Ga. Mom Seeks Potter Ban

[fringey]

A suburban Atlanta county that sparked a public outcry when its libraries temporarily eliminated funding for Spanish-language fiction is now being asked to ban Harry Potter books from its schools, the Associated Press reported.

Laura Mallory, a mother of four, told a hearing officer for the Gwinnett County Board of Education that the popular fiction books are an "evil" attempt to indoctrinate children in the Wicca religion.

But Board of Education attorney Victoria Sweeny told the AP that if schools were to remove all books containing reference to witches, they would have to ban Macbeth and Cinderella.

In June, the county's library board eliminated the $3,000 that had been set aside to buy Spanish-language fiction in the coming fiscal year. One board member said the move came after some residents objected to using taxpayer dollars to entertain readers who might be illegal immigrants. Days later, the board reversed its decision amid accusations that the move was anti-Hispanic.

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You know, this kind of thing really torques my jaw out of line. I don't know why so many people feel that only THEIR relgious beliefs should matter in a country made up of so many diverse peoples and beliefs. Banning the book would actually be discriminatory against those practice magic as their belief system. Banning the book on a religious ground would be unconstitutional as it would point towards a government establishment of a "state" relgion.

My brother had actually told me about this story from a TV news report. Not surprisingly, the woman in question has not actually read any of the Potter books. Sheesh!

Patrick
a.k.a. Fringey, The Fringe Element
"A life lived without passion is a life not lived.

[ninjabear]

Never read, even, one of the books?
I've never read a Harry Potter book, and haven't seen any of the movies, either. I was under the impression they were for children, but sometime when I'm really bored I might look into it; until then, I won't comment further BECAUSE I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT THE FRELL I WAS TALKING ABOUT!
At least read a book before you criticize it---and for what it's worth, I'm attempting to promote Wicca; a religion that doesn't acknowledge the existence of the Devil (sorry, Bub).

[fringey]

Ninja, the Harry Potter books are for kids, but they are just good reads. Plus, as the books go on in the series, they get darker and more adult. I think Rowling intended for the books to "grow up" with the kids reading them. They are damn good books.

Patrick
a.k.a. Fringey, The Fringe Element
"A life lived without passion is a life not lived.

[fringey]

Oh, and the books have about as much to do with real Wicca as Charmed did.

Patrick
a.k.a. Fringey, The Fringe Element
"A life lived without passion is a life not lived.

[ninjabear]

Okay, wait just a microt---this Harry Potter kid doesn't even do Wicca?
Aw that just makes it worse!
Sure, a book aimed at children---adolescents were the target audience of Heinlein's The Star Beast---can be a great read for the grups but that does involve ACTUALLY READING ONE!
So if Potter has as much to do with Wicca as Samantha Stevens or the Charmed ones, how can he be making an 'evil' attempt to promote Wicca---but Wicca is not evil---ILLOGICAL, ILLOGICAL, PLEASE EXPLAIN! ONLY HUMANS CAN EXPLAIN!

[fringey]

Basically, in the Potter books, people are even born with magical talents and are wizards or witches, or they are non-magical "muggles. They go to school to learn more about using their abilities. It doesn't relate in any way to Wicca. So, if you can figure out how this women who hasn't read the books has decided the books promote Wicca, you can explain it to me, too.

No, they aren't Heinlein, but they ARE damn good. If you have seen the movies, that is what the books are like as they do an excellent job adapting them. I would put them in the same class as Wizard of Oz for fantasy elements, but a little more grown up in the early couple of books and MUCH more grown up by the current sixth book.

Patrick
a.k.a. Fringey, The Fringe Element
"A life lived without passion is a life not lived.

[fringey]

I have just started hearing about these books since they are going into a film adaptation of the first one. I am gonna have to read them.

Patrick
a.k.a. Fringey, The Fringe Element
"A life lived without passion is a life not lived.

[scryer41]

Without sounding like a total idiot here, I'd like to say that, even as a Christain, I don't find these Potter storys anymore offensive than The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy or The Narnia stories. They are books and movies, for crying out loud. As a Christian, I don't believe these books do anymore damage to anyone than the stories of Grimms Fairy Tales. I personally don't care much for the stories because they are aimed more at kids and pre-teens, just as the Edgar Rice Bourghs books of Tarzan, John Carter On Mars, and Pellucidar books were.

The Potter stories bother some Christains because it deals with witchcraft. But how many of those same people read books like The Wizard Of Oz to their kids?

The trick to all this is to tell children that these are not real people or even real events. You have to teach children to understand the difference between real and fantasy.

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Across the Sands of Time, along the Shores of Life, the Traveler rides on. For he knows his journey ends in lovers meeting.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beware the beast Man for he is the Devil's pawn.
Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, or ----, or greed.
Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land.
Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert out of his home and yours.
Shun him. Drive him back into his jungle lair.
For he is the harbinger of death.

The Sacred Scrolls: 29th Scroll, 6th Verse

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit my website at www.angelfire.com/oh5/scryer41 to see my art, poems, short stories and photos.

[cooky37]

OK I'm a Potter Head and they are more abput skill and school then religion. I've been Following this story Thru the potter sites, i think this is her second atempt to ban the books
BTW scryer the Cronicles of Narnia were inspired by christianity

Random thought on Harry
Teaser for Movie 5 out nov 17 in front of Happy Feet
Movie 5 out jul 14
movie 6 out nov 2007
book 7 romuored release 07/07/07
harry birthday 07/31 comfirmed- 07/31/90 rumored which makes him 17 next July ,The age of adult hood in the Wizard World
no more books after 7

Will someone shut that man up
NEVER!

