# Ought public libraries advance social agendas? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737 "2024-04-02T13:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/41 "2024-04-02T22:42:04Z")
Can we change that to all PEOPLE are created equal…? ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/42 "2024-04-02T22:45:03Z")
Is the OP actually wanting to discuss something the library actually did, or are they just “concerned” about what “other people” are going to be upset about? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/43 "2024-04-02T22:46:18Z")
All created equal is fine. Advancing the interests of left-wing groups over others is not. > [@Broomstick](#): > > Having a display on a bookshelf about DEI or “poverty issues” is NOT “promoting” them. How about a pro-life book display? Or a pro second-amendment book display? Or a display of Trump bibles, complete with country music lyrics and a declaration of independence in each one? Since book displays don’t ‘promote’ anything, would you be comfortable with a library where a conservative librarian makes displays of conservative books but relegates the liberal ones to the back shelves? ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/44 "2024-04-02T22:51:29Z")
If we can’t give equal space and prominence to ALL possible subsets of humanity at all moments in time we must go back to the time tested approach of only honoring white men. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/45 "2024-04-02T22:54:24Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Every time you are thinking about the idea that government should put its fingers on the scales to advance social causes, you should ask yourself if ypu would be okay with that if Donald Trump or some other hated figure gains power and decides to use government functions to move HIS agenda. No, of course I wouldn’t be. That’s why I vote against them. Because I fully expect that if they gain power, they’ll attempt to move their agenda. Because that’s what governments do. > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > All created equal is fine. Advancing the interests of left-wing groups over others is not. The interests of left-wing groups is ensuring that all are treated equally. The interests of the “others” you mention is ensuring inequality. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/46 "2024-04-02T22:56:27Z")
…I just wanted to note that “DEI” has replaced “Woke” which replaced “Critical Race Theory” as in it has a clearly defined, original meaning, but has now been co-opted to basically mean whatever the user wants it to mean. So if we take the original meaning (and not whatever it means at the moment) it means to “promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people”. So my question to the OP would be, why _wouldn’t_ libraries be in the business of advancing that? ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/47 "2024-04-02T22:57:54Z")
Because Elon Musk said that it causes planes to fall out of the sky and ships to crash into bridges. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/48 "2024-04-02T23:01:18Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …I just wanted to note that “DEI” has replaced “Woke” which replaced “Critical Race Theory” as in it has a clearly defined, original meaning, but has now been co-opted to basically mean whatever the user wants it to mean. > **[https://preview.redd.it/4k5ptchgfvrc1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=e2d8c0f96c7686e78adde...](https://preview.redd.it/4k5ptchgfvrc1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=e2d8c0f96c7686e78addee32d874602506e6e842)** ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/49 "2024-04-02T23:02:56Z")
I was quoting the Bill of Rights, but point taken.😀 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/50 "2024-04-02T23:04:51Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The interests of left-wing groups is ensuring that all are treated equally. The interests of the “others” you mention is ensuring inequality. I think the word you are looking for is ‘equitably’ as defined by the left, which requires unequal treatment on behalf of protected groups. See: Antiracism. ‘Equity’ != ‘Equality’. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/51 "2024-04-02T23:08:34Z")
Trainers in DEI courses do indeed point that Equity != Equality, it seems that you are only talking on what the right wing is telling you what DEI is. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/52 "2024-04-02T23:17:06Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > How about a pro-life book display? Or a pro second-amendment book display? Or a display of Trump bibles, complete with country music lyrics and a declaration of independence in each one? It should not be a problem if after, or at the same time, there is a display about Pro-Choice, Gun control, and the Cristians that also oppose the Trump idiocy about his bible. > **[The Christian reaction to Trump’s Bible endorsement goes deeper than you think](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/why-christians-angry-trump-god-173235981.