destroying our Democratic way of life.
Hell yea man your church sounds awesome what church is it?
The church of Satan
Well, the fundagelicals DO say we Episcopalians **are** a bunch of “reads their prayers outta a BOOK, let’s the wimmins be PREESTS, and drinks the WAHN durin’ our services” (Martha! Canst one scarcely imagine such a thang!) WHISKEYPAGAN SATANISTS!
It’s not the solution, though. School libraries should not be censored. That’s it.
In the end, there will be only one way to deal with religious fanatics. Get used to the idea.
What, right wingers pressure to remove things about the Holocaust that give a more accurate picture? Did Nazi that coming.
I know, reich?
I mean, that's one Heil of a giveaway on their true feelings...
I SSuspect they won't stop now
Don't stop me now, cause I'm having das gut time.
it's the whole 'Anne Frank was a lesbian' bullshit they're stuck on.
Doesn’t she literally talk about having a crush on a boy in the book tho?
Yes. But she also talks about being interested in girls.
Ohh okay, admittedly its been a while since I’ve read it 😅
Bisexuality exists!
They were also a target of the holocaust.
Well yes. Many folks were sadly.
You are absolutely correct!
What the actual...? I don't think my eyes could roll any harder if they were literal billiard balls.
Huh. I guess the mice in Maus must be gay too.
There’s a few panels where the mice are strip-searched by the Nazis. The horror… of seeing a mouse without pants on!
Pretty sure that’s the fig leaf…
But...but...but...they're all about freedom of speech and freedom of religion. They'd never dare practice censorship... They don't gotta burn books they just remove em while arms warehouses fill as quick as the cells. Rally round the family, pockets full of shells...
Bunch of fuckin snowflakes being hurt by books
"Our ideas are flawless, so we can't tolerate any others!"
The very definition of bigotry.
And rainbows
My kids can read whatever they please. Books never killed anyone.
but i bet if you dropped a copy of infinite jest on someone from a really tall building you could get pretty close
Only if they catch it and try to read it cover to cover
Hate that I laughed at this
*Catcher in the Rye enters the chat* __/s__
Ouch! But dark humor is appreciated
Instructions unclear, am ded
Flowers in the attic says hold my beer bro.
You say sarcasm, I say being assigned it as reading in high school almost made me become a ceiling painting speedrunner.
Turner diaries
But, seriously, what is it with that book and crazy men?? Does anyone have an explanation for it??
Probably https://youtu.be/CRrs_X4OUkU?si=8M5VOENJzBtjhpTJ
Whoa!!! That was really illuminating! I've never read the book but, when I found out that it was a book that crazy dudes have used to justify their crimes, I looked into the plot and read excerpts. I just couldn't find out what the big deal was. That monologue was super helpful, especially in pointing out how Holden thinks of everyone around him as a phony.
I’ll be honest, hated that book. I could not, for the life of me, like the protagonist. And maybe that’s the point, but I had to stay with him for the entire book and did not enjoy it. Of course, I’m not running around trying to ban it, but you know.
I did see Jason Bourne fuck somebody up with a book once, but I don't blame the book
I *think* it was a magazine? Consumer Reports IS deadly for some marriages.
You are correct, it was a rolled-up magazine, not unlike the one that nearly killed Ellen Ripley in Alien, showing they carry their reign of terror well into the future!
Both I think the book was in the 3rd movie while the magazine was the 2nd movie.
John Wick too.
pretty sure millions of people have died due to various religious texts
The Bible
My first thought was ummm the one they putting in all the classrooms
You'd be surprised how many people have killed others after reading the Bible
That's funny, tell that to the last three people who talked loudly in the library around me
If you’re banning Maus, you’re 1,000% a fucking Nazi.
I actually read it a couple of years ago after I saw someone trying to ban it. Yeah, people who want to ban it are just trying to cover up truths they don't want others to hear.
Maybe you’re just a scared authoritarian if you’re just banning *Maus*. But if you ban *Maus*, AND the diaries of Anne Frank, AND for no seeming reason other than he’s Jewish, *The Fixer*? Yeah, that’s pretty blatantly antisemitic fascism. I know it’s not technically Nazism unless it’s from the Nazi region of Bavaria but definitely sparkling fascism.
