US library ban on JK Rowling - most wanted
Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has been voted the author Americans most want to ban from libraries over fears that her books promote witchcraft.
The American Library Association (ALA), who compiled the list for their Banned Book Week, said there were more than 3,000 attempts to remove the books from libraries and schools between 2000 and 2005.
The ALA said some of the main reasons cited for protesters trying to get controversial books removed from circulation were sexually explicit material, having an occult theme or offensive language.
Other complaints highlighted books with violent content or promoting homosexuality or a religious viewpoint.
Other authors on the list include John Steinbeck, for racism, violent language and sexism in Of Mice and Men, Harper Lee for To Kill a Mocking-Bird and William Golding for Lord of the Flies.
Rowling said: "As this puts me in the company of Harper Lee, Mark Twain, JD Salinger, William Golding, John Steinbeck and other writers I revere, I take my annual inclusion on the list as a great honour."
An ALA spokesman said: "Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to express one's opinion, even if it is considered unorthodox or unpopular and it stresses the importance of ensuring others have access to those viewpoints."
posted by Miki @ 09:41
110 Comments
110 Comments:
As a Christian who enjoys Harry Potter, I have to speak up. The problem I believe most Christians have with the book is that it is aimed towards children. However, if your child is so influenced by what they read, you need to put your energy into guiding their reading habits, and not trying to ban the book for everyone else.
If I may comment on the comment should we ban Grims fairy tales also they seem to have witchcraft and dragons in their stories and they are directed at children. I think the books should be taken as children stories and not a marketing tool for the devil.
Anyone who complains about Harry Potter needs to have a nice sit down with someone who will explain to them, in gentle terms, that MAGIC IS NOT REAL.
Banning any ANY! book is horrible. Does banning even work??? When you draw so much attention to a book that you don't like? I mean, everyone just want to know what all the big fuss is about. If they can't get it at a library, they will borrow it from a friend, or 'gasp' go buy the book and put it to the top of the bestseller list. (which usually what happens to these 'hated' books.)
If you don't like it. Leave it at that. Don't put so much energy into something that you hate. Telling the world just draw attention to that fact that you don't like something.
Great.
Leave me alone to decide what I like.
For those people who would condone the banning/burning of books in a hopefully more enlightened era, I wish onto you a ten fold return of the discord you bring into the world. I can only imagine the troubles your children will bring you when your need to control them and the world around them becomes too much for them to ignore. Ban books in my town, and I will personally make sure the entire list is delivered via Amazon to your doorstop for every Christian holiday promising peace on Earth and good will toward men.
goddamned christians. as if they're any less freaks as practicers of witchcraft.
Of course many of the complaints come from Religious Parents, so it is unlikely that they will have the tightest grip on what is real and what is not.
Indeed, magic is not real.
Just like religion
Magic isn't real!? *sobs*
If I may say as a Neo-Pagan, this book has as much to do with Witchcraft as Grims Fairy Tale (as Anon observed above), Hans Christian Andersen and The Chronicles of Narnia. It's an imaginative fantasy. It's like saying the Lord of the Ring is a treatsie on witchraft, which means you have missed the point entirely. Harry Potter is an unsugar coated coming of age adventure with magical trappings, which is the reason chidlren love it so much. Whether you love or hate the books, Harry Potter has a large number of children reading rather than watching TV and playing video games and I think people should be greatful for that.
Can we add the bible to the list? I find the stories in the bible to be offensive for the reasons of sexually explicit material, having an occult theme or offensive language.
Banning books, burning books..no,no,no,no...........
It should be:
Banning politians, burning crooks
Of course magic is not real, but the folks that are having a problem with this also have a problem understanding that ghosts and religious beliefs are not real either.
Since they already have difficulty distinguishing fact from fiction, it's easy to see how a work of fiction can intrude on their lives. These folks need therapy, but as a society we ignore them or ridicule them (look at these comments). In a few decades, we will look back at this period with great sadness.
