...and not picked fights with other professions, she might not have found herself on the losing end of the argument.

Librarians all over the country were incensed by her attempts to organize attacks on free access to information by characterizing the ALA's policies on patron access and privacy as pimping internet pornography to children. The ALA's policies are designed to provide a framework to defend the practice of what is an art, matching people with the information they require. Parents are the ones who are responsible for overseeing their children's access; librarians who provide access are responsible for adhering to the law in that regard. Dr. Laura attacked with righteous ignorance on her side.

We bought her books. We put her in the collection regardless of personal animus. That was a requirement of the "access to information" policy. And when we were asked about our opinions of her, we told people. That was an exercise of our free speech. It also amounts, at times, to reader's advisory, another of our functions.

Some librarians whom I know agreed with her, to a point, and were not drummed out of the profession; the ALA isn't like a council of elders. We discuss things. But she basically called us pornographers and child molesters. You don't do that. That pretty much solidified opinion in this profession against her.

I've never listened to her much myself; if I want a sermon, I'll go to church. But I wonder how many other groups she alienated with shrill mindless blanket condemnations similar to that one.

It's one thing to take on a large, faceless national organization. It's another when someone known and trusted in a community takes personal offense to an ignorant attack by a nationally-syndicated big-mouth. Whenever I was confronted with a "Dr. Laura-ism" at work, my reply was a bland, "She certainly has the right to her opinion. I'm disappointed that that's the way you think of me," while looking the patron right in the eye.

I believe that's where Mark came in at the beginning of this thread.

Regards--
Mary Anne