By Gretchen Garrity
Busy people often can't find the time to figure out what is going on in our local government. They hear the soundbites about national news and try to get educated on topics when it's time to vote. But the day-to-day grind of finding out what goes on in city councils, health boards and county commission meetings means less bandwidth for family, friends, and a personal life.
Civic duty has been largely ignored for a couple generations. Civics--the study of our rights and duties as citizens in our Republic--has dwindled. As a consequence, special interests like NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) have moved in. Working hand in glove with government agencies, the two have become so intertwined that they exist as a symbiotic entity that seeks ever more power and tax dollars to feed a modern-day Cerberus.
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| Cerberus guarding the Underworld |
A government-worker class has arisen whose moral responsibility to the taxpayer has become unclear to some of them. Many have been educated in progressive schools and universities with hard left activist professors. They bring that education to their government employment.
I would like to share two posts on X. The first one is from Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the Socialist Democrat candidate for Mayor of New York City.* The tweet is from 2021 in the midst of the Covid crisis. He is speaking about libraries:
Our libraries give us hope for our vision of a socialist future
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) May 11, 2021
As socialists, we believe everyone should have what they need to live a dignified life — this includes access to knowledge & resources free of cost — what our library system already provides
"Our libraries give us hope for our vision of a socialist future." This dovetails perfectly with Immediate Past President of the ALA Emily Drabinski's vision:
Not only schools, but libraries are to be sites of socialist organizing. It is regrettable that while citizens were going about the business of living and working, they neglected the duties of public life. We are about out of blue pills for citizens. Cerberus bites at their heels.
The Christian County Library, under the umbrella of the American Library Association, has become one of those libraries for socialist organizing. If you don't believe me, come attend a monthly board meeting. Local professors, counselors, and former librarians attend. Some hold signs in solidarity and protest. Some refuse to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
They oppose protecting children from sexually explicit and age-inappropriate books. They wouldn't frame it that way. They will tell you they are protecting First Amendment rights, or protesting book banning, or making sure "Libraries are for everyone." They will do anything but engage with some of the most disgusting "literature" ever aimed at children.
They cannot engage on that level, because so few people would agree that children have a right to access any book in the library. Few people would agree that libraries should be sites of socialist organizing. Any time citizens share the kind of books that are being pushed on children, the audience gasps in shock.
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| Christian County Library Display. Credit: David Rice |
But here we are. There are hundreds of such books in the children's and teens' sections of the library. Right now the Nixa branch boasts a Pride Month display that includes at least one book advocating for the transgender agenda. The display is near the section for children ages 12-17.
I have previously shared the podcast below. Dan Kleinman of Safe Libraries is interviewed by Sam Shoemate. The two discuss what is happening in our libraries and schools. It is under an hour and Kleinman gives a primer that explains the situation. This interview should be shared with anyone who doubts what has happened to our library.
Episode 5: Unmasking Marxism in Our Public Libraries
— Shoe (@samosaur) June 18, 2025
On this episode of Our Country Our Voice, Dan Kleinman discuss the alarming infiltration of Marxist ideology in the American education system, particularly through public libraries.
Chapters
00:00 The Threat of Marxism in… pic.twitter.com/m9vsxVZFaE
The battle to claw back our library, to make it safe for children and preserve parents' rights, is hard. There is institutional resistance as well as resistance from the socialists among our populace. There is even resistance from well-meaning people who do not have the stomach to fight. They are best suited to watch from the sidelines.
The Christian County Library Board of Trustees is currently engaged in revising the library's policies and bylaws. This is Step 3 in the process that Kleinman and Shoemate delineate in their interview. Do not lose heart.
*Correction: I had incorrectly reported Mandami as the newly-elected mayor of NYC. He won the Democrat primary.