Mother loses bid to ban Harry Potter books

[brooklynite]

Why can't some people take common sense for an answer?

ATLANTA - The Georgia Board of Education voted Thursday to uphold a local school board’s decision to leave Harry Potter books on library shelves despite a mother’s objections.

The board members voted without discussion to back the Gwinnett County school board’s decision to deny Laura Mallory’s request to remove the best-selling books.

Mallory, who has three children in elementary school, has worked for more than a year to ban the books from Gwinnett schools, claiming the popular fiction series is an attempt to indoctrinate children in witchcraft.

“It’s mainstreaming witchcraft in a subtle and deceptive manner, in a children-friendly format,” said Mallory, who is considering a legal challenge of the board’s ruling. “The kind of stuff in these books — murder and greed and violence. Why do they have to read them in school?”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16204853/from/RS.1/

[RubyDuby in GA]

1. I want little ol' Laura to answer one simple question:

Have you read them yet?

When she first started all this bullshit, she freely admitted that she hadn't even read the books. So tell me Laura, how do you know there is "murder and greed and violence" in them if you haven't read them.

God, I just want to smack this woman. She makes my eye twitch.

[jgraz]

3. This is one time when I'm sure justice will eventually be served

When her kids grow up, reject everything she believes in and refuse to let her anywhere near her grandchildren.

[nebenaube]

70. good glad I'm not the only one... n/t

[CottonBear]

8. She makes my eye twitch too. Her kids are going to hate her one day. n/t

[Tansy_Gold]

33. She makes my eye twitch, and she makes my nose run

And last week I saw her make a funny gesture with her hand when she drove by my house. I think she is a witch and she's doing all this to take attention away from her own witchcraft.

:sarcasm:

I don't know this woman, and frankly, I've never read the Harry Potter books or seen any of the movies. But I've read my share of fantasy over the past 58 years, and I would like to challenge this Ms. Laura to find me one, just one, example of ANYONE actually flying on a broomstick, casting an evil spell on someone, disappearing in a puff of smoke, etc. I'm not talking about stage magicians or theatrical special effects. I'm talking about real "witches," the kind she's got her panties in such a twist over.

Yes, we have lots of wiccans in this world, just like we've got lots of muslims and jews and christians and animists. And since for right now it's the only blessed planet we got, I suggest to Ms. Laura that she keep her irrational fears and invisible friends to herself, unless and until she can prove hers are real and no one else's are.

Otherwise, one of these days the "witch-hunters" just might come a-callin' on her. . . . .


Tansy Gold, who took her name from the character in Fritz Leiber's Conjure Wife, which sits right here on the top shelf next to her.

[Bridget Burke]

40. Well, according to Fritz, all women are witches.

(Not that he disliked women, at all.)

But I won't say anything if you don't!

[Hekate]

46. If you haven't read HP yet you have a treat in store, Tansy

JK Rowling starts young and "grows" her characters and their trials. It is a wonderful coming of age series, and if my kids were in elementary school now I'd be overjoyed to get them started on Harry Potter. As it is, I'll have to wait for my 2-year old grandson to learn to read. I have them all.

As for the adult fan base, my aunt is such a fan that when she retired from her professorship last year her colleagues gave her a themed party and a Sorting Hat.

Hekate

[Gelliebeans]

47. I admit it out in the open

I am an adult fan of the series. They are wonderful. My son is 13 and these books made his interest in reading soar.

This woman that feels compelled to ban the books needs to get a life.

[RubyDuby in GA]

75. I freely admit to being an adult fan of the series, In fact,

when a new book comes out those kids better get out of my way! I'm not afraid to push an 8 year old out of the way to get to one! :)

Ok, I wouldn't do that, but I do stand in line with the 8 years olds at midnight to get my new book.

[Gelliebeans]

76. I'll see ya there in July 2007,

RubyDuby hee hee ;)

[RubyDuby in GA]

77. YOU KNOW IT!!!!!!!!!!

I have already told my muggle husband (he's not that into HP) that I will be there on opening day, so he's watching the baby while mommy gets her Harry Potter fix!

