ABS Curriculum and Garfield County Library books petition ignites fiery discussions during investigative journalist talk Friday
Taylor Cramer/Post Independent
Investigative journalist Logan Davis hosted a discussion on the influence of Christian nationalism in Colorado’s educational systems and political landscape on Friday at the Glenwood Springs Library.
The event, titled “Colorado Communities Standing Up to Christian Nationalism,” drew a sizable crowd of local residents both for and against the words that Davis shared. He touched on topics regarding the American Birthright Standards (ABS) curriculum and a current petition to remove Japanese Manga books from Garfield County Library shelves.
Davis opened the discussion by delving into the controversial ABS curriculum, which was proposed last year to be part of the Garfield Re-2 School District’s Social Studies curriculum.
“Much of what’s in the American Birthright Standards I was surprised to learn is simply not true,” Davis said, criticizing the curriculum for distorting historical facts to promote a specific narrative. “It is a bad curriculum because it had to be in order to put forward a certain version of American history and world history.”
During Davis’ discussion with the crowd, the debate was further ignited when a man loudly entered the room holding a copy of the graphic comic book “The Boys.” This act was a protest against an active petition demanding the ban of Japanese Manga books from Garfield County libraries, which some residents claim contain “pornographic” content. Davis confronted this display, highlighting the inconsistency in the arguments for censorship.
“You are asking for pornography to be removed from your libraries, and yet here you are, showing pornography in your library,” Davis responded.
Davis also tackled the broader implications of groups like Moms for Liberty, emphasizing their role in national movements aimed at reshaping American identity through educational content. He cited concerns from national educational organizations about the potential negative impact of such curricula on students’ abilities to participate civically.
Mae Gray, a member of the Coalition for Re-2, shared insights into the local school board’s experiences, particularly in light of the controversy over the proposed ABS curriculum, which received support from former Garfield Re-2 Board President Tony May.
Last year, May spearheaded efforts to implement the American Birthright Standards in the local school district. However, after facing resistance from both community members and district personnel, the Re-2 board ultimately chose not to adopt these standards. In December, May resigned as board president, stating a desire to “lower the political temperature in the boardroom and focus on school business.” He now faces a recall election scheduled for Aug 27.
“We are now in the middle of a recall against Tony May in recalling him for his poor decisions as a school board member,” Gray said. “The people who have been a part of the Coalition for Re-2 have now become direct targets of public figures because we have stood up to recall Tony May. The most hateful videos have been made about us. Community members have been doxed and shamed and more. Even tonight, this event has been altered and distorted by certain individuals.”
Outside the library, Glenwood Springs resident Trish O’Grady provided a contrasting viewpoint. O’Grady, who had initiated the petition concerning Garfield County Libraries content, defended the presence of Christian nationalism.
“Do you not think our Founding Fathers were thinking and referencing the Bible when they wrote the constitution?” O’Grady said.
Further discussing Christian nationalism, Davis explained it as part of a global trend of religious nationalisms that manipulate religious sentiments for political gain. He compared it to Hindu nationalism in India, highlighting the political motivations behind such movements.
“Christian nationalism is a subset of religious nationalism, which we have seen manifest in different countries in different times,” Davis said. “I do not hate Christianity. My dad is a pastor and I was raised in a church. I think Christianity is a beautiful religion that has had a lot of influence on the American people, and I think the Christian nationalism is a gross aberration of it that we should all stand against.”
As the discussion wound down, Davis urged the community to engage in and stay informed about educational content. He challenged the attendees who continued to question him throughout the night to reflect on the broader implications of restricting diverse educational materials.
“Why are you scared of your children learning something in school that you don’t believe?” he questioned, advocating for open dialogue and diverse perspectives in education.
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