D id you hear about the escaped lion that recently kept an Italian community on its toes for eight hours ? The carnivore was not a threat , an animal handler with the Rony Roller circus said . Instead , it was a tame animal .
Except it ’ s still a lion , with instincts and urges that , in the wrong circumstances , mean swift and certain death . Thus , I ’ m sure the community ’ s residents were relieved when the lion was sedated and caught .
But that lion made me think about Alabama , which has lions of her own — figurative lions — requiring taming . Lions such as out-ofcontrol libraries , which terrorize Alabama ’ s communities with their persistent push to keep pornographic material in the kid ’ s section , despite what citizens want . Libraries that bow to no one because of “ censorship ”— even though censorship wasn ’ t the issue . Decency — moving books from one area to another — was … and still is .
The good news is that plenty of citizens are actively taming those beasts .
Dauntless men and women are refusing to back down in the face of fierce threats hurled from a committed LGBTQ library community — people who will do anything but move vile books out of kids ’ sections because of diversity , equity , and inclusion .
Yes , they ’ re fighting for filth . That means they ’ re good with it — why do we have to think otherwise ?
But it also means that despite the mountain of work left to be done — hello , North Shelby County Library and other insane library fights going on around the state — Prattville ’ s Hannah Rees and other groups like LOCAL Alabama and Eagle Forum pulled off something extraordinary . Monumental , even . As 1819 News reported in October :
“ A recent letter from Alabama Public Library Service ( APLS ) director Nancy Pack announced that the APLS would discontinue its membership with the American Library Association ( ALA ) and offered guidelines for libraries to address sexually explicit children ’ s books .”
Dissolving ties with the American Library Association ? Who would have ever thought that something so big could happen here ?
Yet it did .
And even if Nancy Pack goes back on her word ( would that be a surprise ?), remaining with the American Library Association , we know that change , though tenuous , is possible , if we ’ ll only commit to taming the crafty cultural beast that the library system has become .
So , how can we do that ?
Quite simply , by getting involved . And to that end , I ’ ve compiled a list of ideas born out of questions I ’ ve recently encountered .
The first happened at Caldwell Mill Animal Clinic when I brought our kittens in for a check-up . A man in his 30s asked me : “ What can we do ? We ’ re fired up , but don ’ t know where to start !”
Then , one of our favorite Alabama Unfiltered callers inquired about the same thing : “ What can we do ?”
Then this article was coming due and it was suggested that I write about — you guessed it —“ How do we get involved ? Are there examples of what we can do ?”
And so , with those questions — and with the reminder that the lion was eventually ushered back where he belonged , his eight-hour reign of terror over — and with those in the library group serving as our example , here is my list .
First , pray .
Not in the classically southern stall tactic kind of way . I mean , pray . God put you where you are for a reason . He will use you in ways unimaginable if you ’ ll let Him direct your footsteps . So , ask Him for direction and opportunity .
While I ’ m at it , do you have a Bible-believing church home ? Not the kind that makes up what it says , either . Get involved there .
Then , what are your interests ? Pro-life ? Education ? Prison reform ? Policy ? Health care ? The poor ? Consider what sets your heart on fire and ponder what issue causes you to talk back to the TV or radio . What do you naturally want to tell people about ? Because that ’ s your answer . That ’ s your issue .
Once you know that , find your people , because a cord of three strands is not quickly broken . Get plugged in .
Many groups are taking on hot-button issues and educating Alabamians about what ’ s happening , equipping us to fight back . Groups like LOCAL Alabama , Eagle Forum of Alabama , and Clean Up Alabama take people to the capitol during legislative sessions to observe the process , lobby legislators , and work on bills . These groups are also excellent resources for learning about your state party or when the city council or school board meets .
After learning about those latter meetings , grab a friend and attend one . A quick online search will show when your local school board or city council meets , along with instructions on offering public comment . Your attendance at these events matters .
If that doesn ’ t work , write letters or send emails about issues that concern you . The KwikLetter app enables you to send letters to your elected officials quickly from your phone or computer . It ’ s as simple as entering your address and writing and signing your letter , letting KwikLetter do the rest . Yes , it ’ s that easy .
Or call your House or Senate member ’ s office and let them know your thoughts . The Alabama State House number is ( 334 ) 242- 7095 . The U . S . Capitol switchboard number is ( 202 ) 224-3121 . The operator will connect you with your official ’ s office .
And here ’ s a wild idea : Host a worldview Bible study at home or online . Summit Ministries , R . C . Sproul and Ligonier ministries , Sean McDowell , or Nancy Pearcy ’ s Total Truth are all good resources with which you can start . Knowing how to think , learning to reason , and applying logic is a lost art . You can bring that back to your community , starting in your home .
Finally , contemplate a run for office .
Yes , you . It ’ s not for the faint of heart , but it is worth it . And even though qualifying for this go-around wrapped up , think about it for next time . Remember the groups listed above ? They can point you in the right direction .
It ’ s obvious that our state is in an all-hands-on-deck situation . If you believe that the lions have terrorized us long enough , then we need your help to tame them and then preserve what ’ s best about Alabama .
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