Unfortunately some people don't see that(reading books, not watching TV all day).
magic is real, and you should be affraid for your children. The harry Potter series will undoubly taint the young souls of your children,
What I love most about this is, if questioned, most of the people screaming for the ban will admit that they HAVE NEVER READ even one of the HP books.
What's the old saying.. "Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."
Why should the role of parents default to the government? If the books are so offensive, don't allow your children to read them. I find Ann Coulter to be an offensive author; however, I recognize her right to publish whatever garbage she wants, and my right to choose not to read it.
Banning books and art and media and pictures and art, is the the way of fascisms.
The Christians unfortunately have the most fascist "Good" crusaders (jihad's?!) that fight for such things as removing art, music, video and pictures from society.
Religion should be kept to ones self, and never should it be forced upon anyone or used as basis for any action by city/state/country government, and if it is, the persons failing to segregate the Laws of men and those of fantasy such as Zeus, Jesus, and the spaghetti monster, should be stripped of there authority and removed.
we are in a war, because the GOD of Christians told Bush to do it, and 9/11 happened because the GOD of the east told them too.
I might say that the only thing that truly needs to be banned is religion!
As for the Article, i laughed, as anyone not superstitious or filed with religious fantasies can see and knows, there is no such thing as witchcraft. The closest to real witchcraft there is; People who through action believe that they have powers. (not talking about pentecostal tent healers, but it is synonymous).
Now on to racism. In books like "tom sawyer" and "of Mice and men". Racism was a large part of the culture and history of that time. We maybe against it now, and fighting to become colorblind of thought, but if Twain writes "nigger", it's only because in that time it is what was said, and before we white wash the world in which we live with a sordid color called null. It's important to remember, to see and to learn of the past mistakes of our fathers, fathers, fathers.. etc...
On sexually explicit. I must say that TV and Movies are full of violence and hate, our own president and government, portray hate and violence as an answer.I think that i would rather have my kids learn of sex and love, then of what our culture advocates as entertainment. Are we so far gone that seeing a woman naked is worse then a man being shot? I hold religious people liable for this too.
Did i miss anything? perhaps, but i am sure that through reading this you can see my idea. It's time people got off there high horses and realized, that if they do not want there child to read a book, then tell them not to... but do not tell mine the same, or ban them from getting it. I will parent my kids without religious fantasy and monomania for sin, of there fellow citizens.
The Harry potter series is by far my favorite line of books. It has provided a fantastic way to connect with my family in a way we can all understand as well as enjoy together. I'm very glad to see this great author where she belongs... among a few of the best authors to ever right.
Mary Poppins is thematically very similar to Harry Potter- a magical community that exists alongside the nonmagical world, but without their knowledge. Did anyone ever panic when Mary Poppins came out, or is this just another example of the increasing nanny culture?
(Interestingly enough, it used to be the liberals that wanted to control every aspect of our lives, and now it is the conservatives- have you noticed that?)
The vast majority of the ameture christian theologins have little to say when asked to distinguish between belief and faith. They wear seatbelts because they believe they will save their lives, and have faith they will not be in an accident. Their religeon is a spritual saftey belt. And they really don't keep it on unless they feel threatened. Then they display it loud and proud. I know what I believe in and that is JK is hot. She is the perfect product of faith in one's self when the chips are down. She is the embodiment of preserverance and the belief in one's self. If the great spririt helps those who help themselves, she is blessed. She has overcome great odds that the average book banning soccor-mom has never had to face, having sold out to a potbellied meal ticket and never had to toil to survive. JK is the real deal, a self employed working mother who made her dreams come true.
I think it all boils down to a simpple fact: Muggles (except the few that are enlightened to the Wizard's World) simply do not understand Magic and therefore what they do not understand, they fear and want destroyed.
How dare you use the spaghetti monster's name in vain!! I will now riot in the streets!!
Or maybe just take a nap.
To the anonymous that says magic is real.....
Prove it!
I want to see this!
EVERYTHING IS UNGODLY!!!!
Hell, at least the kids are reading instead of being zombies infront of the Television.
I vote for a ban on the ALA.
Witch Trials anyone?
