Fundie parent wants to ban books for all

[kay1864]

Gwinnett parent wants Harry Potter off shelves

Move over Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter has a new foe.

A Gwinnett County parent wants the popular Harry Potter series removed from all school libraries in the state's largest school district.

Laura Mallory, who has three children at J.C. Magill Elementary in Loganville, is asking the school board to make Harry and his friends disappear. On Thursday, Associate Superintendent Cindy Loe told board members a hearing on Mallory's request will take place April 20.

Mallory, a mother of four, said she hasn't read any of the Potter books in their entirety. She read portions of a few of the books, she said, and was offended by descriptions of demonic activity.

"My personal religious views don't agree with these books," said Mallory, a missionary who moved to Gwinnett about two years ago. "We need for our children to read things that teach good morals. Harry Potter lies, cheats and steals and there is no accountability. There are better things for our children to be reading."

Mallory first challenged the book in September at her children's school, saying the books glorified witchcraft.

Review panels from Magill Elementary and the school district already have ruled that the books should remain on the shelves.

A hearing officer will preside over next week's appeal. A transcript then will be given to the board, which will decide on the request within 10 days. The decision may be appealed to the state education board.

Rest of article here: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/04014gwxpotter.html
(use www.bugmenot.com if you don't have a login for ajc.com)

Some EXCELLENT AJC readers' responses here: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/gwinnetttalk/entries/2006/04/14/should_potter_b.html

You'd think they were written by DUers! Huda thunk so many liberal voices were in Ga.?

[Poppyseedman]

1. I wonder if she would also ban LOTR

[northzax]

23. chronicles of Narnia, anyone?

plenty of witches and stuff there.

[JHB]

33. Years back, she would have. Since the movies, it's been iffy.

Somewhere along the line some of the fundies embraced LOTR because they could understand the notion of a personification of evil patiently scheming to take over the world, and corruption as an outside influence by that evil (not just people making bad or selfish choices).

[boobooday]

2. The GOP fear of ideas is proof of the weakness of their own ideology

They quiver in fear at the thought that their children might hear something that is NOT designed to reinforce their own views.

They must not be too confident in those 'family values' they are always spluttering about.

[Iris]

4. What an excellent observation!

[boobooday]

9. It occurred to me as I was listening to their endless talking points

about indoctrination.

My son had a rabidly right/libertarian teacher who spouted off about politics all day long in the classroom, and it never bothered me. In fact, I couldn't wait for my son to come home and tell me what he had said that day, so I could rip his logic to shreds for my son.

They obviously believe their children are weak, and their beliefs are weak. How sad. :sarcasm:

[Iris]

3. And her personal regligious views are just that - personal.

Public school is just that - public!

[saltpoint]

5. Ms. Mallory need not fret anymore. In the next Harry Potter book,

author Rawlins (sp?) will have Harry die and sent to Hell for his lying and cheating and the lack of accountability.

Once in Hell, Harry will be tortured by demons. Dante's account of the netherworld will sound like Disneyland next to what Harry's in store for.

That ought to satisfy the cruel vein running through a moralist Nazi like Ms. Mallory.

In the meantime, perhaps all fundies should apply the same objection to lying, cheating, and lack of accountability to a certain incumbent president I know...

[kay1864]

14. ...

In the meantime, perhaps all fundies should apply the same objection to lying, cheating, and lack of accountability to a certain incumbent president I know...


No no, it's okay, he's a Christian...

[saltpoint]

21. LOL!! That's right! He IS a Christian!

[AValdoux]

6. Lies, Cheats & Steals...

...Without any accountability, uh. Where did she get that talking point?


AValdoux

[NI4NI]

15. Harry Potter lies,cheats, and steals?

She better not let her kids read any books about Bush or Cheney either.

[Missy M]

7. I guess the woman doesn't have control over her children.....

so they won't read the books, therefore, stop everyone from reading them. Why do people like her want to control what everyone else does when she can't even control her own.

