It’s Monday 6/5/2023

IT’S MONDAY! and it really snuck up on me this week. I had a busy schedule with the Punxsutawney Area School Board meeting on Thursday and the PA State Democratic Committee meeting in Pittsburgh over the weekend. I wanted to attend that particular school board meeting because there was to be a discussion about banning books. That is something we should all be sensitive to as it may come to your home school district soon if it has not already.

Lisa Gourley, Democratic Candidate for School Board, had signed up for a 10-minute speaking slot and gave a remarkable presentation about reading and free access to books, pointing out that if you don’t want your child to read a particular title, don’t allow them to. She also made the point that one parent should not be able to determine access for every child. Other parents spoke about certain books based on the number of times certain objectionable words appeared in the tome, and read excerpts objectionable to them. This is always done out of context with the book as a whole and most likely misses the point or lesson of the book. Freedom of speech and expression does extend to school libraries.

Subjects that are uncomfortable or offend your moral sense based on your particular religious values are not grounds for removal or banning. One speaker suggested that removal of books is not banning, but it is just that. It is an idea that is coming to a public library near you soon. Once the idea of book removal is normalized, it will proceed to subjects that are political, ideological, religious, or anything that you personally don’t agree with. Pay attention to this issue in your local School District.

The State meeting was the usual gathering of Democrats. It was nice to see people you know and talk of things political. Some support and sponsorships were obtained for Demstock. A resolution was adopted supporting Gay Pride, and a longstanding member, Peggy Lucas, was elected to serve on the DNC. The interesting thing is that our meeting coincided with the Pittsburgh Gay Pride Parade and Celebration, and also The Three Rivers Arts Festival. We need to get behind all our candidates from the statewide Judges to local boards and councils. Voting is our weapon as Democrats. Voting by mail is easy. Turnout is our friend, the higher the turnout, the more successful Dems are!

CALENDAR

DONATIONS ACCEPTED

Our list of reoccurring donors is growing. A monthly donation of $10 or $20 is painless. Go to ActBlue and contribute so JeffDems, your county committee, can do more on your behalf. GREEN IS THE COLOR OF MONEY! SEND YOURS TODAY!

Thank you!

or use ActBlue I just gave to Jefferson County Democratic Committee (PA)!