[fringey]

cooky37 wrote:
movie 6 out nov 2007
book 7 romuored release 07/07/07
harry birthday 07/31 comfirmed- 07/31/90 rumored which makes him 17 next July ,The age of adult hood in the Wizard World
no more books after 7

Will someone shut that man up
NEVER!

Actually, The Halff-Blood Prince movie adaptation witll be in 2008, not 2k7. As for the 7/7/7 (12:00 U.K., 7 PM US) release date, it is still specualtive, but it IS the perfect date for it. It is a Saturday, when all of the other Harry Potter books have been released. All of the other books have been released in June or July as well. And, Rowling has hinted the number 7 is very important in the book, not to mention 777 is a special number in magic. So, I think we can fervently hope for this date. I just checked Rowling's website and she still hasn't decided on a title. *sigh*

Patrick
a.k.a. Fringey, The Fringe Element
"A life lived without passion is a life not lived.

[scryer41]

cooky37 wrote:
BTW scryer the Cronicles of Narnia were inspired by christianity



I'm well aware of this. But many Christians still haven't put that together yet. Just as some christians will put down Star Trek or Star Wars for what it is, but don't see the underlying religious themes.



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Across the Sands of Time, along the Shores of Life, the Traveler rides on. For he knows his journey ends in lovers meeting.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beware the beast Man for he is the Devil's pawn.
Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, or ----, or greed.
Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land.
Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert out of his home and yours.
Shun him. Drive him back into his jungle lair.
For he is the harbinger of death.

The Sacred Scrolls: 29th Scroll, 6th Verse

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit my website at www.angelfire.com/oh5/scryer41 to see my art, poems, short stories and photos.

[cooky37]

Fringey, Maya Kulpa Maya Kulpa Maya Kulpa. It was wishfull thinking on my part. At this rate the last movie will be released the summer of 2010.
but at last report Miss Rowlings is far from finished. Personaly I'd rather it be Good Than fast

Scryer, I have to admit besides the blareing examples (Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve...) I Didn't make the connection myself till the media Blitz Disney had pushing the connection. Either Diney wanted to prevent such a bann on their LWW movie or they wanted to cash in on the Passion of Christ Audience. Probably Both.

This mom should be grateful the kid have something interesting to read. I wasn't interested in reading till I found Trek books in High School

Will someone shut that man up
NEVER!

[fringey]

cooky37 wrote: Fringey, Maya Kulpa Maya Kulpa Maya Kulpa. It was wishfull thinking on my part. At this rate the last movie will be released the summer of 2010.
but at last report Miss Rowlings is far from finished. Personaly I'd rather it be Good Than fast

Scryer, I have to admit besides the blareing examples (Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve...) I Didn't make the connection myself till the media Blitz Disney had pushing the connection. Either Diney wanted to prevent such a bann on their LWW movie or they wanted to cash in on the Passion of Christ Audience. Probably Both.

This mom should be grateful the kid have something interesting to read. I wasn't interested in reading till I found Trek books in High School

Will someone shut that man up
NEVER!

I figured it was either wishful thinking or hitting the wrong key on the computer keyboard. LOL

Thank you for mentioning the fact that books like these do encourage children to read. I have always loved to read, but often didn't want to read what i was assigned in school as it didn't interest me. But, fantasy and sci fi, so I read voraciously on my own in my own time. The Wizard of Oz was one of the first books I remember reading. Had fanatics banned this book from my school library, who knows whether I would have been as interested in reading? Just to mention it, Rowling mentioned on her website that the HP books on are the top ten list of most banned books. Sad. She takes it as badge of honor to be listed with authors such as J.D. Salinger, but I am of the opinion that no books should be banned.

Patrick
a.k.a. Fringey, The Fringe Element
"A life lived without passion is a life not lived.

[ninjabear]

The Narnia film is based on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe---but who cares?
The original Battlestar Galactica is quite obviously the story of Exodus; that should not interfere with anyone of any religion enjoying a story well told.l
The movie Deep Blue Sea is blatant anti-science propaganda, but it's thrilling action sequences outweigh it's scientific inaccuracies and Faith-based overtones.
These opinions have come from EXPERIENCE!
That's the real problem here; if some ding-a-ling wants to ban a book, she should read it first. Sure I'm a bit weary of being inundated with things that don't pique my interest (you could not pay me enough to sit through a Tarantino film), but I'm not going to make everyone give it up just because I don't like it.
Dingy is free to hate Harry Pothead or whatever, but leave the fans to enjoy their little magic books or what have you in peace.

[designingwoman]

I think the whole thing about banning Harry Potter books is sheer stupidity. I know crazy religious fanatics who don't think Harry Potter should be around. Then again, I know a PRIEST who likes the Harry Potter movies. That really puts things in perspective. Father knows that the stories are FANTASY, and FUN reading. The religious fanatics need to GET A LIFE and leave those who are nonreligious or even moderately religious who enjoy reading fantasy books. I've enjoyed several of the Harry Potter books and look forward to reading more.

I think that any kind of censorship is a bad thing. Freedom of the press is an important part of American democracy and should be preserved.