Good news for Texans who like butts! And fart jokes!
After a case spurred by complaints on books containing the words “butt” and “fart” as well as touching on the topics of racism and LGBTQ+ identity, an appellate court has ruled that Texas cannot ban books from libraries simply because officials “dislike the idea contained in those books”.
The fifth US circuit court of appeals issued its decision on Thursday in a 76-page majority opinion, which was written by Judge Jacques Wiener Jr and opened with a quote from American poet Walt Whitman: “The dirtiest book in all the world is the expurgated book.”
In its decision, the appellate court declared that “government actors may not remove books from a public library with the intent to deprive patrons of access to ideas with which they disagree”.
Maybe Texas will catch up to Minnesota. We have a new law, passed at the end of the legislative session, that prohibits all that book banning that Republicans love.
There were some major bills that did not pass in the chaotic last days of the Minnesota legislative session. One bill that did pass prohibits public and school libraries from banning a book “based solely on its viewpoint or the messages, ideas or opinions it conveys.” It also protects library employees from discipline against them for complying with the new rules.
It’s not all good news. Among the important bill blocked by the chaos of obstructionist Republicans were the bonds to improve university facilities.
On May 20, 2024, the Minnesota Legislature adjourned sine die without garnering the 60% of votes required to pass a capital investment bill funded by general obligation bonds. Despite both parties citing bonding as a top priority in the beginning of the session, politics between the two parties, fueled in part by the upcoming House elections, prevented them from striking a deal. The Minnesota Legislature ran out of time to pass a smaller, cash-only bonding bill before the constitutionally mandated time of adjournment.
I guess we’ll struggle along, as always. At least we can assign textbooks that feature butts!
Strangely enough, the christofascists of Texas are being left behind by the christofacists of Idaho.
Idaho is the leader in which state can pass the most regressive laws.
Idaho passed a law allowing anyone to shut down a library if a book they didn’t like was found in the children’s section.
The city of Donnelly, Idaho has gone adults only because they are too small to even have separate sections for children and adults.
Children will only be allowed in the library with adult guards to keep them from seeing…books.
Donnelly is a small city of 250 people in the middle of nowhere, like most of Idaho.
This is going to really hurt children because in rural areas like this, there isn’t a whole lot to do.
It’s all completely stupid anyway.
These days just about everyone has internet access.
Most of us carry around smart phones that can access the internet.
Chances are those children they claim to be protecting are digital natives, growing up with the internet. And, the internet isn’t at all like the children’s section of a library in Idaho.
Why “Weiner”? Isn’t the Judge’s name Jacques Wiener Jr?
Wonderful! Now, Texas school children can safely wear their Beavis and Butthead “I am the great Cornholio!” T-shirts to school.
I read The Alchemist by Ben Jonson in high school. As I remember, in the first scene, first act, a character said, “I fart at thee”.
Personally, I find any writing containing the word “Republicans” extremely offensive.
…in a 76-page majority opinion, which was written by Judge Jacques Wiener Jr and opened with a quote from American poet Walt Whitman…
In itself surely grounds for overruling by the Supreme Court Six!
“Idaho passed a law allowing anyone to shut down a library if a book they didn’t like was found in the children’s section.”
Best not put any bibles in there then!