During the first week of October, the American Library Association (ALA) “celebrates” an exercise in self-delusion called “Banned Books Week.”
“For more than 40 years,” the ALA insists, “the annual event has brought together the entire book community – librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”
In my experience, libraries are notoriously hostile to “unorthodox or unpopular” ideas when those ideas come from the right. Fueling that hostility are insecure, left-leaning women, the “Karens” of our sidewalk encounters and sleepless nights.
I had my suspicions confirmed last week when the board of the Darwin Barker Public Library in Fredonia, New York, chose to “disinvite” me from a speaking engagement arranged by a brave part-time librarian.
The subject was my new book, “Untenable: The True Story of White Ethnic Flight from America’s Cities.”
As I recounted in last week’s column, library director Graham Tedesco-Blair blithely emailed me, “Recent developments have led us to re-evaluate the suitability of your views and opinions for our diverse audience as well as the potential impact they might have on the inclusive and welcoming atmosphere we strive to foster within our library community.”
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Last week I speculated, “By ‘recent developments’ – I’m guessing here – he means an ideological Karen or two called in to complain that the library was hosting someone with whom they were likely to disagree.”
In the week since, my speculation has been confirmed. The president of the library board emailed my wife, “So, very soon after our website posting which announced Jack’s appearance at the Barker we began to receive numerous correspondence ranging from general disbelief to adverse protestations from with in the local community.”
He then added, as though this detail were necessary, “Oddly, all of this response came from women.” I should clarify here. All Karens may be women, but not all women are Karens.
Upon hearing of my disinvite, one women, whose actual name is “Karen,” invited me to speak at the Chautauqua County TEA – Totally Engaged Americans – Party at their upcoming meeting. “And,” she added wryly, “you will not be disinvited.”
Once the word got out other local women emailed their sentiments – ranging from general disbelief to adverse protestations – letting Mr. Tedesco-Blair know what they thought of the library’s decision.
Unlike the Karens, these women knew exactly what they were protesting, namely a publicly funded betrayal of the library’s core mission by its director and board of trustees.
“I am absolutely appalled at your decision to cancel Jack’s book presentation,” wrote Virginia. “Your job as library director is to provide open, unbiased access to information and viewpoints from many different sources regardless of who might or might not be offended.”
“You have made me ashamed of being a resident of Chautauqua County,” said Beth in an email. “I have just become aware that you ‘disinvited’ a nationally known author due to your concerns about ‘diversity.’
“You only care about diversity when it lines up with your little cause,” Beth continued. “Such a small, small man you must be. You can’t even stand up to a few Karens who couldn’t bear the thought of letting someone with whom they disagree speak to people who wanted to hear him.”
Some women were more delicate in their approach. “Just wanted to let you know I emailed the director,” Kathy emailed me, “and very politely told him he sucks for canceling your speaking appearance.”
On Aug. 15, the brouhaha made the local newspapers. Although awkwardly titled – “Author Critical Of Library After Talk Canceled” – the article was more than fair.
Reporter John D’Agostino added this helpful clarification: “According to one slang dictionary, Karen is a pejorative term for an obnoxious, angry, entitled, and often racist middle-aged white woman who uses her privilege to get her way or police other people’s behaviors.”
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The slang dictionary is harder on Karens than I would be. Those Karens I know tend to be more anxious than angry. Lacking confidence in their own beliefs, they are as wary of dissent as Dracula is of dawn. Unfortunately, they are destroying America, one local library at a time.
Fortunately, though, not all librarians are as feckless as Mr. Tedesco-Blair, an honorary Karen and the newly named “New York State Librarian.”
The librarian who extended the original invitation defies the norm. “Your cancellation by the library is a hot topic,” she said in an email to me. When I expressed my regret at her predicament, she consoled me, “I am not sorry I was involved.”
There is hope for this country yet.
Jack Cashill’s new book, “Untenable: The True Story of White Ethnic Flight from America’s Cities,” is available in all formats.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
Perhaps it is time to END KARENS?
I have such disdain for females. “KARENS” are all over the place. Purple hair…confused of their actual sex. NOT PICKED IN GYM. These are our ‘leaders’ today…K A R E N S…no skill, little education and ZERO COMMON SENSE.
Call me ‘Spanky’ (President of the He Man Woman Haters Club) ,but this is how I have experienced FEMALES…conniving, insecure and out of their minds for the most part (with a few exceptions…sadly just a few).
Just look and listen.