Dreaming of Silver Roses

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Lauren Myracle wrote a book about 5th graders. She included some characters that some would consider to be controversal.  Scholastics publishers (whom I have greatly respected in the past) intially planned to pull the book because of these characters and some slang.

       Here are the links with details:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/28/scholastic-book-lgbt/

http://onourmindsatscholastic.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-regarding-lauren-myracles-luv-ya.html

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/scholastic_reverses_decision_to_exclude_gay_friendly_book_from_fairs

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=talkbackCommentsFull&talk_back_header_id=6630620&articleid=CA6703349

http://www.abramsbooks.com/luvyabunches/code/index1.html

http://laurenmyracle.com/blog.html

The author is a NYTimes best seller. I know a great deal of the heat about this book lies in the lesbian parents of Camilla. However, I find it interesting in our day and time that there is little ado made about the book also including a Muslim child wearing a hija. Or how rare it is to have seen a healthy balanced child is being raised by a single father. The websites I listed include articles from the author and notes about the book.

       What I don’t know about writing, editing, and publishing could fill a library. I’m just starting out pursuing this career. I think what we don’t hear about what makes it into the public’s hands matters. Behind the scenes sometimes should be brought out into the light and we should be accountable for our beliefs and how we treat each other. Diversity and the issues surrounding it aren’t going away. If you read, view, or listen to the news at all, you are aware that the LGBT community is rising up on a regular basis and their voices are strong. How we show each other that we care matters.

       All I’m asking is that we be educated and open minded people who pay attention to others around us. That there be an air of compassion and love with each other. You cannot grow or learn if you’re afraid to listen well. Think a bit. If one person’s lifestyle can be censured in a book, anyone’s lifestyle can be censured as soon as it doesn’t fit the moral majority of the time. So we want so badly for our voices to be heard above others that we close our hearts and minds so we can shout above the din? Am I so insecure in what I believe that I can’t be open to even hear what someone else thinks or believes? I’m not saying that we should be so open minded that our brains fall out and we believe anything fed to us, on the contrary I’m saying know what you believe and what others believe so you can respectfully and compassionately dialogue if the chance arises in such a manner that all in the relationship are blessed. Listen well. Be educated. Be open. Love well.

       Dig to find out what you don’t hear about what you read.

Filed under: art, life, politics, purpose, relating well, relationships, wonder, writing on October 28th, 2009