They Just have nothing better to do with thier time than to pick on great authours the library people really need to get a REAL LIFE!
I will admit that I never read Rowling's works. But that is not to say I will never read them. The ALA and all the other Big Brotherish wackoes need to acknowledge the first ammendment and give me the liberty to read these books if I want to. I am 24 years old, not 2 and a half, I can make decisions for myself. I read HALF of the books on that top-25 banned list in school. They're not offensive, they're culture. These nuts at the ALA obviously can't read properly, the can read and comprehend the meaning of the words, but not the context, the true meaning and message the authors were trying to convey. I can't wait for them to come to my house to burn it to the ground, a'la Fahrenheit 451. Ooops, they just added that book to the list...
Yes it IS a sad world when there is talk of banning some classic historical fictions such as Of Mice and Men and To Kill A Mockingbird.
These are great literary FICTIONS, rather like any FANTASY novel, and should be explained as such by the parents.
No wonder the children of this generation are lost and confused and apathetic. No one told them or showed them what is real and what is not.
Where are the parents of these children??? Too f**ing busy attending book burnings?
This whole generation is being raised with out a Creator, but with a GOD/GOVERNMENT which "knows best."
FOR SHAME on those who would become dictators of what's best for another person's child.
If you want to read something gutwrenching, consider the Left Behind series. It has ghoulish armies of the undead being blasted apart by the powers of "good". Poor undead are like that because god won't allow the souls to leave their bodies. Demons and violence any player of Half-life or Hexen could wish for. Most of it, I'd rate NC-17 for violence and religious hatred.
It's a christian supremist novel series that pretty much typifies the attitude I'm getting from evangelicals. The "we're right, your belief in Christ is totally wrong because you go to the wrong church, and you're going to hell." I have literally been told that despite the fact that I have been raised a Christian from birth and do accept the bible. Makes me want to become a member of Pagans for Christ or something, you know, the people who actually believe Jesus sermon on the mount.
These people are active in banning stuff on pure emotion and slander. I see emails from time to time on the need to boycott this brand or that author for totally specious, made up reasons.
Armageddon will merely be a internecine war of all the right wing religious conservatives. Hopefully our books will survive and the planet will be habitable for us left behind.
People who want to ban books are idiots. They need to take responsibility for their own parenting and stop worrying about other things. While we do have a right to a say what kind of society we live in (i.e. you can't be indecently exposed, you can't yell profanities on the streets, etc.) I don't believe a book sitting on a shelf in a library violates those rights in the least. But for the sake of not judging many because of the few louder ones they are associated with, could we focus on the point at hand and not turn this into a bitter religion bashing session?
re: the first two "Anonymous" comments...every parent -- Christian, Muslim, Wiccan, Atheist, whatever -- would best serve their children by putting their energies into guiding their kids' reading habits, whatever the books are (same goes for TV, movies, music, etc.). IMHO, this guidance should be more highly regulated when the children are very young, but, as they grow older, children should be allowed to be introduced to media of "differing" viewpoints from the parents, in order to learn about the world around them and to spark conversations within the family as to the merits of a particular story and how it's presented. At some point, kids will question whatever they have been taught; best to let that forum be already established within the family, open to free discussion. As another commenter noted, banned media instantly become far more attractive!
I am a Christian, and haven't bought the Potter books for my kids, but not due to the nature of the stories (my kids are 4 and 6, and not yet at that reading/comprehension level). When they are old enough to grasp the story, I plan to introduce those stories to them -- and to myself.
Our forefathers left the Mother Country in part to have the freedom to practice religion as they wished, and to enjoy freedom of the press. I don't think they would have liked to see us in the 21st century banning books of any kind, particularly in the name of "religion".
Not all Christians think exactly like those Christians highlighted in the media, just as not all (liberals, Wiccans, fill in the blank) think exactly like extreme versions of those groups that are highlighted in the media. Blanket statements on either side are helpful to no one.
I love it when people try to force their beliefs on others.
I'm being sarcastic, in case you can't tell.