[trogdor]

11. Because her wingnut minister told her so.

And he's (ahem) beyond reproach and incapable of lying or exaggeration.

[Debi]

24. Until he gets caught having gay sex with his meth dealer....

x( It could happen....really

[Richard Steele]

35. Betcha she reads her bible tho; no murder, greed, or violence in there!

I like that phrase, "She makes my eye twitch".
That says alot in just 5 words. And I know exactly what
you mean!

[goddess40]

74. That was my first thought as well

Then you have the bible's version of magic - they just call them miracles. I guess magic is okay as long as Jesus or God are the "wizards".

[barb162]

60. "murder and greed and violence" in Shakespeare too

The woman is an idiot

[Nevernose]

62. She's probably opposed to Shakespeare, too

I've known plenty of them, sadly.

[barb162]

64. And she probably knows as little about Shakespeare as she

does about the Potter books.

[krispos42]

66. Isn't the Bible also full of greed and muder and violence?

As I recall, it's not all honey and sunshine. Something to do with locusts, and fratricide, and a flood, and money-changers. And a mistake that proves the fallibility of the Bible in 2nd Chronicles 4:2. (Hint: pi≠3.0)

<edit: spelling>

[trotsky]

71. Chock full. n/t

[Roland99]

72. No way in hell she's read them. Typical pseudo-Christian, Kool-Aid, knee-jerk reactionary.

She's a worthless human being.

[jgraz]

2. I bet she wouldn't object to the Bible being read in school

No murder, greed or violence in there.

[Tyo]

12. Not to mention

Talking plants, parting seas, walking on water, living in giant fish, food falling from the sky, every living thing on earth fitting into a big wooden boat, loaves of bread multiplying like bunnies.... Sounds suspiciously like magic to me.:eyes:

[sarge43]

28. And the Witch of Endor n/t

[Tyo]

38. Yeah. Her too.

[neoblues]

13. No murder, greed, violence or other "supernatural" stuff...

Oh, I forgot, "God magic" isn't "supernatural" in the same way witchcraft is? Not that I or anyone I know has seen much of either; in fact, as far as I know, even dedicated efforts by Scientists to witness magic hasn't worked--it almost seems like "magic" doesn't even exist. Surely it's just because they don't believe in it hard enough--if they did, then they'd see it? Alas, though, the closest they seem to come is seeing nifty stuff they can't quite explain--but being stuff they can witness regularly occuring or being able to recreate it, it's just mysterious and not magical. One could say it depends on how you define magic; but the kind done by the big guy upstairs and witches seems to sort of be commonly understood and fits the description of supernatural; but we mustn't say that about the big guy's stuff--because it suggests words like superstition.

In any event, they aren't teaching magic in schools (well, short of Intellygint Design anway), they're just providing a library of books that interest children and just might get them to find books interesting and even possibly r e a d (heaven forbid--we all knows what happens when children start reading--it can lead to all sorts of blasphemous kinds of thoughts).

[Akoto]

19. This reminds me of a favorite Stephen Colbert quote ...

"Give me a burning bush or a virgin birth. Something that makes sense!"

[rocktivity]

4. Murder, greed, violence, deception

That's why THE BIBLE isn't read in school!


rocknation

[longship]

5. Coo-coo... Coo-coo... Coo-coo...

[LiberalFighter]

6. She should just tell her kids they can't read those filthy books

That will work

[bedazzled]

9. too sensible for the likes of her-and she wouldn't be FAMOUS

famous for being stupid, what a rush

must be hard to have ignorant parents like that.
hopefully her kids will go in the opposite
direction as they grow up -- maybe even drag her
along with them (not likely, though.)

[CottonBear]

7. Hey Laura: STFU already!

Gawd! I'm embarrassed to live in the same state as you. :grr:

[stanwyck]

14. Me, too, CottonBear

feeling blue in a red state.
But, hey, we won this round, didn't we?
Here's a toast. Cheers!