[havocmom]

27. Have a neighbor just like that. Her kids are the worst in town

but she wants to control everybody else's parameters. Heard her lamenting a few years ago that we didn't have enough people for a proper book burning like they did in Idaho when they got rid of all those Harry Potter books! Idiot, she'd have to BUY the books before she could warm her fear on them burning!

Meanwhile, her lads start fires, torment dogs, throw eggs at houses, shoplift, and sass old ladies out on walks. They also get into trouble at school but she won't stand for them being punished for anything unless their whole classes are also punished, lest her darlings feel persecuted!

Helped the school librarian set up for a book sale a couple years ago. Unpacked a book with title something like "On the Other Hand, My Boyfriend is a Sex God" (some silly teen travail a-la Judy Bloom style). Told the librarian THAT book will get pilfered. Sure enough, it was there when a bunch of kids left the room, then GONE after the last 3 kids left. Guess who those last boys were! Librarian confronted them next day. Mom was there raising hell before noon. Librarian held her ground and book was miraculously returned (probably after a quick look revealed it was not about sex, just about typical teen age angst).

The mom is completely out of touch but bitches about the fact that I won't donate money when her lads come to the door for some church project. I tell them I won't open the door due to years of them teasing my dog through the fence, he might try to get even if they stepped inside. Oh, and I have no spare change, having spend all my cash buying dirty books for the county library.

People who can't control their own kids, or even SEE problems with them going about trying to control the whole culture really crack me up. I actually laugh in their faces now. Time to challenge their behavior and let them know THEIR behaviors are what is not socially responsible or acceptable. Call 'em on their crap. Tell them you are not standing for any Taliban-style censorship in your neighborhoods! Hold a mirror up for them to see themselves as what they hate most. Some won't get it, but they will probably stop getting in your face outta fear that you won't be bullied by their shit.

[MissB]

30. Wow.

speechless.

[Missy M]

35. I often wonder how people like your neighbor from hell....

can't see what is really going on. Or, can they see it but pretend it is not happening to make their life easier.

[havocmom]

47. Wonder about that myself

Delusions are tricky business.

[TheLeftyMom]

58. I think if you wonder...

Then you're probably okay. Just like the old saying, if you question your sanity, you probably are still sane.

Gotta say, I loved this one:

By NP

April 14, 2006 07:54 AM | Link to this

She obviously neglected to read Farenheit 451 when she was in school.


That says it all~!

[jaxx]

8. Goddam do-gooders.

They think they can run us all. No thanks, I can make my own decisions.

[seabeyond]

10. oooosh then as a parent tell your kids not to read the books

that is a tough one. what a moran.....

dont want kids to read something tell them no

isnt that in the fundie handbook of parenting

and if your kids do, take a wooden spoon to them and follow dobson instructions on abuse to beat them witout leaving a mark

i wouldnt be opening a harry potter book if i were her child, with that kind of repercussion

personally all i have to do with my kids is give them a foundation in honesty and respect and it appears they make the good choices themselves

but then that is that evil liberal parenting at play

[seabeyond]

20. i have to tell a story. an employee's 12 yr old son in bathroom

with a magazine. step dad came in and the kid hid it. looked guilty, wouldnt say. step dad went to mom and said something was up

we would all think porn, right. i was ready to defend the boy and his porn against fundie mom argument.

oh, mom was so proud when boy came in and told her what he was doing. it was a kid entertainment magazine and had an article on harry potter. the kid was on bathroom floor tearing out of magazine and ripping up.

my face fell, my heart sank, a cry of sadness left my lips, oh poor boy i said to employee. so sad. i thought porn. would much rather of him been in there looking at porn. that is normal, not this....

she was proud

in amazement we talked about how she is so afraid and has to put on her armor of god to face such evilness, to the point my stomach was churning and i thought i was going ot throw up. i had to run out of office. then you know what she did.

she told on me to my husband that i yelled at her. bah hahahahah. i still laugh and shake head and sit in wonderment with this mentality. my kids dont like harry potter, cause it scares them..... no other reason. a kid doesnt have to read if they dont want. and if a parent doesnt like it, all they have to do is say no. mine was ed ed and eddie, sponge bob and power puff girls. we didnt do any shows that honored anger, or stupidity.

