I live near Tapiola Park, and have a well-loved little free library in front of my house. I have a sign on it that reads “HumanKind, Be Both.” I carefully curate it, making sure there is a mix of books for kids and adults. I take great joy in watching people use it.

I also have an American flag sign in my window that says, among other things, “In my America Love Is Love, All Lives Matter, Our Planet Is Our Responsibility, and We Are All Created Equal.”

A few weeks back our library was vandalized, the sign on it damaged and our house was egged. I can’t help but think that our American flag sign triggered someone’s fragile ego.

It’s no secret that we live in a volatile political climate now. I offer the library as a way to cool down the heat, build community where I am, and encourage reading. Perhaps the poor person who took their aggressions out on such a friendly neighborhood offering would have been better served by taking a book, reading it and allow their aggression to cool down.

I am pleased and grateful that our library patrons were very supportive, and even helped contribute to a repair fund. I hope we can all do our part in maintaining a civil society where we can solve our problems respectfully and peacefully.

JULIA HESSE

Astoria