Just a minute ago, everybody knew the difference between boys and girls. Most people also believed in protecting children. Today, all this has become a “political issue.” Some people, including some Oklahoma legislators, even claim it’s not a real issue. So let’s state the facts.

There is a comic book called “Gender Queer” that was highlighted by the School Library Journal in 2019 and given an award by the American Library Association in 2020. The book includes graphic images and descriptions of sexual acts, including between an adult and a child. It has been found in school libraries around the country, including in Oklahoma.

Another book found in Oklahoma schools and featured in the School Library Journal is “Flamer.” While not as pornographic as “Gender Queer,” the book is full of references to sexual acts, including in the context of a church service.

There are too many books like these, but just one more example is “Lawn Boy.” According to a media report, the book “contains graphic descriptions of sex between men and children.” It also was featured in the School Library Journal and given the same award as “Gender Queer” by the American Library Association.

All these books are designed for children. The American Library Association granted them awards for books that “appeal” to readers “ages 12 through 18.” The School Library Journal, which claims to be “the premiere publication for librarians and information specialists who work with children and teens,” has praised school officials who put these books in schools.

Nothing is happening by accident. Is there a political agenda? Of course, but it’s far more than that. There is a spiritual agenda here. The distinction between man and woman, and the healthy combination of the two to form a family, is the beginning of all other social structures. For those who want to tear down society, nothing is more important than destroying the family.

So what can be done? Oklahoma legislators are working on laws that might make it harder to put materials like these in schools. That will be helpful, but it still relies on school officials or prosecutors to enforce the law. In other words, government policing government.

An even better answer is to give parents more power. Back when all Americans agreed on the importance of the family and protecting the innocence of children, it made more sense to have just one system of education. Those days are over. Today, parents need the power to choose where their children go to school.

Many families do not have the money to move into a different school district or pay for a private school. Many parents lack the resources needed to homeschool. The Oklahoma legislature is considering a tax credit that would help parents pay for tuition or other educational expenses. This would give parents more power to protect their kids.

Schools should be for education, not indoctrination. But for those who want to radically change society, schools are the obvious place to start. If we want to defend our children, we cannot pretend that nothing is happening. That is tantamount to surrender.