[CottonBear]

16. Unfortunately, she may appeal. I am so glad I don't live in Gwinnett County.

Thankfully, I live in a blue island in this red state. :)

Let's hope she goes away and we never hear from her again.

[stanwyck]

36. I'm in the Blue Island of DeKalb County

although my neighborhood is pretty red. BUT, getting more blue all the time. It's encouraging.

[Dulcinea]

39. Her again?

Oh God, will this woman just give it up already?!

Her kids are probably embarrassed by her.

[twilight_sailing]

10. I am so old I rememeber when there was no American Taliban

[Warpy]

15. If she wants to keep her own brats ignorant

and fearful, that's her problem. Chances are they'll outgrow it.

However, it's nice that the Board of Education has reminded that nasty, narrow, sanctimonious twit that the rest of us live here, too, and that the Harry Potter books have hooked more than one kid into reading books with hundreds of pages and no pictures.

[HughBeaumont]

17. It's a damned KID'S BOOK!!!!

The Harry Potter series and others made reading great for kids again. This is the dumbest shit I've read in years. Harry Potter does NOT lead to the Necronomicon, it leads to clearer thinking and understanding of one's self as far as children are concerned.

[BadgerKid]

18. Boomerang Toomerang Soomerang

I always thought Lady Elaine Fairchilde was witch, and I turned out ok. I think. ;)

[HuffleClaw]

20. i'd bet real money that she'd be more than happy to have them

read the 'left behind' books for kids instead (never mind their horribly anti-semetic and racist tones) and of course ya just know she hasn't read the harry potter books.

[niyad]

21. great scott, is that ignorant twit still at it? WHY doesn't she just send her brats to a private,

christian school, where they can be brainwashed to her liking? she is living proof that some people have wayyyyyyyyyy too much time on their hands.

[NeedleCast]

22. Nothing More Fun Than a Busy-Body

Bored Housewife? Nothing to Do? Why not attempt to force your views on others! Why subject kids to education, reading and creativity? All they need is the bible!

I remember when the (fundamentalist) lady who lived across the street from us found out I played Dungeons and Dragons when I was a kid. Lovely hearing her tell neighbors I was a devil worshiper.

[Sherman A1]

27. I ran a game store for 18 years

and we were visited a couple of times by some fundie group out of Florida (real long drive to St. Louis) who did a video interview with me. It's been a real long time ago, I will have to dig out that tape and have some laughs.

[FVZA_Colonel]

61. Could you upload it onto Youtube?

It sounds like it would be fun to watch.

[Sherman A1]

65. It would probably take me a few days to even find the tape

and then my upload skills are non existant. It is also very, very dated. Early to mid 90's as I recall...

[neoblues]

23. Afraid of the vast upswing in the number of witches...

running about causing havoc; a serious problem that must be addressed by hiding books of entertaining fiction from children. Sure.

I suspect the woman would find that even the schools would have a hard time convincing children that magic actually exists (at least beyond the age in which belief in a supernatural Santa Claus and Easter Bunny (and Tooth Fairy) exists). Still, I suppose it's possible--after all, the Church manages to make kids believe God exists (but that's because all the adults there insist it is so and seem to take it all seriously).

As far as I'm concerned, I wouldn't mind having a few magical powers but like a Republican, I'd want them exclusively for myself and those I get along with; it could be troublesome if a Republican got it's hands on some magical powers. Egad, how unpleasant, there's a Republican-like kind of selfishness I apparently suffer from; at least it's only regarding an imaginary power and not something that matters like money--and wanting to have more than everybody else even if it means most people are starving--and that is a bad attitude which is the kind of thing that mother ought to be worrying about not teaching her children.

I find it interesting how confident I am that that woman is a Republican (if she's anything; and what she would be if she does take a position); though that too is a Republican quality--judging others (which is supposed to be avoided as a sin according to the religious book of most Republicans). At least I only hold that as a tentative opinion and while I condemn her stupid behavior in trying to get the books banned, I don't necessarily condemn her (as a Republican would condemn me for being a liberal).

