Hate groups disguised as ‘moms’ can’t be allowed to dictate
In response to the Naperville Sun article, “9th most banned book published in Naperville,” on Oct. 19, I agree with Sourcebook founder Dominique Raccah, who stated that banning books “undermines everything we stand for in a democratic society.”
Those who oppose democracy often couch their comments in disingenuous calls for conversation. While the Sun offered the classic “balanced reporting,” my hope is Naperville Sun writers will be more deliberate in getting to the heart of what those against books and public education really want. There is no “both sides” to hate and it’s time to call it out directly.
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The removal of books on race, gender, diversity and inclusion is a focus of coalitions such as Moms for Liberty, says Sourcebook’s Amy Jackson. This is true, but these organizations are not “just suburban moms.” This is a deliberately false narrative created by far-right dark money groups with anti-diversity and anti-LGBT agendas.
Dick Uihlein donated $13,000 to Awake in 2022 and Moms for Liberty is aligned with other far-right extremists, including the Proud Boys. Proud Boys have been connected to Awake, most notably the harassment that resulted in the subsequent vandalization of Uprising Bakery in Lake in the Hills.
Awake’s statement skirted their real goal — bans of books on subjects uncomfortable to group members. Book banning is censorship and part of the larger strategy of taking away rights from others. Awake and Moms for Liberty do not represent the majority or speak for most “suburban moms.”
While I support parents’ rights to parent their children as they see fit, we must never permit others to enforce their religious or ideological beliefs on anyone else or suppress ideas they don’t like. Book banning is a feature of fascism.
Karen Peck, Naperville
Institute advocates for the rich by opposing workers’ rights
It is well known what the Illinois Policy Institute means by “promoting personal freedom and prosperity in Illinois.” Their focus is on free market principles that cater to self-interested desires and profit to the detriment of other peoples’ lives all while promising so-called “personal freedom and prosperity.”
Free market principles advocate that the rich and poor be taxed at the same flat rate, despite creating a vast inequity; that, for example, education, health care, retirement pensions, national parks (and most any function intrinsic to essential governing) become privatized; that publicly-owned companies, services and assets be auctioned off to private investors.
That besides allocating vast amounts of wealth and resources from public to private ownership and the willingness to transfer private debts to the public sector while public ownership is systematically dismantled, the Illinois Policy Institute is also attacking a constitutional amendment that will guarantee the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining.
Glen Brown, Naperville
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