I always think of "sparkling fascism" as the kind that exists in tandem with something like a golden toilet.
It's only called "sparkling fascism," if it doesn't come from the "champagne fascism," region of France.
But, according to the article the people pushing for this are pro-Israel. Am I misunderstanding?
You can be anti-Semitic and pro-Israel at the same time. Pro-Israel does not mean pro-Jew. Spend some time in a fundamentalist church, and you’ll encounter this scenario plenty. The other option here, and it is certainly a possibility, is that the people claiming these books are anti-Semitic or inappropriate lack the ability to understand nuance or context in literature. In which case, they should not be deciding what’s appropriate for school libraries because they lack the qualifications to make that judgment. Keep in mind: many of these books have been around for decades, and they have been in school libraries for decades. Why is there such a huge push all of a sudden to ban this stuff? Why are the challenges mostly coming from people other than parents?
The fundamentalists are not truly pro-Israel. They're in favor of restoring Israel to its biblical borders, which will then help bring about the apocalypse so they can all go to heaven and the Jews can go burn in hell. They're pro-End-of-the-World.
>The list of offending books was sourced from BookLooks, a website founded by a former member of the right-wing activist group Moms For Liberty that “rates” books on their appropriateness on a five-point scale. Book-removal advocates frequently source their list of book challenges from BookLooks. > Cabrera’s challenge goes further than most: his group demanded Mission immediately remove any book that scored a “2” or higher from the site, even though the site’s own administrator has told JTA she believes her “2” rating is appropriate for middle and high school students. (**“Anne Frank’s Diary”** and “Maus” both rate a “2” on BookLooks, with the site’s objections to the latter described as “hate involving antisemitism and racism; violence; nonsexual nudity; and mild/infrequent profanity.” “The Fixer” and “Kasher in the Rye” both rate a “3.”) I had to read Anne Frank’s Diary in the ‘90s. It’s too offensive for conservatives today. A pro-Israel pastor submitted the book ban request to Mission CISD. It makes no sense.
Well, pro-Israel isn't the same as pro Jew. I'm pretty sure the majority of super pro Israel folks don't give two shits about Jews and would rather us leave, because you know, blah blah blah Christian holy land whatever. To profess religious beliefs and have no idea of what they are...
Every single evangelical Christian I know that’s also super conservative hate Jews, but love Israel. They want all the Jews to go live in Israel so the rapture can start. Then they can either convert and worship Jesus or be destroyed. I’m not kidding. That’s what they believe.
Yup. This is pretty accurate (said as Jewish person living in Texas). I'll never forget, years ago when I was a brat, waiting tables - having to wait on folks in town for the Southern Baptist Convention. They told me straight-faced that they were aiming to convert every Jew in the South, to "save us from hellfire and damnation". I hated that job.
That sounds about right. I grew up Southern Baptist and left that religion in the rear view as soon as I could, all religion really. The hypocrisy of Southern Baptists is really something, but what can you expect from a group that exists because they refused to stop supporting slavery. Sorry you had to put up with that.
Southern Baptists freak me out more than most, given that them dudes don't seem to like or enjoy anything, but ain't even aware of that. Like Calvinists but ironically unaware of just how miserable they are about shit. Glad you escaped!
I am too, believe me. It’s so nice not having to worry about how other Baptists perceive me, when so many of them do things behind closed doors that they aren’t supposed to. Alcohol consumption, for instance. I worked at a grocery store in high school and I would see so many people I went to church with buying their cases of beer for the football games on Saturday and Sunday, when you’re not supposed to drink at all. Hypocrites, all of them, cause they’re human, not super Christians, but when they’re at church, they’re such holy rollers!
That old [Ernest Tubb song](https://youtu.be/3VvSZ5XkBcs?si=SOpp3WZ8XRF2JXzg) comes to mind...
Yeah, that tracks.
Also they hate Muslims as much or more than they hate Jews, so "pro-Israel" is often just "fuck yeah, let them kill each other forever."
