Mother loses bid to ban Harry Potter books

[comicgirl]

She stated that "Chronicles of Narnia" would be acceptable.

Anything bland and unthreatening. And, with no people of color. Or, those "other" types.

* favorite meal - white bread and plain water
* turn-ons - smooth leather bible covers and tight lips
* turn-offs - anything enjoyable to other people that I don't understand

 

[Super Kal]

have you people ever considered that not ALL Christians are force feeding conservatives?...

 

[jaguarr]

I agree that trying to ban a Harry Potter book is just plain stupid, but keep in mind there are worse books out there that should be kept out of children's way until they can understand it in a mature way...


her point is valid from a certain point of view, just not with Harry Potter.

No, I'm not wanting books called "How To Rape" and "Killing Is Fun: How To Murder In 10 Easy Steps" in the school libraries, but come one....Harry Potter is a friggin' children's story and it actually has morality lessons to boot. The thing she's proposing is a slippery slope because where does it end? Just because it offends her Christian sensibilities doesn't mean that everyone else has to be denied an opportunity to read it. Some parents may WANT their kids to read it because...say they're Wiccan and they want to educate their kids on what constitutes real magic practice and what does not and see the value in explaining the morality lessons in the books to their kids and how those coincide (or go against) their belief systems. Christians are not the only damn people in this country and I get tired of them trying to regulate what everyone else does. If they took the same opportunity to educate their kids about the things they are exposed to or just make sure they don't read what they don't want them to, then there wouldn't be a problem. But instead of doing that, they just want to keep everyone else from reading or seeing things they don't like and that is wrong. What if Christian texts that are often found in school libraries offend me and my religious beliefs and I petition to have them removed. Do you think people like this lady will be okay with that and support me in my cause? Not likely.

 

[Super Kal]

No, I'm not wanting books called "How To Rape" and "Killing Is Fun: How To Murder In 10 Easy Steps" in the school libraries, but come one....Harry Potter is a friggin' children's story and it actually has morality lessons to boot. The thing she's proposing is a slippery slope because where does it end? Just because it offends her Christian sensibilities doesn't mean that everyone else has to be denied an opportunity to read it. Some parents may WANT their kids to read it because...say they're Wiccan and they want to educate their kids on what constitutes real magic practice and what does not and see the value in explaining the morality lessons in the books to their kids and how those coincide (or go against) their belief systems. Christians are not the only damn people in this country and I get tired of them trying to regulate what everyone else does. If they took the same opportunity to educate their kids about the things they are exposed to or just make sure they don't read what they don't want them to, then there wouldn't be a problem. But instead of doing that, they just want to keep everyone else from reading or seeing things they don't like and that is wrong. What if Christian texts that are often found in school libraries offend me and my religious beliefs and I petition to have them removed. Do you think people like this lady will be okay with that and support me in my cause? Not likely.

I 100% completely agree with you on that... wanting to ban that particular book is absolutely stupid.

 

[Darthphere]

I will not allow for that ungodly Harry Potter to molest the minds of children any longer.

 

[comicgirl]

have you people ever considered that not ALL Christians are force feeding conservatives?...

just like gangsta rappers and the black community, it may not be fair...but, it only takes one bad apple.


"It's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.” — Judy Blume

 

[Calvin]

Jesus, I just realized she's trying to get it banned from the libraries. I thought she was trying to get it banned from being used in classrooms as a fictional literature example, which it should be allowed to be used as too (and for the record, I have no problem with the Bible being used as the same thing). Wanting it banned from the libraries entirely is about a hundred times more fascist. Especially since the bible isn't banned from school libraries.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

her point is valid from a certain point of view

kakarot, let me reaquaint you with her "point".

"It's mainstreaming witchcraft in a subtle and deceptive manner, in a children-friendly format,"

That is "valid"?
That is ******ed.

If your kids think they can live in a magical world of supernatural powers and griffins and giants and be like Harry Potter if they simply renounce the hairy guy who got nailed to a tree, then you've got WAY bigger problems than J.K. Rowling.

For instance, the Harry Potter world isn't in a Christian context. Their magical powers are not derived from Satan, so how can they say the books will lead kids into Satanism? If you're pursuing Satanism, you're not acting on the influence of Harry Potter.

And I would like to point out that I enjoyed some Narnia books when I was a kid and I never once looked in my closet for a magical portal to another realm of talking beavers and Turkish Delight. X 1,000,000,000

 

[Super Kal]

and let me point out what I just said:

I 100% completely agree with you on that... wanting to ban that particular book is absolutely stupid.

