Kirk Cameron harassed a TN library until its director got fired
March 17, 2023 11:39 AM Subscribe
The goal of conservatives is to destroy the government as a regulatory body. By eliminating public safe spaces and services they erode the people's faith in government as a force of good and open the doors for a furtherance of corporate takeover. God and religion is just the cover.
posted by kzin602 at 12:13 PM on March 17, 2023 [41 favorites]
posted by kzin602 at 12:13 PM on March 17, 2023 [41 favorites]
JFC, these..... *EXASPERATED NOISE*
Look, libraries are public, common spaces. But they're intended for library uses: selecting & enjoying materials, attending events, getting services, and the like. Bringing your political agenda into this shared, apolitical space in order to provoke a response, itself to be used as grist for future grievance-mongering, is just infuriating.
And to see a professional sacrifice their job over it makes my stomach sour. Librarians already are patient and underpaid and thoughtful folks. They deserve our gratitude for answering innumerable "What's the new book, that I saw on the TV, I think it's blue"-type questions.
As a believer it pains me to see christians acting un-christian, but THESE PEOPLE I SWEAR.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:15 PM on March 17, 2023 [27 favorites]
Look, libraries are public, common spaces. But they're intended for library uses: selecting & enjoying materials, attending events, getting services, and the like. Bringing your political agenda into this shared, apolitical space in order to provoke a response, itself to be used as grist for future grievance-mongering, is just infuriating.
And to see a professional sacrifice their job over it makes my stomach sour. Librarians already are patient and underpaid and thoughtful folks. They deserve our gratitude for answering innumerable "What's the new book, that I saw on the TV, I think it's blue"-type questions.
As a believer it pains me to see christians acting un-christian, but THESE PEOPLE I SWEAR.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:15 PM on March 17, 2023 [27 favorites]
"The official at the library tried to say that too many people would be coming, and the library couldn’t handle it. As soon as the library's board of directors and the community heard this, they were against this decision and the library staff backed down."
Wait a minute -- what's the board doing interfering with an operational issue? That's not their job at all. Oversight and policy is for the board, and operational issues (like how many people a room can safely fit) is purely a matter for staff.
Something's not right on the board end of this story, too.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:35 PM on March 17, 2023 [11 favorites]
Wait a minute -- what's the board doing interfering with an operational issue? That's not their job at all. Oversight and policy is for the board, and operational issues (like how many people a room can safely fit) is purely a matter for staff.
Something's not right on the board end of this story, too.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:35 PM on March 17, 2023 [11 favorites]
I need someone to dig up some dirt on this guy and spread it around. Please.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:40 PM on March 17, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:40 PM on March 17, 2023 [9 favorites]
The goal of conservatives is to destroy the government as a regulatory body. By eliminating public safe spaces and services they erode the people's faith in government as a force of good and open the doors for a furtherance of corporate takeover. God and religion is just the cover.
Pretty much sums-up the suit in front of that Texas judge over the FDA’s ability to approve the sale/distribution of abortion medication. A win would throw into question the ability of all federal agencies’ ability to make rules. It’s designed to end-up in front of SCOTUS which, for the most part, is not a good thing these days.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:47 PM on March 17, 2023 [14 favorites]
Pretty much sums-up the suit in front of that Texas judge over the FDA’s ability to approve the sale/distribution of abortion medication. A win would throw into question the ability of all federal agencies’ ability to make rules. It’s designed to end-up in front of SCOTUS which, for the most part, is not a good thing these days.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:47 PM on March 17, 2023 [14 favorites]
Something's not right on the board end of this story, too.
I’ve seen several stories recently about library boards being taken over by conservatives.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:53 PM on March 17, 2023 [9 favorites]
I’ve seen several stories recently about library boards being taken over by conservatives.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:53 PM on March 17, 2023 [9 favorites]
Also, library boards are (I assume) elected positions, yes? They are therefore afraid of public opposition, much more so than the library staff. Even if they want to support the staff, the controversy ginned up by these asshats is more likely to make them cave.
posted by suelac at 1:01 PM on March 17, 2023
posted by suelac at 1:01 PM on March 17, 2023
Whenever Christians do hateful things like this, I picture them smugly humming "They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love."
posted by xedrik at 1:04 PM on March 17, 2023 [13 favorites]
posted by xedrik at 1:04 PM on March 17, 2023 [13 favorites]
Also, library boards are (I assume) elected positions, yes?
As always, It Depends.