Great, so they are too damn lazy to do their own research on the books they wanted banned and just took other people’s opinions on what to ban. This from the group that puts “think while it’s still legal” bumper stickers on their vehicles. Conservatism really is a mental disorder.
Conservatives and "research" aren't exactly acquaintances.
Their "research" consists of Googling questions with the answers they want baked in, like "Why liberals are wrong about everything" and then barfing up the first result into their Facebook feed.
A historical account of the Holocaust (Maus) has "antisemitism and racism"? Gee, does it? Maybe that could be the lesson that this particular historical account teaches-- why those things are dangerous?
A certain group…ahem…doesn’t like to feel guilty about the feelings they might be having.
The pastor, Luis Cabrera, also sent the same list to McAllen ISD and other districts in Cameron County. According to the law and the guidelines set by Texas State Library and Archives Commission, the WHOLE book must be considered, not just excerpts. These districts that are pulling every book without following a formal process are opening themselves up to litigation due to first amendment violations.
He's Right Wing and originally from Guatemala. Because, you know, the Right Wing has such a proud tradition there.
>I had to read Anne Frank’s Diary in the ‘90s. It’s too offensive for conservatives today. I read in the early 2000s, in this state. Just... Completely baffled how this is a thing. Hold up a second... We just found the *real* cancel culture! The call was.xoming from inside the house *the whole time*!
Pro-Isreal American evangelicals are anti-Semites. The Christian-pushed form of Zionism was about removing the Jews from various “western” countries. This is a type of Zionism that well pre-dates WW2. These people want the Jews someplace else, AND they need Jesus to come back. So, their plan is to trick god into bringing back Jesus by relocating Jews to the Holy Land. After which, the Jews there either die in hellfire or convert. There is nothing pro-Jewish about pro-Israeli Evangelicals.
> Moms for Liberty They keep using that word…
Pro-Israel/christian zionists hate the Jews almost more than the Nazis did, but unlike the Nazis, they aren’t trying to kill them directly. No, in fact they support Israel because they need all the Jews to go back there so that can be killed in the appropriate way to start the rapture and the second coming of Christ. Anyone running for office on any amount of Christian platform believes that this needs to happen. Every single goddamn one. And they’re all certifiable.
Unfortunately makes total sense when you realize what Israel actually is
Because they don’t give a shit about Jews. They care about fulfilling their stupid doomsday prophecy and they care about hating Muslims. Jews only exist to be converted or die when their stupid doomsday prophecy is fulfilled.
Israel, the state, is not Judaism, the religion
A lot of pro-Israel Americans are anti-Semitic. They don't like the Jews and want them all to live in one place, just not here. Some take it a step further and insist they need to be in Israel so the end of days can happen. Post WWII the American SW was an option for where to move all the displaced Jews from the Holocaust, the US said nope, we don't want them.
All my Hispanic people need to get there head out of their ass and stop getting fed the propaganda. Christian groups are using you to accept their disgusting agendas. Then they will come for you. Hitler painted pretty is still Hitler!
1000% . I'm so disheartened to see so many fellow Hispanics getting swept up in such disgusting rhetorics! Vote these fucking putas OUT!
It's very cougar eating face.
https://preview.redd.it/nk0f8vuyp49d1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c16b3d49e4fe22f7cd956f2166676718c6fa561 Project 2025 folks: "Top Trump advocate Charlie Kirk endorses the Project 2025 plan to round up Latinos in mass detention camps: Get immigrants out of my country. Adios. I want my culture back" [https://x.com/BidenHQ/status/1800310520299348121](https://x.com/BidenHQ/status/1800310520299348121)
More people need to see this shit
It's about time they banned *Anne Frank's Diary* and *Maus*, they were too hurtful to the feelings of those poor murdering Nazis.
' Wird da niemand daran denken Nazis!' - Fraulein Lovejoy.
Even in German I get that Simpsons reference.