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACAqcJP-o2EzEL2qkchqCJNpjWygnbNIqdyK1siyqRX1L95487hHpksEP6m81PqftG9lEfEtWaQZvYbYvJd9VR4I9EwpqWX9eHVo2N7uZ0-qPmqGTrhTxBADFm2YDKFI0ydv6bEGRXL6x6vDOgCusDIGZByjXfq-Uf1dnE_d8mVY)** > > Former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of a patriotic Bible during Holy Week has been challenged by some Christians who say it preys on people’s faith for profit. > ‘Sacrilege,’ theology, and the shadow of Christian nationalism > The $59.99 Bible, which was first published in 2021, features an American flag and the words “God Bless the USA” printed on the cover. Inside, it has the words to “God Bless the USA” and the text of The Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance and other historic American documents. Promotional material for the Bible shows the former president alongside country singer Lee Greenwood. > > Responses to Trump’s social media announcement called the endorsement “sacrilege,” “heresy” and “borderline offensive” and cite lessons directly from the Bible that suggest taking advantage of people’s faith for money should be condemned. > > “It is a bankrupt Christianity that sees a demagogue co-opting our faith and even our holy scriptures for the sake of his own pursuit of power and praise him for it rather than insist that we refuse to allow our sacred faith and scriptures to become a mouthpiece for an empire,” said Rev. Benjamin Cremer on X. > > Jason Cornwall, a pastor from South Carolina, said on X that Trump’s Bible endorsement was a violation of one of the Ten Commandments of the Hebrew Testament that forbids taking God’s name in vain. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/53 "2024-04-02T23:19:37Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Trainers in DEI courses do indeed point that Equity != Equality, it seems that you are only talking on what the right wing is telling you what DEI is. No, I was describing what the trainers say. So the people in the thread saying that the left just wants ‘equality’ are wrong. Equity involves mandating unequal treatment of some until there is no more inequity. Equality= Equal opportunity, equal treatment under the law. Equity = Equal outcome, on the assumption that outcomes would always be equal if there weren’t dastardly forces at play causing inequity, and unequal treatment under the law in order to correct the ‘inequity’. > [@GIGObuster](#): > > It should not be a problem is after or at the same time there is a display about Pro-Choice, Gun control, and the Cristians that also oppose the Trump idiocy about his bible. This I agree with completely. And in case no one noticed, I was speaking sarcastically about Trump’s stupid bible. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/54 "2024-04-02T23:21:42Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > If we can’t give equal space and prominence to ALL possible subsets of humanity at all moments in time we must go back to the time tested approach of only honoring white men. I mean, that’s what that argument boils down to. Back to the OP, since librarians are getting fired, are receiving death threats, etc., maybe they shouldn’t be putting their lives at risk so that snowflakes don’t find out that Black people used to be slaves. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/55 "2024-04-02T23:22:44Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > I just wanted to note that “DEI” has replaced “Woke” which replaced “Critical Race Theory” as in it has a clearly defined, original meaning, but has now been co-opted to basically mean whatever the user wants it to mean. Usually a replacement for the N word. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/56 "2024-04-02T23:27:41Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > No, I was describing what the trainers say. So the people in the thread saying that the left just wants ‘equality’ are wrong. Full stop, I just got the training at work, what you say here is not even an educated guess. There is a better place to point this out. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/57 "2024-04-02T23:30:23Z")
I think we better stop here, as we’re veering away from libraries and I don’t need another warning for hijacks. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/58 "2024-04-02T23:34:09Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > All created equal is fine. Advancing the interests of left-wing groups over others is not. > > How about a pro-life book display? Or a pro second-amendment book display? Or a display of Trump bibles, complete with country music lyrics and a declaration of independence in each one? Since book displays don’t ‘promote’ anything, would you be comfortable with a library where a conservative librarian makes displays of conservative books but relegates the liberal ones to the back shelves? Nobody is advancing the interests of left-wing groups over others. The problem is right-wing interests who think they deserve better treatment than everyone else and complain how unfair it is when they get treated equally. I have no problem with putting pro-life and pro-gun and bibles and country music displays up. The problem is the conservative librarians who want to hide the “liberal” stuff away. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/59 "2024-04-02T23:36:14Z")
ISTM the social agenda all libraries should advance is literacy and love of reading. All libraries should have a broad selection of material and not judge. Maybe not let the fringiest of material in. And there is the judgement call people will argue over but I don’t think most librarians have a difficult time figuring it out. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737/60 "2024-04-02T23:48:10Z")
I may add that it is usually the right wing the ones that figure out that the librarians “know too much” and they hate the judgement that they have. (Former library tech at the UC Berkeley library over here) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-public-libraries-advance-social-agendas/999737.md?page=4)