Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor:
What motivated a Massapequa
resident to observe last night's
public library board meeting in
Farmingdale?
I was interested in seeing how
the citizens in a typical community
would react to a triple
controversy; namely, pornography,
the John Birch Society,
and die arbitrary removal of
library property.
First, my views on die controversial
subjects:
1. As die fatiier of diree growing
children, I don't want diem
to get dieir hands on anydiing
which even smacks of pornography
- whedier fromnewstands,
public libraries or any other
source.
2. My feelings against die John
Birch Society are as strong as
they are against smut in die hands
of my children.
3. I can only deplore me manner
in which Mr. Gorton went
about removing die controversial
material from die public library.
Here, briefly, is what I observed:
Mr. Gorton, aldiough
crippled, wasn't accorded die
common decency of having a seat
offered to him. He remained
standing diroughout die whole
of die meeting.
I had the feeling diat no matter
what he might have said, he had
already been judged and sentenced
before die meeting even
began.
Surely, Mr. Gorton was not
" sent by God" to diis meeting -
but neidier was die mob of about
a hundred people who played
judge and jury — and diis in die
United States of America!
Two wrongs never added up
to one right.
The whole affair, in my opinion,
was a disgrace.
H. Hoffman
Massapequa
To the Editor,
Having been made aware of the
c ont rove rsy ove r die c onfi scation
of a French magazine from die
Farmingdale Public Library I
made an effort to obtain die
questionable article and obtained
a copy from Mr. Gorton.
I wonder how many people who
condemn Mr. Gorton's action
have read die story? Are we to
protect his action on principle
and not be concerned about die
actual issue? In my judgment the
article is vulgar and obscene
and should not be available to
children. Freedom to read -
yes! But freedom for children
to read obscenities at taxpayers
expense in public libraries? Nonsense!
Where do we draw the
line? Nowhere?
Disgustedly,
Florence DeHaan
Dear Sir;
I am a senior at Farmingdale
High School, and a resident of
this town for more dian ten years.
Upon reviewing the policies of our
library system I have found
tiirough personal experience the
facilities to be somewhat incomplete
in relation to it's budget,
the environment quite noisey and
totally inadequate for study ( especially
so in die Soudi Farmingdale
branch,) and a selection
of reading materials very liberal
in content and sometimes just
plain filtiiy. The case in point,
Mr. Carl Gorton's confiscation
of die current issue of die Paris.
Review, has been smeared witii
insults and spineless tactics. At
die library meeting Tuesday his
religious sincerity was challenged.
I dunk die fault has been
misplaced and diat die kangaroo
court which attempted to crucify
Mr. Gorton Tuesday night is proof
that die disintegrating morals
and leftist tendancies diat have
been festering in our library and
school systems for years a re now
coming to a head.
Joseph W. Monza Jr.
74 Lockwood Ave.,
Soutii Farmingdale
Dear Sir:
1 attended die May meeting of
die library board fully expecting
that die board would discuss and
perhaps adopt measures to prevent
obscene material from
reaching die library book racks.
Instead, die board found fit to
carry on a long- winded discussion
concerning die evils of
censorship, culminating in die
public censuring of Carl Gorton.
To support their position, die
board made reference to other
offensive books, and discussed
means for properly objecting to a
particular work. A parallel was
drawn between die present case
and die handling of objections to
" The Last Temptation of Christ''.
This is the key point in die
issue. Surely die board could see
die distinction between die two
cases. The latter is a book which
is offensive on religious grounds,
but does not violate any legal
statute. On die otiier hand, die
confiscated material is pure filth.
As such, it is in violation of a
law prohibiting die distribution
of pornography to minors.
The issue of censorship is
certainly not a real One here.
If it were, you may be assured
diat Mr.- Gorton would have confiscated
not one, but hundreds
of volumes. But he did not! His
intention was merely to call die
board's attention to an oversight
and by confiscating die book, to
prevent the commission of a
crime and protect our children
from exposure to filth.
In closing, may I say diat die
board's action in the matter,
troubles me deeply.
James R. Freshour
Dear Editor:
My fears on the election of
Carl E. Gorton to die Farming-dale
Library Board have been
justified before he is even seated.
Just who is diis man who can
describe a literary magazine as
" obviously obscene" and simply
remove it from die shelves? He
is die same man who takes paragraphs,
words and sentences out
of context and brands diem as
pornography, obscene, etc.
I regard, as one of our freedoms,
die right for all people to
have access to all printed material.
I, for one, hope to instill
in my children an understanding
and regard for literature so that
diey may be their own censors
without die need of a Carl E.
Gorton.
Lenore Bender
Dear Editor:
When I heard diat die budgets
were defeated in School District
22, I was not surprised. It was
die taxpayers only way to show
the state diat diey were displeased
with diem. The " No" vote will
not gain us additional monies diis
year, and if die district is put
en an austerity budget die state
will not suffer, we will suffer.