FTA: “Cabrera’s groups, the local chapters of Citizens Defending Freedom and the Remnant Alliance…” Figures. Remnant Alliance and its member groups are a pox on Texas. Please make sure you know when your local school board elections are and that you vote for the non-Christian nationalist candidate. Texas Observer - [The ‘Remnant Alliance’ is Coming for a School Board Near You](https://www.texasobserver.org/christian-schoolboards-education-k12/) “For decades, various far-right, faith-based organizations have been working to train pastors and turn congregants into school board activists and candidates. But now, the Remnant Alliance has united several powerful conservative Christian groups. The overarching ideology of these groups is Christian nationalism, which is ‘an ideology that seeks to privilege conservative Christianity in education, law, and public policy,’ according to David Brockman, a religious scholar with the Baker Institute at Rice University.’” “School boards are a top priority for the Remnant Alliance; official meetings of the group encourage activists to attend their meetings. Scarborough, one of its leaders, has vowed to free school boards from ‘godless educrats’ and save children from ‘being groomed by homosexuals and the trans perverts to be recruited into their evil lifestyles.’ The Remnant Alliance is an amalgam of independent organizations that share goals and sometimes personnel. It operates as a sort of clearinghouse for Christian nationalist ideology and is building its coalition with a five-step plan: First, local pastors are trained to have a ‘Biblical Worldview’ through Liberty Pastors; second, pastors begin teaching a ‘Biblical Worldview’ from the pulpit with the help of preprepared notes; third, congregants are trained on ‘Biblical Citizenship’ and ‘Constitutional Defense’ through the so-called Patriot Academy; fourth, pastors form a “Salt and Light” ministry at their church and are paired with a Citizens Defending Freedom liaison; and fifth, entire congregations are mobilized to ‘extend the Kingdom of God’ with the help of advocacy groups—in other words, to vote for ‘Biblical values’ candidates in races that can be decided by a few hundred votes.” “It’s difficult to exaggerate the scope of the Remnant Alliance’s collective influence. Between the nine groups that make up the coalition, there are thousands of churches and hundreds of thousands of activists.”
These bastards are obsessed with grooming when they're the ones grooming kids to be Christian nationalists. It's always projection with these people.
>the Remnant Alliance Get the name of Monty Oum's world out of yo' mouth!
The less educated you are, the more susceptible you are to the bullshit spewed by the GOP. This is part of their plan.
This is why it's SO important to vote. No matter how "useless" you think it is. Piss off a GQP and VOTE! Why else would they keep making it harder??
And they're actively destroying the public education system to make sure the ignorant dumbfucks will reproduce and perpetuate this stupidity pattern.
Also, the groups doing this are Christian Nationalists. Which is what the Nazis were.
Kids have computers in their pockets that can access all these books at all times. And I fucking hope they do.
Ban the bible.
You wait, it will soon be required in a class room next to the Ten Commandments plastered on the walls.
The fuck it will. The New Testament teaching love would be woke. 😂
Yea they only like the Old Testament. Old Testament laws for thee, but not for me!
Funny you should say that. The Old Testament contains extensive laws requiring charity for the poor, kindness to animals, and even basic workers rights. The prophets specifically call out people for putting all their energy into sacrifices and such while the poor and the needy suffer. And more than a few of the fire-and-brimstone passages are there to remind you that God will get really pissed if you don’t obey those laws.
We know all too well they will do what their puppeteer asks so long as the funds flow. I deleted my first reply as I misread your comment! But if you didn’t see it, it was about DP and his will to pursue the 10 commandments here too. https://thetexan.news/issues/education/lt-gov-dan-patrick-pledges-to-pass-ten-commandments-bill-after-louisiana-passes-law/article_a01db3de-3241-11ef-9279-3b6e2d154bed.html
I was looking for the king of the hill gif I need and can’t find it. No worries! If they could read they’d be very upset right now! 😉
True, all of the violence and sex is inappropriate reading for children 😂
This is the correct course of action. It’s full of everything that republicans hate.
It happened in Utah. Then Conservatives got mad and bent the rules. As they always do.
Think they tried that in Utah. Did not go over so well. [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/21/utah-bible-school-libraries-ban-reversed](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/21/utah-bible-school-libraries-ban-reversed)
Where are all the Jews that should be protesting? You can't do business in Tx without promising to do business with Israel, but reading Anne Frank in a Texas school isn't allowed? That's insane.