In my suburban town, the town council accepts applications for an open seat on the library Board of Trustees, then votes. I lost out two times to other people, but was chosen the third time. (Dude, I love my library.)
posted by wenestvedt at 1:05 PM on March 17, 2023 [10 favorites]
As always, It Depends.
In my suburban town, the town council accepts applications for an open seat on the library Board of Trustees, then votes. I lost out two times to other people, but was chosen the third time. (Dude, I love my library.)
posted by wenestvedt at 1:05 PM on March 17, 2023 [10 favorites]
Why are the bad guys more dedicated to their assholery than anything else in life? They keep getting away with this type of shit, and always manage to grin and move on to their next random innocent target.
posted by aramaic at 1:08 PM on March 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by aramaic at 1:08 PM on March 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
Would it be justified to start referring to him as "Sect-pest Kirk Cameron"? How about when (not if) he starts going on about "grooming"?
Here's a sign from our own local library fight, which took place last fall, and which started when a former member of our borough assembly (in Alaska a borough is an intermediate level of government between the local city or village and the state, similar to a county in other states except that not all of the state is incorporated into boroughs) organized a ballot proposition on behalf of some local parents who were offended by LGBTQ*-tolerant materials and programs offered by the local library. For those who don't want to click through to the image link, it's a sign that says "Protect the Children, Vote YES [on] Prop 2." A "yes" vote was a vote to remove 40% of the library system's funding by repealing a funding measure.
I banded together with other supporters of the library and we organized and campaigned and in the end defeated the defunding proposition - unfortunately probably not by a margin that was decisive enough to make sure it never comes back again - but how dare they?
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:15 PM on March 17, 2023 [15 favorites]
Here's a sign from our own local library fight, which took place last fall, and which started when a former member of our borough assembly (in Alaska a borough is an intermediate level of government between the local city or village and the state, similar to a county in other states except that not all of the state is incorporated into boroughs) organized a ballot proposition on behalf of some local parents who were offended by LGBTQ*-tolerant materials and programs offered by the local library. For those who don't want to click through to the image link, it's a sign that says "Protect the Children, Vote YES [on] Prop 2." A "yes" vote was a vote to remove 40% of the library system's funding by repealing a funding measure.
I banded together with other supporters of the library and we organized and campaigned and in the end defeated the defunding proposition - unfortunately probably not by a margin that was decisive enough to make sure it never comes back again - but how dare they?
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:15 PM on March 17, 2023 [15 favorites]
Whenever Christians do hateful things like this, I picture them smugly humming "They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love."
I believe the corporate weasel-phrase covering that is “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” Which, as you will note, still hates on their target by judging them as sinners.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:17 PM on March 17, 2023 [5 favorites]
I believe the corporate weasel-phrase covering that is “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” Which, as you will note, still hates on their target by judging them as sinners.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:17 PM on March 17, 2023 [5 favorites]
Struck by the painful irony that the harassed and fired library director is named "Morales."
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:46 PM on March 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:46 PM on March 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
Cameron and his lackeys pulled similar shit in Indianapolis back in December. Hopefully word is out by now and no other libraries will work with him on these events in the future.
It also blows my mind that Cameron opted to mess with these libraries in very red states. I can't imagine what he'd be doing if these were libraries in "godless liberal" places.
posted by tomorrowromance at 1:49 PM on March 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
It also blows my mind that Cameron opted to mess with these libraries in very red states. I can't imagine what he'd be doing if these were libraries in "godless liberal" places.
posted by tomorrowromance at 1:49 PM on March 17, 2023 [3 favorites]
I need someone to dig up some dirt on this guy and spread it around. Please
You will discover what happened when actor Kirk Cameron tried to fool a polygraph machine.
Kirk Cameron Gets Schooled After Wild Rant Full Of Right-Wing Talking Points
Kirk Cameron Slammed for Hosting ‘Irresponsible’ Christmas Carol ‘Protest’ Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Tell Kirk Cameron It's Time to Finally Grow Up
This petition had 7,561 supporters
Conservative Hollywood actor and Young America’s Foundation speaker Kirk Cameron says more than 50 public libraries have denied his request to read his new children’s book, As You Grow, which champions traditional family and Biblical values.
Kirk Cameron exaggerated ‘record’ turnout at book reading: library. up
posted by clavdivs at 1:50 PM on March 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
You will discover what happened when actor Kirk Cameron tried to fool a polygraph machine.
Kirk Cameron Gets Schooled After Wild Rant Full Of Right-Wing Talking Points
Kirk Cameron Slammed for Hosting ‘Irresponsible’ Christmas Carol ‘Protest’ Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Tell Kirk Cameron It's Time to Finally Grow Up
This petition had 7,561 supporters
Conservative Hollywood actor and Young America’s Foundation speaker Kirk Cameron says more than 50 public libraries have denied his request to read his new children’s book, As You Grow, which champions traditional family and Biblical values.
Kirk Cameron exaggerated ‘record’ turnout at book reading: library. up
posted by clavdivs at 1:50 PM on March 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
For years I confused Kirk Cameron with Kurt Russell and I really feel like I owe Kurt an apology.
posted by ZaphodB at 3:00 PM on March 17, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by ZaphodB at 3:00 PM on March 17, 2023 [6 favorites]
“I think there’s a very strong reason the Founding Fathers had for the Second Amendment and that is that no government ever hasn’t had to fight its own people,” he said. “I think that’s an important part of our existence.” – Kurt Russell
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 3:17 PM on March 17, 2023
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 3:17 PM on March 17, 2023
For years I confused Kirk Cameron with Kurt Russell and I really feel like I owe Kurt an apology.
For a decade or two I could not reliably distinguish between Kirk Cameron and Corey Haim.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:44 PM on March 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
For a decade or two I could not reliably distinguish between Kirk Cameron and Corey Haim.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:44 PM on March 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
I picture them smugly humming "They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love."
I pictured him singing "You'll never take me alive", but it turns out that was Kirk Brandon.
posted by biffa at 3:47 PM on March 17, 2023
I pictured him singing "You'll never take me alive", but it turns out that was Kirk Brandon.
posted by biffa at 3:47 PM on March 17, 2023
For years I confused Kirk Cameron with Kurt Russell
Kirk Cameron and Corey Haim
I used to think that Piers Morgan and Jeremy Clarkson were the same person. Eventually I found myself reading an article about both of them, and at first was only slightly nonplussed. I'd read "Piers Morgan" and think "Oh, That Guy" and then read "Jeremy Clarkson" and think "Oh, That Guy again". Until I got to the part of the article that described one of them throwing a punch at the other.
I still can't remember who punched who, nor do I really care, but I definitely know they are not the same person.
posted by swr at 6:36 PM on March 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
Kirk Cameron and Corey Haim
I used to think that Piers Morgan and Jeremy Clarkson were the same person. Eventually I found myself reading an article about both of them, and at first was only slightly nonplussed. I'd read "Piers Morgan" and think "Oh, That Guy" and then read "Jeremy Clarkson" and think "Oh, That Guy again". Until I got to the part of the article that described one of them throwing a punch at the other.
I still can't remember who punched who, nor do I really care, but I definitely know they are not the same person.
posted by swr at 6:36 PM on March 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
clavdis - I'm talking more about about something like "Woman who babysat for Camerons as teenager reveals he tried to have sex with her while he was dressed in a diaper" or something.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:58 PM on March 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:58 PM on March 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
I read this after reading an interview with Bethany Mandel, the woman who couldn't define "woke." The context was when she could, in fact, define "woke" when explaining herline of books ("Brave Books" is even referenced). Somehow, the victimhood projected by Cameron seemed to be present here.
Ultimately, it sounds like the basic premise is if their message is not being amplified (not merely allowed to exist), it's being suppressed.
posted by MrGuilt at 7:58 PM on March 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
Ultimately, it sounds like the basic premise is if their message is not being amplified (not merely allowed to exist), it's being suppressed.
posted by MrGuilt at 7:58 PM on March 17, 2023 [7 favorites]
Both Piers and Jeremy are English assholes. Not much difference.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:35 AM on March 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:35 AM on March 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
So libraries rejected Kirk Cameron and now he's attacking them. Very Trumpian of him.
posted by LindsayIrene at 9:29 AM on March 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by LindsayIrene at 9:29 AM on March 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
So libraries rejected Kirk Cameron and now he's attacking them. Very Trumpian of him.They didn't reject him, they just failed to give him the attention he felt he deserved. Which is also very in-character for that other guy, but let's not buy into Cameron's persecution-driven framing.
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:17 AM on March 18, 2023 [4 favorites]
As a fan of Growing Pains, Kirk Cameron's arc is truly disappointing. That said, did you know Joanna Kerns and Freddie Prinze were cheating on their respective spouses with each other when he died?