[Caoimhe]

11. Concerned US citizen wants fundies banned and deported to Iran

where their theocratic ideals will be upheld by the schools and government. This woman needs to be whipped with lasagna noodles until she begs mercy!

[nonconformist]

12. These wackjobs really take the cake

"my personal religious views don't agree with these books"

SO DON'T FUCKING READ THEM!! Insane.

And I am highly skeptical if she actually did read any "excerpts", because I've read them all and there is absolutely nothing demonic about them in the least.

[Maraya1969]

13. Wonder how she feels about "Uncle Tom's Cabin" ?

[Atman]

18. She prefers "Uncle Dick's Undisclosed Location."

I hear it's a classic in the fundie set!

[saltpoint]

22. LOL!

Loved it, Atman. A great line.

[Atman]

16. My suggestion for Laura Mallory...

Don't allow your children to read the books.

Then STFU and leave everybody else to live their own lives and make their own decisions!

[Warpy]

17. I can't believe they're devoting court time to these wack jobs

After all, the laws are written so they can oppress their own kids. When they try to oppress everybody's kids, there should be some other mechanism to slap them down. Hard.

But no, they're given the legitimacy of lawyers and judges and bailiffs and a courtroom.

Too bad slapping them sillier would result in assault charges. That seems to be the kind of treatment they desperately need.

[Der Blaue Engel]

19. Why doesn't she just put out her own eyes

so that she doesn't have to be offended by the evil, evil world around her? I'm so sick of these people. Go live in a cave and stop bothering us. (Oh, and have yourself sterilized, if you would please. Thank you.)

[tigereye]

24. no one should ever ask that books be banned

without reading them in their entirety.

Well, no one should ever ask for ANY book to be banned in the first place. Controlling ideas, their exposition, and people's access to books, art, what have you, is the first step to fascism and makes for children who are never intellectually challenged.

And, Harry and his friends are the essence of good morality and the war between good and evil. It saddens me that these folks can't see that.


as Voldemort said in the first book and movie, sic, there is no good or evil, there is only power. :scared: (or the desire of small minds to control other's minds)

[0007]

25. It appears children can sort out fantasy from reality easier than

most adults.

Because I don't believe in Santa doesn't mean I want him removed.

[Midnight Rambler]

26. Darksided!!!

I'll be forever grateful for the God Warrior... putting a face on every whacked out fundamentalist trying to impose the evangelical version of Sharia law on the country.

[B3Nut]

49. hehehehehehehehehe

Wasn't she a piece of work? Even has the teeth to match....eeeyoiks. Maybe DU should take up a collection to get her a pair of small stone gargoyles for her mantle... ;)

Todd in Beerbratistan

[eek]

28. Yay! I get to drag out my favourite Harry Potter Book Ban Joke again!

Down South in the Bible Belt, the only wizards they like are Imperial.








(I'm from the South.) (It's meant as comedy.)

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kay1864]

29. Great comment in the AJC reader forum:

Inquiring (tax paying) minds want to know:

- Is the Gwinnett County school system required to hold hearings whenever a citizen considers a book to be inappropriate for inclusion in the school library?

- How many books are in the library?

- How many of the books make reference to characters who “lie, cheat and steal”?

Perhaps the Gwinnett County school system could achieve better efficiencies if the complainant more clearly defined her personal religious views. That would give the board an opportunity to evaluate the entirety of the library catalog in one session.

Or (for even greater efficiency) couldn’t the board just say, “Sit down and shut up!”?

Finally (and then I’ll shut up myself), one wonders why the complainant hasn’t heard of HOME SCHOOLING?