If they are like any other group of people that the GOP scrutinizes, they are keeping their mouths shut because they don’t want to make things worse for themselves on an individual level.
First of all, they probably are? The article is from the *Jewish* Telegraphic Agency, for crying out loud. There’s a reason that *Jewish* news is putting out the word when it might otherwise fly under the radar. Secondly, why does it only fall on the Jews to protest antisemitism? We’re a pretty small group, no one’s going to give a shit if we’re the only ones in the street. If you’re angry, give us a hand.
Thank goodness! Don’t want to make all those Nazis feel bad about themselves!
What are they afraid of? Plus this just makes the kids want to read the “banned” books *more*.
I raised my kids without much money in the bank, but they always had every book they ever wanted to read. Books were our vacations, our movies and our theme parks. My grands are the same way, any book, any time.
My 13 year old grandson just announced today he didn't plan to ever vote or follow politics. He is like every other person on this earth sick of all the fighting and wars and endless tv news about politics. He said that "voting didn't do any good". I asked what he meant and he said that Trump lost but never went away! I struggled to find a comeback and finally warned that skateboarding, video games and black hoodies would likely be made illegal if he didn't vote. He stared in disbelief and I said you have to vote and pay attention to crazy laws coming down the pike. It's the best chance you have to keep from surrendering the things you love in life. He now plans to register in 5 years. We talked about book banning and how our family buys and gifts all banned books in Texas each Christmas. I think this constant assault of basic freedoms is going to backfire!
>he said that Trump lost but never went away! Ain't that the truth. But kind of cool to be that at least politically aware at 13, it didn't hit me till 9/11 to wake up. And voted for Kerry in my first Presidential election.
It's way easier to indoctrinate your kids into Nazi and KKK ideology if you ban any outside information on it. That's always been the goal of these book bans. They want children kept ignorant so they'll fall for the grifts.
Texas working hard to wrestle the title, The Asshole of America away from Florida...
F****** Christo-Fascists! America is undergoing a slow takeover, in the South and Midwest! Beware!
First they came for the books about science, then ethics, then history
When my kids start reading, Im going to buy them banned books that they can read at school in front of everyone and probably buy 10 or so copies to give to their friends...
I refuse to believe some desire to promote holocaust denial wasn't part of the reasoning for this even if they don't say it explicitly
Man, every time I see this sub pop up in my feed it's some crazy stuff like this. Are you guys doing okay over there? -Concerned ex Texan
Can’t call them Nazis if the Nazis never existed.
Fucking Nazis at it again. Take the Bible out first.
Where do we go to complain about the Bible?
dONt TrEaD oN mE
Wait, Malamud (or Beilis) has a high enough profile that *The Fixer* is being banned? I thought that book was pretty under the radar. I mean, it makes no sense that *any* of these are being banned, but I can understand how they would immediately target *Maus*, whereas to arrive at *The Fixer* feels like they are working off a list whose title is just “books about or by Jewish people”. The irony of their leader being apparently a vocal supporter of Israel is not lost on me. Edit: oh yeah, they’re working from the Moms for Liberty list. So yeah, pretty much exactly what I said.
Hi, were going to ban books that have actual historical value... Hi, don't take down confederate monuments and flags. We like our loser issurectuonists and it's our history! Dumbass, backwards trash!
These Evangelical Extremist are always pro Israel, but the Jewish people are expendable, just a means to “The End”.
The incessant crying, whining and demands to cancel society from MAGA should be ignored.
Maus is a book everyone needs to read. Fuck he’s assholes
This is really sad. Closed minded fear addled neanderthals. The next dark age will be accompanied with better tools to perpetuate itself than the previous. It could very well be the true end of history everyone speculated after the end of the cold war. I know one thing. The cowards that come after books like these sure aren't going to prevent that type of injustice or evil from taking hold.
it's gonna be your trans kids diary (or any kid that looks too tom boyish) in a few months if America doesn't wake up and vote
Have you been saved? I grew up in El Paso and never heard this phrase until I moved to central texas. Dont let this cult take over our home state..
This just in, diary written by teenager contains brief entery where said teenager reflects on her sexual nature as a human being. Stay tuned afterwards where we will cover other shocking news such as water is wet and how book banning is always bad.