I was shocked diat a member
of die John Birch Society was
elected to die library board. I
know only what I have read in die
papers. And what I have read
frightens me. Mr. Gorton has
stated diat he has found pornography
in die library. He must
enjoy reading it, of all die tiiou-sands
of taxpayers who have
library cards in diis district
he was die only one to find a
" dirty book." If Mr. Gorton
and The John Birch Society dislikes
pornography so, why are
they always looking for it... There
is a saying " Beauty Is In The
Eyes Of The Beholder." I have
another saying " Pornography Is
In The Eyes Of The Reader."
I don't want Mr. Gorton and die
John Birch Society or anyone for
that matter, to decide what I can
or cannot read. Mr. Gorton is
only one man and can not do too
much damage. But as Hitler
quietly took over all die small
countries in Europe these men
can in die next few years take
over not only die library but even
more frightening diey can take
over our ' School Board
For if great judges cannot
decide what should or should
not constitute pornography what
gives Mr. Gorton die wisdom to
decide.
The time has come for die
P T A's and otiier organizations
to use preventive medicine. Stop
die book banning before it gets
out of hand
Fran Sigmon
Dear Editors:
I read where the Farmingdale
Library Board voted unanimously
to censure trustee- elect Carl
E. Gorton, a member of the
John Birch Society for confiscating
a magazine he considered
pornographic.
Why the emphasis on the John
Birch Society? Are diey die only
ones opposed to the distribution
of obscene material to teenagers?
Does freedom of choice
mean that a parent has no right
to censure his child?
While I dp not agree with Mr.
Gorton ' s method of action, I certainly
am in sympathy witii his
motives. Until teenagers are
taught and understand die r e sponsibilities
of a society
as laid down by our forefathers
where the majority rules and
not the minority, only then will
we have freedom of choice and
true liberty.
William C. Leusch
Gentlemen:
Tuesday night library trustee-elect
Carl Gorton appeared at die
Farmingdale, Main Street Library
to answer charges regarding
his stealing a book, die Paris
Review, from that library. It is
interesting to note diat Gorton
termed his election an " act of
God", and diat one of his dici-ples
appeared at the library carrying
a bible. Thus die right-wing
fringe attempts to imply
diat tiieir tiiievery is next to
godliness, and everything diey
do is really God's work.
We have seen examples of tiieir
work. I have gone to tiieir meetings
at die Farmingdale library
and have seen The Birchers at
school board meetings. I have
seen accusation witiiout foundation,
as well as accusation without
die accused's presence to r e ply.
I have heard diem accuse
Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy
of being dupes of die Communists.
I have heard them accuse
respected diplomats, book-reviewers
and clergymen as being
active Communists.
I have heard Mr. Gorton proclaim
diat we would not recognize
a Communist if we saw one.
Therefore, I assume we must depend
on Gorton to point diem
out to us.
I submit diat Gorton is not more
concerned witii smut dian die
average Farmingdale resident,
but diat Gorton is using diis issue
to provide entree for his right-wing
literature. I don't tiiink the
God we respect would condone
this type of action.
Charles Gerston
Dear Sir:
We have been reading die Ob-
; server for several years, and
would like to take diis opportunity
to tiiank you for printing all die
news. We have found die Observer
printing die important and signif-icent
stories in die community,
and doing something about diem.
When we say doing something
about diem, we mean even when
the issues are controversial.
Please continue die good work,
and let " die freedom of die press
reignl"
Mr. and Mrs. PaulToumbacaris
Dear Editor:
Mr. Carl Gorton is to be commended
- not sued or censured,
for his courageous action to r e move
smut magazines from our
public library. My children don't
need diis filth. If Mr. Dow, die
library director, and others don't
know die difference, diey should
be removed from dieir important
positions. There should be better
ways of spending taxpayers
money.
Steven E. Camp
To the Editor:
The recent censure of Carl
Gorton by die Library " tribunal"
amidst die hoots and howls of
their " lynchmob" followers, was
a disgrace to the town of Farmingdale
and a direct insult to the
voters who elected him to office.
The incident, which brought
about diis censure, was clearly
known by the voters long before
die election took place. 1 personally
know many of die voters who
elected Mr. Gorton precisely because
of his actions. People like
myself are fed up with diese
limp wrist phonies who are warping
die minds of our ichildren
with the'ir brand of " cultural
subversioa" Pornography in
the name of culture is " cultural
subversion".
It is truly unfortunate diat
more of Carl's supporters did not
witness yesterdays Board meeting
as diey would have been
truly proud of dieir vote. It was
a vote for decency which was a
long time coming.
Why, don't die rats scream
" Censure" when diey are cornered
witii tiieir dirty laundry exposed.
I suggest diat all of Mr. Gorton's
supporters get behind him.
The Board must be taught diat
die voters are running diis town
and not tiiese self perpetuating
literary dictators.
Frank J. Backitis
To the Editor:
Tuesday's meeting of die
Library Board was by far die
biggest fiasco of a parliamentary
run board meeting. Why was a
morally indignant citizen subjected
to die harrassment of a
kangaroo court?