[JuniperLea]

31. People need to learn to live and let live

We all have a right to our own preferences, opinions and beliefs in everything there is in life. What one person likes might totally piss you off, seem horribly wrong, or any number of things. The point is, you can't take away another's right to have an opinion or a preference. That is my biggest pet peeve... people think they have the right to take your rights away when they don't agree with you. Bottom line in so many issues today.

If it doesn't kill anyone or hurt a child or hurt Mother Earth, who are we to judge?

I think these people are nut jobs. They have a right to be nut jobs. They have no right to force their nut job ideas on me.

[Rocknrule]

32. In the minds of conservatives, anything kids like = evil

[GreenPartyVoter]

34. *lol* These people are so funny

[Sinti]

36. Doesn't she realize if Harry didn't lie, cheat and steal the Devil wins!

No book should ever be banned! Many I would choose not to read, but don't take away my option to do so.

[zbdent]

37. Okay, I forget

Where's the demonic activity?

I don't remember demons . . . elves, gnomes, trolls, but no demons . . .

I also remember what the dark ages would consider chemistry (Potions class) . . .

And isn't there a whole section in the Bible which would be classified as "Divination"?

[kay1864]

40. My thought exactly!

The moment I read the article I went wtf? Geez lady, this isn't "Charmed", it's Harry Potter!

Of course, the reality is, this idiot flipped through the book, saw the word "witches" or "potions", and that automatically equates to DEMONS TAKING OVER THE MINDS OF HER CHILDREN!

[MissB]

42. Sounds a bit like my mother, who believed

that burning of incense = evidence of witchcraft.

[zbdent]

38. Here's a fun quote:

"Read the Bible. It teaches you how to act. Read the hymnbook. It contains the finest poetry ever written. Read the almanac. It shows you how to figure out what the weather will be. There isn't another book that is necessary for anyone to read and therefore I am opposed to all libraries." - Hal Wimberly, Georgia state legislator opposing funding for a state library system, 1925

[BiggJawn]

39. Of COURSE she didn't read the whole book...

"Pastor" already read what Jim Dobson had to say about the books (he didn't read them, either) so dear, sweet Laura didn't have to trouble herself trying to muggle her way through 800+ excrutiating pages.

"Jeebus hates you,
This I know.
For my Pastor tells me so.

I am weak,
But Pastor is strong.
You believe in Science,
so YOU are WRONG!"

[kay1864]

45. Huh-huh. You said "muggle". Huh-huh.

The Harry Potter demons have obviously possessed you :rofl:

[BiggJawn]

50. I was HOPING somebody'd catch that!

:evilgrin:

[Mango Suede]

41. Easter Wishes for Laura

Here's hoping Laura becomes possessed over this Hypocritically Holy Weekend and is forced to masturbate repeatedly with the GREAT GOOFBALL ON THE STICK ! Yay

Take that, Oh Lord . . .

[Chiyo-chichi]

44. The Harry Potter books are filled with Christian symbolism.

There may be more Christian imagery in Potter than in the Chronicles of Narnia. There is at least as much.

There is no "demonic activity." In his book Looking for God in Harry Potter, John Granger points out that the magic in Potter's world is incantational rather than invocational, i.e., they do not invoke demons or dark forces to make the magic happen.

Harry lies, cheats, and steals? In every instance where he breaks the rules, he is actually struggling to do the right thing.

[B3Nut]

48. Thinking Christians realize this.

If the fundies would actually *read* the books and *think* about things instead of flying off the handle at superficialities they'd get quite a bit out of them. But they're far too shallow and robotic. It's sad, really. I'm an evangelical, but I love the Potter books and movies and can't wait for the last book to come out. I got to see "Goblet Of Fire" in the new IMAX theater in Madison, too...that ROCKED! Much better than the first little theater I saw it in, the subwoofer wasn't nearly up to the task of that movie. Lots of bass in that flick! And the IMAX picture! Dang!

Of course, I'm one of those darksided liberals who likes incense and candles... :D

GARGOYLES! DARK-SIDED! AIIIEEEEEE!

Todd in Beerbratistan

[lukasahero]

46. "My personal religious views"

'bout says it all, doesn't it?