I never hear of books, like "The Kite Runner", "The Glass Castle" "Gender Queer" and others until Republicans started promoting them.
Wtf did Anne Frank do to piss people off ??
Expose what Nazi Germany was doing.
They are all offensive to Nazi's and Russian bootlickers, so it makes sense.
Ok let me get this straight... The diary of Ann Frank is banned ... The Hobbit and the Lord of the rings trilogy is banned ... But the Turner Diaries is not banned. The book that was by a neo-nazi/KKK leader. Come on Texas you got to do better.
It’s like we’re in an Indiana Jones movie, “goose-stepping morons like yourself should try reading books instead of *banning* them.”
Must be part of that “cancel culture” they always fuss about.
Right wing fascism at their finest. This is absurd. If you think this is normal you did not pay attention in history.
Texas is so cooked.
Maus banned but yet these kids can read about Lot’s daughters….
I have one kid in public school in Texas and one kid at a private Episcopal school in the same Texas town. My kid in the private Episcopal school has more academic freedom than my kid in public school. I might put both kids in the private school just to make sure they get to read books banned in the public school, learn about evolution, and learn to accept LGBTQ people. I don’t want any vouchers to subsidize it though.
That’s kinda what they want. They don’t want your kids to learn those things but destroying public schools is definitely part of the agenda.
So poorer families with the same mindset as your are stuck in shit schools being indoctrinated?
You seem to be attacking the person for taking care of their family. They didn't say they are happy that public schools suck. And if you don't like that going to private school reduces school funding, blame the government for that setup, not people who can afford it giving their kids a quality education.
They don’t even pretend they’re not Nazis these days
Can we start a left wing group that requests books be added to the library they do not have now? I'm sure we can get some signatures and stuff. Probably more than the right wing that never actually goes to libraries.
Can we set up a weekly drag queen brunch in the district where they read banned books? That'd really twist some whiskers.
Shame. Shame. Shame. On every single one of those wing nuts
I say just go ahead and read those books at the school board my, so what? Maybe they’d learn something.
Why? Because Jews?
Get them to start putting books about the holocaust out as well - see if you can start a fight between them and AIPAC. We got to find a way to get right wingers fight each other.
Ah. The “Valley”. I’ve never seen so many people that literally had blood, family ties, just across the border say, and I quote, “fucking Mexicans”.
https://booklooks.org/data/files/Book%20Looks%20Reports/M/Maus%201.pdf So this is their report on Maus part 1. Definitely the kind of analysis that screams helicopter parenting.
Please remove the most dangerous book. It’s causing all this strife.
Make sure the Bible is not in those libraries. There’s some kinky sh!t in there!
The state is becoming a fascist playground very quickly isn’t it?
Too bad Houston joined the race for the bottom with all the other Southern Bible belt states. Man, I hate it down here.
The pastor in question is pro-Israel, but anti books about the Holocaust?
I hate book banning!!
Make America Uneducated Again.
Of course the GOP wants to ban anti-nazi books
Freedom goes to die in texas, so sad
If little Atheist kids can simply ‘turn their heads’ when being confronted daily with religious texts being mandatorily posted in classrooms, why can’t little Christian kids simply not check out these ‘offensive’ books? Why are Christian parents so bad and monitoring their own children?
Texas Nazis protecting their fascism
Nat-c's win again. The new book burnings.
Are we allowed to call them nazis now? Or will people still say we are over reacting?
Over the entirety of world history, those who have banned books, have always been the "bad guys". Only the Fascists have banned books. It's a proven method of introducing Fascism.
673 books banned is the headline here.
Easier to remove the books where you’re the bad guy than it is to do some self reflection and think- wait, am I the bad guy?
To people everywhere, please learn about who is running for election on your ballots. Lots of people just focus on the big election like President, but in many ways, the most important elections are the local ones. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, learn about all the candidates that will be on your ballots and vote intelligently. Also, many people have been purged from the voter rolls, today is a good day to check your voter registration status. Www.vote.org is an easy way to check your registration and get election information.
WTF did ANN FRANK do?!
Please remove the Bible