I take exception to the extremely misleading phrase "most Americans" in this article. 3,000 idiotic attempts to ban Rowling's books (many of which attempts may be lodged by the same few nuts) out of, what, 300 million Americans? That hardly represents widespread public opinion. Pretty sloppy journalism in my opinion. I plan to launch a campaign to burn the first paragraph of this article.
If they feel a children's book should be banned for it's references to witchcraft and mysticism, than surely there would be no objection to banning the bible for the same reasons...
A close examination of the ALA's Lists of Most Challenged Books reveals that The Bible, The Q'uran, and The Book of Mormon have all made it into these Lists on an almost-yearly basis.
Christians and other fanatic types who aim to challenge/ban books in the U.S. fail to realize that their favorite books arealso subject to challenge/ban based on many of the same grounds that they use to challenge/ban books.
I've read all the Harry Potter books. It upsets me that so many people want to ban these books, or any books for that matter. I remember reading rather controversial books like Animal Farm... which is about socialist livestock.. or the Great Gatsby...talk about violence! Poor Myrtle gets run over, and Gatsby gets shot in cold blood while he lounges in his swimming pool. These were all read in middle school, too. What about Peter Benchley's Jaws?
Seriously, these matriarchal martyrs that are so adamant about banning books, should be more concerned about protesting to this war than children's literature.
I've read all the Harry Potter books. It upsets me that so many people want to ban these books, or any books for that matter. I remember reading rather controversial books like Animal Farm... which is about socialist livestock.. or the Great Gatsby...talk about violence! Poor Myrtle gets run over, and Gatsby gets shot in cold blood while he lounges in his swimming pool. These were all read in middle school, too. What about Peter Benchley's Jaws?
Seriously, these matriarchal martyrs that are so adamant about banning books, should be more concerned about protesting to this war than children's literature.
I'm Catholic and I'm opposed to book banning . . . however, the predictable "ban religion" remarks are equally idiotic. Ask yourself which societies have done that and whether you'd really want to live in them. (Hint: Nazi Germany, Communist Russia . . .)
I would vote to ban her books for shamelessly recycling fantasy themes without any originality...not for promoting witchcraft. Does that mean we should get rid of the entire fantasy genre, since it tends to involve magic?
The Harry Potter series are works of fiction
The Bible is a work of fiction
Christians do not want competition in their drive to indoctrinate new followers! This is THE fundamental reason behind Christian efforts to ban books of all kinds...
Since the character of Jesus performed "miracles" and exhibited miraculous powers, should he not be called a "warlock" instead?
Ya know, I think the biggest tragedy in all book banning, or attempts at banning, is that just because someone doesn't agree with how a message is presented, it should be banned. Leave the religious aspect out of it (although I find that most of these attempts are made by one religious group or another). Isn't reading all about taking a positive message out of a book? I foind the HP books have avery positive message, hard work, independence and THINKING FOR YOURSELF, among others. Seems to me everyone, not amtter who they are, what religion they are, should be allowwed to make their own decision. Banning ANYTHING takes away that choice from everyone, just because a small crackpot group doesn't like it. And THAT is what grinds my gears
To anyone who wants to ban any book, I have two words to say...
"SIEG HEIL!"
I second the petition to ban the Bible. I'll also throw in the Talmud and the Koran. All of them for offensive and inappropriate language, promoting a religion, being highly sectarian and active agents of racism and bigotry.
If Harry Potter offends the sensitivities of readers, then the three books mentioned above are guilty of the same offense a thousand times over. No child should be subjected to such twisted logic, internal incosistancies and degrading material.
Harry Potter starts with the clause 'this is a work of fiction...', which clearly marks it as a work of art for entertainment purposes. The Bible, Talmud and Koran are presented as factual accounts on the origin of everything, dead pan and without a hint of irony. People in their millions have been butchered so that the ideas contained therein might thrive.
To the best of my knowledge, Mrs. Rowling has never once advocated that her work should be regarded as the only truth in the world and that people who disagree with the point of view should die at the hand of the righteous. Yet her books should be banned and the defining documents of three of the most important religions on the world should not be.