[AtomicKitten]

51. This parent wants to ban fundies.

They need to become acquainted with the MYOB notion and quit trying to impose their nutso beliefs on the rest of us. Their claims that their actions are biblically-oriented are so misguided.

[kay1864]

53. So have you filed a lawsuit for that?

I'll be happy to help you with the paperwork! :7

[Initech]

52. Can we ban the American Taliban from having a say in our education?

Could be a first!

[Craig3410]

54. Come on now...

She only handpicked parts of Harry Potter to read just like she only handpicked parts of the Bible to read.

The fundies are out in full force on the comments page...

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/gwinnetttalk/entries/2006/04/14/should_potter_b.html#comment-397455

Edit: Ick; didn't word that first sentence too well.

[sakabatou]

55. She hasn't read the book in their entirety?

Soi how the hell is she supposed to make a opinion on them?

[MissB]

56. She doesn't need to form her own opinion of them.

[sakabatou]

60. Oh, right

Witchcraft, ghosts and demons, oh my!

Of course if she read them, she'd know that they contain bravery, friendship, and a whole bunch of good stuff.

[Rocknrule]

61. But bravery and friendship are sinful qualities according to conservatives

[knitter4democracy]

57. That'll just make her kids read them.

Censorship often drives the kids to find the books and pass them around like samzidat. She's an idiot.

[kay1864]

59. Ain't that the effing truth...

Her kids will secretly read the HP books, then get hooked on them 'cause the books are so damn good, and the books will expand their minds, and make them question what they believe...

and then they will become LIBERALS! MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

(maybe Laura's actually part of our fantastically evil takeover plot?)

[knitter4democracy]

68. You're so right on that.

My parents raised me to be liberal, but my hubby's raised him to be a right wing fundy kind of Republican. They also wanted him to be a doctor, which meant doing well in school, and the more he read, the more he questioned. Med school was what really sealed the deal on his switch over to the Dems. He saw too much that was too plainly conservative/Republican that was evil for him to ever vote Republican again.

It's that dang critical thinking. ;)

[walldude]

62. Yes Ms Mallory, it's fallen upon you to be the censor

for the rest of the world. If you dislike it, it must be bad for everyone. :eyes:

I am so sick of this crap. You know what? Harry Potter makes kids READ! Thats right, when a new Potter book comes out my kids don't see a TV or a video game till they are finished READING! Horrors of horrors, we can't have our kids READING! They might develop a mind of their own, and then what would we do??

[walldude]

63. The 100 most frequently challanged books

Grabbed this list after reading about Ms Mallory, these are the 100 most challenged books from 1990-2000 :


1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Might just make a new thread with these....

[kay1864]

65. Holy cats!

I just saw

19. Sex by Madonna

What public library has THIS book? I remember when it came out, even the bookstores had it under wraps.

[walldude]

66. Yeah I thought that was odd but the list isn't just schools and

libraries, it counts any books that had any kind of action taken against them. I was more freaked out by things like Huck Finn, the Maya Angelou books, Lord Of The Flies, Native Son, and others. The one that really killed me though was Where's Waldo? I mean c'mon, Where's Waldo??????

[kay1864]

67. Yeah, Where's Waldo, that's pretty subversive...

:P

I'm still confused though. That's the American Library Association's list, so I'm guessing that's school libraries and public libraries. Maybe university libraries had a copy of Sex? And how long exactly did it remain on the shelf? :P

[Vickers]

64. "offended by descriptions of demonic activity" Hey, so is Harry!

:crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy:

[NMMNG]

69. "We need for our children to read things that teach good morals."

What, like the Bible? It teaches that selling your daughter into slavery is acceptable, women are to be subservient to men, you should kill people because they were born gay, a woman who is not a virgin when she is married should be stoned to death (but apparently a man can sleep around all he wants prior to marriage), it is praisworthy to dash an infant on rocks, etc. etc.

I'm feeling gooey with morality already. :sarcasm: