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Re Virginia Beach School Board group removes Gender Queer book from libraries, calls it pervasively vulgar (May 16): As both a Virginia Beach citizen and librarian, I find the removal of this book very concerning. This act is censorship, plain and simple. Is the book for everyone? No. Will some kids be able to identify with it, maybe find some answers in it, and feel less alone? Yes.

Heres the thing, there are lots of books in the library that have content I find objectionable. Yes, Im an adult, but what I think is missing in these censorship cases is that if you find your kid has been reading something you dont agree with, that is a huge opportunity to discuss the book or topic with your child. You may discover they still have questions. They might share how they are feeling. You can share, this is what our family believes and why.

Banning books doesnt make a childs questions dissolve, doesnt bolster what is often fragile self-esteem, doesnt help build their critical thinking skills, and doesnt help the child learn to navigate the world with all its variety of people and ideas. Teens are uniquely positioned to discover their identities and books are, or should be, an amazingly nonjudgmental method for them to learn. Finally, do you honestly think reading something will change your sexual preference? No. It wouldnt work for you, and it doesnt work like that for your kids. Stop with the homophobia.

Tamara Sarg, Virginia Beach

Re Forced out: Closure of Newport News airports mobile home park throws residents lives into turmoil (May 15): What have we come to in this country when we no longer have any compassion for the least of our countrymen and place greed and profit over every other human consideration? The Peninsula Airport Commission should reverse the shameful, unilateral, patently cruel and uncaring decision of the Airport Executive Director Mike Giardino and guarantee the occupants of mobile homes in the airport commission-owned mobile home park that their tenancy is safe and will not be uprooted.

It isnt being socialist to think that we all have some responsibility for our fellow citizens, especially those at the base of the economic pyramid. Were already losing our identity as caring Americans in the face of the terrible divisions in our country, and this has to stop somewhere. I urge everyone reading this letter to contribute to the legal defense fund for the mobile home occupants being handled by Newport News attorney Nathaniel J. Webb III. I intend to do so.

Anthony R. Santoro, Yorktown

Re Newport News budget includes first real estate tax reduction since 2008 (May 11): Thanks a lot, Newport News City Council, for reducing the tax rate on real estate by 1.6% ($1.22 to $1.20 per $100), when my assessment has increased 38% since 2018 and 24% in just the past two years.

And thanks to Council member Patricia Woodbury for wanting a larger reduction but voting for this one anyway. It reminded me of using the, all the other kids were doing it defense as a kid when I did something stupid, and of having my mother ask me, If all the other kids jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?

Charles Wilson, Newport News

Now that politicians, columnists and others are saying it is okay to protest in neighborhoods, it is time for them to give out their addresses. This way people who disagree with them can protest in front of their homes. Or how about making any opinion on anything include the persons actual name and address with it?

It just seems we no longer have the right to be civil to others and to disagree without going to the nth degree. Americans have allowed so much to change our lives for what? Are we better off now than before? Americans have worked together in the past and should do now as Americans without any other label attached. Stop the division and start uniting all Americans to build a country we can all be part of for our children.

Joan Fuhrman, Virginia Beach

Re All about power(Your Views, May 6): Besides demanding that the minority must switch its votes to support the majority, which is a pretty power-hungry move, its too late. Power-hungry lunatic Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has already got that position locked up. First he blocked former President Barack Obama from his constitutional right to select a Supreme Court judge. It was too close to the election, and he wanted to make sure the next president got to make the choice.

Then when the vacancy came open at the end of President Donald Trumps term, he now had to rush through the nominee, not worrying about the people getting to choose to see who would be the next president. So, whos the power-hungry lunatic changing all the rules to suit his partys every need? Rather obvious isnt it Don Lovett?

Mike Schoen, Norfolk

See the article here:
Letters for May 20: Don't censor, use controversial books as a way to teach - The Virginian-Pilot