In a deeply unsettling and revolting display, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) expressed his support for a new Illinois law during an interview with ABC News on Monday.
This law aims to penalize the removal of books from libraries based on personal objections, but instead of addressing legitimate concerns, Pritzker chose to defend the indefensible.
When confronted with worries about children being exposed to objectionable books, Pritzker callously remarked, “communities hire the librarians in their libraries.
They’re experts at this.” It is utterly disturbing that he would dismiss the valid concerns of parents and disregard their crucial role in shaping what their children are exposed to.
In a chilling example, host Linsey Davis posed a scenario where a librarian places a book like ‘Gender Queer’ on the library shelf, and a parent discovers their child reading it without their consent.
Davis asked, with justified concern, how parents could have any control or establish permission in such a situation.
Pritzker’s response was nothing short of appalling. He callously retorted, “Well, communities hire the librarians in their libraries. They’re experts at this.”
It is absolutely appalling that he would rely on the supposed expertise of librarians to trample over parental authority. He insensitively suggested that libraries should adopt a standard, conveniently ignoring the fact that this standard may go against the values and beliefs of many families.
Furthermore, Pritzker praised the Bill of rights proposed by the American Library Association, which essentially prevents books from being removed from shelves merely due to personal disapproval.
This blatant disregard for the concerns and values of parents is deeply disturbing. Pritzker seems to have forgotten that for every family who deems a book acceptable, there may be another family vehemently opposed to its content.
Governor Pritzker’s dismissive and detached attitude towards parental rights and concerns is truly disturbing.
His support for a law that infringes upon the fundamental role of parents in guiding their children’s reading choices is not only offensive but also an affront to the values of individual liberty and family autonomy.
