Letters to the Editor (January 5, 2023)

Baffled in Bosque Farms

Editor:

I had a truly disappointing experience a few days ago — one that I never imagined happening in 2022.

I (recently) went to the book sale at the Bosque Farms Library to pick up a few discards to use for journal making, and while there I jokingly asked the librarian how famous I needed to be to keep my books in house.

I’d learned a few months back from a friend, that the book I’d donated, “The War Within,” had ended up on the giveaway rack.

The librarian responded that the book probably hadn’t done well, had never been checked out, so they let it go. I asked how long they’d given it. Wouldn’t they keep it for at least a year or so?

Then she looked me right in the eye and said, “I remember that book. I read some of it and I decided that wasn’t the kind of thing we want here.”

What the heck? Pretty shocking, right?

I suggested she give me five minutes, and I would retrieve at least 30 books from their stacks, that were way more intense that mine. She shook her head and repeated that my book was just not the kind of thing they wanted.

I wished her happy holidays and left.

In my naivete I assumed that my hometown library respected the First Amendment to our Constitution, allowing adults to make up their own minds as to what literature they choose to read.

Yes, the book contains tasteful intimacy between consenting adults, yes there is some strong language therein.

The fact the adults have congress and swear sometimes, is a real thing. Even for nice people.

If she’d bothered to finish the book, she would have learned that the focus of this award-winning story is one of redemption, commitment, family and home.

Oh, and did I mention the hero is a U.S. Marine, disabled in combat, fighting his was back to as normal a life as possible?

 

Barb Simmons, Bosque Farms

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Thanks to the community

Editor:

Every year the Mid-Rio Grande Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) coordinates the distribution of food baskets for Thanksgiving Day in the area of the Belen Consolidated Schools district.

We wish to express our appreciation to the organizations listed below for their assistance and generosity in providing food baskets to needy families for the holiday.

Their support allowed deserving families in our area to have a bountiful Thanksgiving Day.

Our heartfelt thanks to: St. Vincent de Paul of Belen, Belen High School Staters, Belen Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Multi-Cultural Commission,

First Presbyterian Church of Belen, Belen Moose Lodge, Belen Area Food Pantry, city of Belen water department, Sen. and Mrs. Greg Baca, and private donors from our community for their charity and generosity.

As a result of the charity of the above-named individuals, we were able to provide more than 210 food baskets to needy families.

 

Bertha Flores, RSVP Director, Belen