This planet is crazy alright.
Censorship is slavery.
Magic is every bit as real as Jesus. A hex on all non-believers!
So 3000 complaints in a country of nearly 300 million. Yeah sounds like a huge story to me.
Get the right 3000 people and you could complain about one fish two fish red fish blue fish.
Non-issue.
Wait.. do christians get to decide what is offensive? Or maybe jews, or perhaps muslims should be given the scepter. Mythologies like these are no different then any other story that creates ground rules for how the universe works; except for in the case of Harry Potter, the ground rules are clearly not the case. Is anyone really threatened by this? Are Christians really offended? I should think that Christians wouldn't even be offended by an outright denial of god, I mean, if the Christian God does exist, it should be manifestly clear and therefore a denial only would deceive the wicked and unriteous who don't deserve salvation anyway. In any event, the book bans are clearly unconstitutional. Anyone who beleives in a consistent rule of law, any patriotic americans would value the constitution above any other beleifs.
Magic is not real, but neither is god.
I would like to start by saying What the hell is wrong with this country. What happened to the freedom of speech. why do we let people decide what books to ban... put the books in a closed area or something so kids cant get to them... but why you gotta ruined it for me... I say lets start a petition to unban all the books that have been banned previously... I dont care if itsporn or whitchcraft... if you are rea
There are some amazingly ignorant morons posting to this thread. First you have the folks condemning all Christians for the actions of a few, then the ones who want to "ban the ALA" because they compiled the list of banned books.
Case in point, this jewel of insight: "The Christians unfortunately have the most fascist 'Good' crusaders (jihad's?!) that fight for such things as removing art, music, video and pictures from society."
Yeah, it was the Christians who went out and blew up the thousand-year-old Buddha statues in Afghanistan, and sawed off the heads of schoolgirls attending a Christian school in Indonesia, right?
As a Christian, I have no problem with JK Rowling or the Harry Potter books. While I've read only one or two of the series, my kids love them. The problem lies, like anything else, on how one chooses to act on something one has read or seen. My kids are no more into sorcery from reading those books than they are into creating monsters after watching a "Frankenstein" movie.
But some of you folks need to get a grip. You are even more intolerant than the book-banners when you make comments like "g*****n christians. as if they're any less freaks as practicers of witchcraft..."
To Anonymous 16:06: Indeed, banning a book doesn't work at all; when it was pulled from the shelves of my (public) high school library, my personal copy of The Color Purple (fantastic book, btw) got over 100 reads. The library copy hadn't been checked out that many times in the 5 years previous.
And to Anonymous 17:55: I think you've misunderstood. The ALA doesn't ban (or attempt to ban) books; they record and report on such attempts of censorship at your public library, schools, etc. The actual action (be it a ban, a challenge, a restriction, whatever) actually takes place at a local level, usually a school board or just within an individual school's administration. If you're ever faced with censorship, the ALA is a wonderful resource for fighting it.
Why do some of these parents so worried about these books put their energy towards something useful like oh, world peace? Or writing millions of letters to the government telling them all that they are complete idiots?
At best I am agnostic. I find nothing wrong with Potter books or movies. I do find some/most of the comments amusing. It seems that Christians are the biggest problem according to the comments. It seems that currently there are more extreme religious fanatics than Christians. Advocating death sentences for anyone that is not of their belief seems more hateful than wanting to prevent general circulation of materials that they disagree with.
As for those that do not want a ban on ANY book I find that troubling. I do not want a book published or circulated that shows how to make chemical weapons or any other weapon that could cause a large number of deaths. Yes, these materials are available online. Does anyone want a book published that lists doctors that perform abortion names, addresses, and photos of their family? What about a book that list the most successful ways to lure a child into your car?
It seems to me that adults that suspend 6, 7 and 8 year old school children from school for drawing a picture of a gun or sticking out their tongue and calling it zero tolerance are more hurtful to our society than a group that wants to prevent public availability of what they find ofensive. They are robbing them of their childhood.