 

[jaguarr]

And I would like to point out that I enjoyed some Narnia books when I was a kid and I never once looked in my closet for a magical portal to another realm of talking beavers and Turkish Delight. X 1,000,000,000

Dude, you childhood sounds incomplete and unsatisfying. I weep for you.

jag

 

[Speedball]

I don't think the Rowling books mention God or Satan in any form.
Sure, Ron has said hell a few times, but that's in a different context.
Voldemort has never said he worships Satan, hell, he worships himself.

 

[jaguarr]

Voldemort has never said he worships Satan, hell, he worships himself.

Thus illustrating that vanity and arrogance are not admirable traits. What a horrible thing for a child to learn.

jag

 

[Super Kal]

I'm guessing it's the practice of witchcraft that offends her so much.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Dude, you childhood sounds incomplete and unsatisfying. I weep for you.

jag

Weep not as I did try to levitate my Mom and Dad's Toyota with the Force.

 

[Speedball]

Thus illustrating that vanity and arrogance are not admirable traits. What a horrible thing for a child to learn.

jag

I'm guessing that's why he's the frickin bad guy.

 

[Speedball]

Weep not as I did try to levitate my Mom and Dad's Toyota with the Force.

so yeah, why hasn't anyone said anything about Star Wars? or Lord of The Rings?

 

[Super Kal]

it probably had it's day in the spotlight when they were first released...

 

[Calvin]

I'm guessing it's the practice of witchcraft that offends her so much.

Hence, her overall point, which you touted as "valid," is not that she wants to keep away books that pose any physical or practical harm to kids or their surrounding peers, but rather to keep away references of a practice that for all physical intents and purposes poses no actual harm. They can't learn to make bombs, or condone rape, or anything like that from the books. The only thing the books clash with, are religious notions, not the actual safety of the children. Hence, why her point is utterly invalid, since we have separation of church and state.

 

[Erzengel]

Cause don't the Lord of the Ring kids beat up the Harry Potter kids?

 

[jaguarr]

Hence, her overall point, which you touted as "valid," is not that she wants to keep away books that pose any physical or practical harm to kids or their surrounding peers, but rather to keep away references of a practice that for all physical intents and purposes poses no actual harm. They can't learn to make bombs, or condone rape, or anything like that from the books. The only thing the books clash with, are religious notions, not the actual safety of the children. Hence, why her point is utterly invalid, since we have separation of church and state.

Well, HER kids don't know any better, though, because she's too busy trying to ban books from public libraries to teach them any better.

jag

 

[Speedball]

Cause don't the Lord of the Ring kids beat up the Harry Potter kids?

Huh?
I don't get what you said.

 

[Super Kal]

Hence, her overall point, which you touted as "valid," is not that she wants to keep away books that pose any physical or practical harm to kids or their surrounding peers, but rather to keep away references of a practice that for all physical intents and purposes poses no actual harm. They can't learn to make bombs, or condone rape, or anything like that from the books. The only thing the books clash with, are religious notions, not the actual safety of the children. Hence, why her point is utterly invalid, since we have separation of church and state.

I have no problem when it comes to a children's book concerning witchcraft to fight another evil warlock in a book, but when it comes down to having incantations and spell books in a children's section of a library, yeah, I have a problem... but not with this particular book.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

it probably had it's day in the spotlight when they were first released...

Yes, in Sunday School in the late 70's, we got an assignment to bring in one object that reminds of us God's glory.

I thought I'd be "cool" and bring in my Chewbacca action figure and say some horse s*** about "God is kind of like the Force." and the teacher blew up red-faced and angry 'cause we should never EVER compare God to the Force and I was like, "why? "
and he said that Obi Wan says the Force controls us AND we control it, but we don't control GOD! "

And, with further research, I learned that Christians were pissed that Star Wars movies promote a New Age agenda.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

For instance, the Harry Potter world isn't in a Christian context. Their magical powers are not derived from Satan, so how can they say the books will lead kids into Satanism? If you're pursuing Satanism, you're not acting on the influence of Harry Potter.

This is what really annoys me about all these stories trying to ban Harry Potter. The witches and wizards in the books don't get their powers from worshipping Satan. Voldemort has never mentioned Satan that I can remember. They're just scared of anyone or anything that is different or offers a different view on things ie the theory of evolution.

 

[Calvin]

I have no problem when it comes to a children's book concerning witchcraft to fight another evil warlock in a book, but when it comes down to having incantations and spellbook in a children's section of a library, yeah, I have a problem... but not with this particular book.

Ugh, I overestimated your ability to infer. Incantations and spells do NOT have any physical consequences. They're only deemed "dangerous" in the way that christians deem not worshiping god to be "dangerous." Meaning, they find it blasphemous, which they feel is enough reason for it to be banned. Thing is, being blasphemous should have NOTHING to do with determining whether kids should have access to it, not in a country that isn't a theocracy.