This tempers my enthusiasm for the movie Left Behind 3 quite a bit, because his fanaticism has gone too far to be campy anymore. I have a theory that getting church non-profit statuses revoked in as many cases as possible is a good tool to start using to counteract the Christian Nationalism movements.
posted by rhizome at 3:37 PM on March 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
This tempers my enthusiasm for the movie Left Behind 3 quite a bit, because his fanaticism has gone too far to be campy anymore. I have a theory that getting church non-profit statuses revoked in as many cases as possible is a good tool to start using to counteract the Christian Nationalism movements.
posted by rhizome at 3:37 PM on March 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
Several people, including some who started out as anti-vaxxers--before Cvid, they opposed school-mandated vaccines--who are also the parents of kids with various disabilities that they blame on chemicals stored in a school basement and/or school vaccines, who became anti-maskers and are plugged into the home schooling/wellness movement, have suddenly become experts on voting and showed up at a town board meeting this week, claiming to have proof of irregularities in the NYS voting system. The town board has less than zero to do with any aspect of voter registration, but residents are allowed to speak on any topic, unchallenged, at their meetings. The speakers promise to come back for the next meeting. I believe their own intention is to undermine faith in the system, nothing else.
posted by etaoin at 6:06 PM on March 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by etaoin at 6:06 PM on March 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
Cameron and his crew were at my local public library on Friday.
I wasn't able to attend, but I'm told from folks who did that the crowd photos are cropped to conceal that a LOT of the seats were empty. The protesters mostly stayed off to the side to avoid preventing anyone's full participation or, as you can see in the photos in the article, sat quietly in the crowd. When one of our local Lutheran ministers (Pastor Clint and his church are very supportive of the LGBTQIA+ population and host a Queer Camp and a Transition Closet among other things. I believe he was wearing a rainbow sash, but that's pretty typical for him.) tried to speak to Cameron during the book signing portion, the organizers decided it was suddenly time to pack up and leave.
Like etaoin describes, we also had anti-vax folks here long before covid happened. They used to be the folks who homeschooled because they didn't want their kids influenced by "the man" and also tended to be really into homeopathic treatments, etc. Somehow, these "crystal mommies" have gotten incorporated into the christian nationalist and racist groups that are demolishing any semblance of education in Arkansas, which was already embarrassing. I think it started by being about masks and vaccinations and just kind of rolled along.
posted by lilywing13 at 1:11 PM on March 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
I wasn't able to attend, but I'm told from folks who did that the crowd photos are cropped to conceal that a LOT of the seats were empty. The protesters mostly stayed off to the side to avoid preventing anyone's full participation or, as you can see in the photos in the article, sat quietly in the crowd. When one of our local Lutheran ministers (Pastor Clint and his church are very supportive of the LGBTQIA+ population and host a Queer Camp and a Transition Closet among other things. I believe he was wearing a rainbow sash, but that's pretty typical for him.) tried to speak to Cameron during the book signing portion, the organizers decided it was suddenly time to pack up and leave.
Like etaoin describes, we also had anti-vax folks here long before covid happened. They used to be the folks who homeschooled because they didn't want their kids influenced by "the man" and also tended to be really into homeopathic treatments, etc. Somehow, these "crystal mommies" have gotten incorporated into the christian nationalist and racist groups that are demolishing any semblance of education in Arkansas, which was already embarrassing. I think it started by being about masks and vaccinations and just kind of rolled along.
posted by lilywing13 at 1:11 PM on March 19, 2023 [2 favorites]
I clicked into the article you linked, lilywing13. I think everyone can guess, given that it's entitled "Arkansas book event interrupted by drag queens in 'disturbing' outfits as Kirk Cameron and guests speak" their account is just a bit different than yours.
That Fox News makes such reports makes me even more frustrated with the attempts by other media to be balanced.
posted by MrGuilt at 7:57 PM on March 19, 2023
That Fox News makes such reports makes me even more frustrated with the attempts by other media to be balanced.
posted by MrGuilt at 7:57 PM on March 19, 2023
Left Behind
I literally cannot wait for them to ascend and leave us behind.
posted by hypnogogue at 2:35 PM on March 20, 2023
I literally cannot wait for them to ascend and leave us behind.
posted by hypnogogue at 2:35 PM on March 20, 2023
> It also blows my mind that Cameron opted to mess with these libraries in very red states.
He sees a library that ends its statement with "We hope to see you there for the Pledge to our nation's flag" and decides that they're his enemy? Dang.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:43 PM on March 21, 2023
He sees a library that ends its statement with "We hope to see you there for the Pledge to our nation's flag" and decides that they're his enemy? Dang.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:43 PM on March 21, 2023
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He seems to have been correct and I am glad he didn't live to see this kind of thing for it might have broken him.
posted by bz at 11:48 AM on March 17, 2023 [7 favorites]