To the editor:

Whoa there, friends! Seems a couple of my neighbors have their knickers in a knot. Ms. Johnson and Mr. Rasmussen are clearly upset. One sees indoctrination and the other societal collapse because the library apparently had a cross dresser or transgender individual read a book to children.

Both are self-righteously judgmental. One calls on “family,” the other “Christian values.” And both are so very wrong; doesn’t the ‘Good Book’ say something about judge not?

Ms. Johnson throws out the old saw “… with Christian values which is what this country is founded on.” Let’s let the founders speak for themselves.

“… the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion…” — Treaty of Tripoli, ratified by President John Adams

“… our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions, any more than our opinions in physics or geometry” — Thomas Jefferson

Could that be any clearer?

Mr. Rasmussen says that regarding various sexual identities “… many find odd and others describe as just downright wrong.”

Modern society has finally begun to recognize the value of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation. My upset neighbors would do well to appreciate the enlightened view of the majority of citizens of Lawrence regarding such matters.