In the end, though, it's so insane (and typically Republican; whether she's a Republican or not) to be worrying and forcing administrative attention to contend with such a totally trivial issue--when there are so many, many other vastly more important problems to deal with.

**

[Kagemusha]

25. Wow. No bible reading for her kids.

“The kind of stuff in these books — murder and greed and violence. Why do they have to read them in school?”

No bible for you.

[DiverDave]

26. Fahrenheit 451, anyone?

Thats what they want anyway.

[Buck Rabbit]

29. Cruciatus !!!

Umm sorry, thought she was reaching for a wand. My bad. Oh oh, hope that doesn't leave a mark.


Anyway, I think she should at least be given credit for being a progressive christofascist. She called for banning not burning.

[MaineYooper]

31. what effect do you suppose a cruciatus would have

on someone who's already clearly under the imperius?

[Buck Rabbit]

34. Satisfaction for the curser?

Doubt there is much hope for this cursee.

If I had cast that curse that is, that is why I would have done it, theoretically. (Got's to be careful what one confesses too.)

[keroro gunsou]

42. both...

if you'd layer the cruciatic curse on top of the imperious, it would still work. the imperious only controls behavior, the other inflicts pain.

[enki23]

30. ban the bible.

incest, rape, demon posession, adultery, murder, greed, lies, fear, hatred, genocide, torture, human sacrifice, and chock full of witchcraft.

Saul at Endor, Joseph's scrying cup (he of the fabulous coat), Daniel the astrology supervisor (and general lion tamer). Etc.

[freethought]

32. For Cryin' out loud, does this ever end!

I remember this woman and her little tirade to ban Harry Potter from the school libraries.
I visited a sister in Santa Fe, New Mexico a few years back and there was some minister there
promoting a "Harry Potter" book burning.
In this day an age where there is justified worry about kids spending hours online, getting solicited by internet predators, being exposed to XXX internet porn, playing ultra-violent video games, you would think that we'd be happy that there is a book at all that the kids would WANT to read. I guess some see it differently.

I don't know where this woman came from but I wish I could take her back in time to see what my sisters and myself WERE REQUIRED TO READ FOR SUMMER READING. I'll admit I took the easy way out by reading "The Yearling" in the transition from elementary to middle school. One of my sisters had to read "Helter Skelter".

I bet cash that Mrs. Mallory has a copy of "Fear of Flying" or "Wifey" stashed in her house somewhere. Both books are pretty sexually explicit.

[Rambis]

37. Surprise inspection of her house

Let's see what her or her husband have that might be "questionable"? She probably has a half dozen cheap dime store sex novels around. Not to mention her husband who might have an extensive porn collection in print or on his computer. Sound familiar Ms. family values, country singer, * mouthpiece Sarah Evans? People that protest too much usually have something they are compensating for. INSERT FIRE AND BRIMSTONE EVANGELICAL of choice here-

[LostinVA]

41. Harry Potter has zero to do with witchcraft

These people are bonkers.

[WindRavenX]

43. man, muggles suck

NT

[mitchum]

44. I'll take witchcraft over bitchcraft any day

[brentspeak]

45. Good grief, doesn't this woman have anything better to do with her time?

Like advocating for the homeless, more funds to research diseases, etc?

[Pithlet]

48. I wonder if she ever let her kids watch Veggietales.

A Christian children's program. Because talking vegetables is more grounded in reality than flying on broomsticks :crazy:

[ninkasi]

49. Three generations of my family love Harry Potter

My oldest son, my 13 year old grand-daughter and I all enjoy the books and movies very much. My granddaughter is also in an advanced reading class, because we encourage her to read, and the Harry Potter series has encouraged many other kids to do the same. I can't consider this a bad thing, because it's not.When I was growing up, my parents let us read anything in the house, and as a result, I had read Animal Farm, and both of the Alice in Wonderland books before I was 9. I won't say that I understood Animal Farm's true message at that time, but I did get just enough of it to make me think, and read the book again as a teenager.