Mr. Gorton's use of die word
Christian was immediately misconstrued
by a board member,
as to mean diat Mr. Gorton was
anti- Semetic. Are we not supposedly
a nation under God? But
has die Supreme Court ruling
against prayer in public schools
overlapped even into die utterance
of anything religious in all
our public meetings?
If Mr. Gorton is representative
of die John Birch Society, it
would seem to me diat tiiese
" Birchers" are really fighting
for the maintenance of high moral
standards in our country.
As Sodam and Gomorah rotted
from immorality it was Lot who
tried to rescue them. Mr. Gorton
stated last night ( in answer to an
insipid question) that he was not
God. I think perhaps he might be
a latter day Lot.
Barbara Malloy
Dear Editor,
Many thanks for your fine r e porting
of issues concerning the
recent School District 23 elections.
The Observer has provided
the voters with information
throughout the campaign so that
a more knowledgeable decision
could be made by them.
The tremendous approval of
the Massapequa school budget is
a vote of confidence extended
die current Board for sound fiscal
planning. I am delighted diat
the electorate has chosen to press
for excellence in education.
Also, I am grateful for your
endorsement, which I am certain
has been a great influential factor.
I hope to become wortiiy of your
confidence.
Ted Furman
109 Fox Boulevard
Massapequa
Dear Editor:
As a parent, taxpayer and a
very much concerned active participant
of School District 22, I
have urged the Board of Education
to submit a revised budget for
die following reasons:
1. The Board originally stated
that mere was absolutely
no place to " cut" the budget....
thus, almost 1900 voters
showed their faitii by
voting " yes".
2. Approximately 7600 residents
were registered
over 2800 of these taxpayers
did not care enough to vote.
3. Almost 2900 voters expressed
dieir opinions by
voting the budget down... die
will of die people calls for an
Austerity Program.
With only 25% of the registered
voters in favor of the submitted
budget, I urge die School Board
to submit an Austerity Budget
to the State for School District
22.
When die full effect of an Austerity
Program reaches die
residents in the form of payments
for textbooks, paper,
lunches and transportation, perhaps
then toe term " False E-conomy"
will ring true.
Youth Council has a passed
budget. based on the use of school
buildings being available* Where
will Youth Council operate on an
Austerity Program?
I urge all the residents of this
school district to support an Austerity
Budget. . . perhaps only
then will the majority realize
what a fine program we have had
in Union Free School District 22.
Judith Sturtz
Eight Library Directors
Deplore ' Paris Review
Censorship'
A statement was issued this
week by the directors of the eight
Nassau County public libraries
immediately adjoining the Farmingdale
Public Library District
in connection with the recent incident
involving ' censorship and
the Paris Review.'
" Carl E. Gorton, in removing
a magazine from the Farming-dale
Public Library on the
grounds that it was unsuitable
and, in his opinion, pornographic,
has acted in the worst tradition
of the self- appointed censor. He
seeks to impose his opinion on
others by extra- legal means, and
to determine what is acceptable
for others to read. He is not yet
a member of a legally constituted
body and, indeed, even if he were
acting as a fully qualified library
trustee, he would not have the
authority to remove materials
arbitrarily.
" The power to determine what
may be pornographic lies with
our courts, and yesterday's decision
of the United States Supreme
Court in reversing three
convictions for obscenity shows
how difficult it is to make such
a determination.
" We deplore Mr. Gorton's
misguided action in diis matter
and will support die Board of
Trustees of the Farmingdale
Public Library and its director
in dieir stand against Mr. Gorton's
Ill- advised and ill- considered
attempt at censorship."
The statement was signed by:
David Pinkwas, Director, Betii-page
Public Library; Kenneth
S. Barnes, Director, Hicksville
Public Library; Robert N. Sheridan,
Director. Levittown Public
Library; Bradley Breitenstein,
Director, Massapequa Public Library;
Alfred L. Freund, Director,
Plainedge Public Library;
Joseph Eisner, Director,
Plainview- Old Bethpage Public
Library; Virginia Moran, Director,
Seaford Public Library
and Albert Monheit, Director,
Wantagh Public Library.
Camping Show At Salisbury Park
The third annual Family Camping
Show will be held at Salisbury
Park on Saturday, May 20 from 10
a. m. to 8: 30p. m. and Sunday, May
21 from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m.
Both private distributors and
governmental institutions will
display camping equipment. Included
in die displays will be
tents, camper trailers, vans, lanterns,
heaters, sleeping gear and
Farmingdale OBSERVER Thursday, May 11, 1967
cooking utensils. For die anglers,
an exhibit of small outboard motors
and fishing equipment will be
featured.
A special attraction of die show
will feature a number of families
from the National Campers and
Hikers Association who will camp
on the site and will use commercial
and homemade camping gear.
Page 5
Farmingdale Public Library-The Observer 1967