Some people see evil everywhere, usually because their minds are consumed by hatred and rigid thinking. When I was in grade school many, many years ago, we read Mary Poppins, and that's full of magic of one kind or another. Does she want to ban those books, too?

[VegasWolf]

50. Poor little religious wacko freak's children! Harry Potter doesn't worship Jesus,

he must be destroyed!!!

[Quantess]

51. Just this afternoon,

while wrapping presents for a charity event, one woman was complaining about the "war on Christmas" at her child's school,

"yet, Halloween is okay.....blah de blah....They had the kids bring in a recipe from home, and they were supposed to turn it into a witch's recipe. I complained, and the teacher said,
'oh, it's just for fun', and I said no it isn't. It's a religion. Witchcraft is a religion."

:eyes:
So, a creative writing exercise of turning a meatloaf recipe into a Halloween-witchy recipe is witchcraft? OH-KAY.

[David__77]

52. Too uptight. Not enough hairy potter in her life...

That's my diagnosis.

[Hayabusa]

53. *Chucks d20s at Mallory*

I can remember when they used to think my hobby was Satanic and evil. The only thing I learned about magic from D&D is that it's bad to use a certain spell in a very tiny room, or your friends get pissed at you for killing their hard-earned characters.

Lady, they're just books. Pieces of fiction!

And I think that EVERY book can be construed as having at least some traces of murder, greed and violence in them. Even the Bible.

[Solon]

79. Fireball in a storage closet!

Yeah, been there, done that, laughed about it myself. What can I say, my buddies' characters should NOT have followed my character in there. I was searching for loot, found a bunch of rats, me being a dwarf with fire protection, well, the quickest way to end the battle was to use the gem that replaced my right eye. So I cast fireball, and my buddies' characters, while not QUITE dead, damned near died from that.

[lovuian]

54. She's part of the Oceanian Thought Police

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_deZ3dQU_4

Looking for Wizard Worshippers

[cyr330]

55. Three words

Stupid. . . . fucking. . . . bitch.

[IndianaGreen]

56. The Bible is full of "murder and greed."

And it is by far a more dangerous and polluting book than any other fictional book simply because some people take it as the literal truth.

[Cha]

57. Boo!

:scared: What's she so afraid of?

[onehandle]

58. Lots of idiots in my state.

My state that didn't budge an inch in November while smarter states were turning blue.

[sugar magnolia]

59. How about a little personal responsibility here, Ms. Mallory?

You don't want your kids to read the Harry Potter books? Don't let them! Take responsibility for your own children.

"Why do they have to read them in school?” Funny, last time I checked just because a book is on the library shelf at the school doesn't mean kids HAVE to read it.

[Book Lover]

63. Okay, let's get some perspective here , Mrs Mallory

Bloomberg/Scholastic has sold literally millions of these books globally. If these books were connected to creating witches and warlocks, then where the hell are they? Do you think you could keep that kind of sea change quiet?

[MissMillie]

69. good point

Seriously... millions of books, and not millions of new little witches and warlocks.... seems to me the correlation is tenuous, at best. :thumbsup:

[GCP]

67. Let her read the incest story in the bible to her kids

(Lot's daughters)
After all, it's the bible - has to be better than Harry Potter

[MissMillie]

68. I don't get it.... there were several votes and she thinks they all should be overturned?

On what grounds? Because SHE doesn't like the books?

(Not that I think mob rule is the law of the land--it isn't, but she's considering a legal challenge, and I can't begin to imagine what he legal basis is for the challenge... :shrug:)

[Strawman]

73. If Jesus were alive today...

I'm sure he'd make banning Harry Potter books his top priority. :eyes:

Fucking idiots. I think there's another peice of reading material that might capture his interest, a little article called Planet of Slums by Mike Davis. http://newleftreview.org/A2496

He'd be offended not by the publication of this article, but by the fact that it is true and all that dimwits like this woman from Georgia are outraged about are children's fantasy books about some fictional wizard.

[warrens]

78. I hope they kicked her in the crotch, hard

She really needs a good kicking.