Why don't these persons who wish to ban do something positive, instead. Obviously, children want to read captivating books. Here's a novel idea: write one that isn't offensive!
You can not ban a book, What is going on are we living in the dark ages?? Who cares if the book offends someone it is the parents job to raise their kids not societies. I would be very cautious of someone who tries to tell you how you can and can not live your life, which is what this boils down too, and yes children and really everyone is influenced by what they read but if you need to resort to these tactics to "protect your religion" and try and keep it from causing doubt in someones mind then you need to seriously re-evaluate your own dedication cause this kind of thinking is what makes you weak.
We have plenty of room for the few americans that still thinks straight. But whatever you do, don't leave the nukes with the religious fundamentalists.
JK Rowling is the devil! and i don't want my children reading her devil filth, or playing fooosball with their friends.
My only comment on this is that the people posting should get an education. I find it a bit ironic that a thread with books as the subject has so many grammatical and spelling errors, that a grade school english teacher would cringe.
First, I am a professing Christian. I believe there is a God. There, I said it.
However, I do NOT believe that it is any one group's job to censor any media type (e.g. Internet, Newspaper, Books, etc.). I just wish that people could see through the religious fanaticism that is so wide-spread through the internet. Religious fanatics like the ones who think that Harry Potter is of the Devil, and that it is their job to censor it. These are a very small percentage of the Christian faith, and I don't think that it is a fair stereotype. I try my best not to flame every agnostic or atheist comment I read. I consider all ideas equal until I can decide for myself whether or not something is of value to me. Please, Fanatical Televangelist Christians, tone it down because you're giving all Christians a bad name. And please, Everyone Else: don't judge the Bible, the God of the Bible, or the Followers of that God by the "Christian" fanatics on the Internet because that is a very poor representation of the Christian Faith.
Here's something to try! Go out and meet someone. If you're a Liberal, meet a Christian Conservative. If you're a Christian Conservative, meet a Liberal. Don't judge them, just ask them about what they believe and why. Maybe you will learn something. When I did that, it was probably one of the most enriching things I have ever done. I finally began to understand how he thought, and then I could respect him.
The worst thing you can do to another person is to judge them by what you think they think.
Has anyone noticed that the ones who say they hate the series sign in as anonymous? I agree with a lot of these comments. It all comes down to parental control. Take the time to talk to your children. Don't leave it for the government to do for you. I don't want anyone else telling me or my family what they can/cannot read, watch or listen to and I will fight anyone who tries to force it upon me or my family. If you think something is evil or offensive then by all means, don't read or listen to it but don't feel that you have the right to tell anyone else they can't watch, listen or read what they want to.
my book of spells is in the shop for service. the minute i get it back all of you are in deep s^&%$
I personally believe that the simple act of trying to ban a book should be illegal. We have the freedom of the press and speech in this country, which includes books. This is one of the reasons the U.S. is falling so far behind in our schools. People are more worried about WHAT their kids are reading vs. the simple fact that they ARE reading. Reading expands teh mind and teaches it to think outside the box. So I say ban the list of books to ban and make parents take the responsibility of what their kids read. And I agree with all others who say that we are not children. I am a grown man and can definitly decide for myself what I want or don't want to read. No one has the right or authority to decide for me.
People need to stay out of other people's business. If you are so paranoid about what your own children are reading you probably already humiliate them by going through their things and making sure no "evil" gets in. Too much focus for controlling only your own children? Get a hobby, don't look to limit the library.
D'OH! THe ALA is AGAINST banning books. Read the damn article.
--
Hitler banned books. Ideas are what help us keep government in check. That, and guns.
every author on that list is a hero.
With every passing day the difference between the religious right and the fundamentalist nut case Muslim narrows.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banned_books
Let's get a few things straight... To say that Christians are wrong, religion (or should I say Christianity) should be banned, etc. is the wrong way of going about it and makes you look as stupid as those who would ban the books. I know that I'm a Christian and I know about my beliefs as well as those who do not serve Christ, but I will say that if you choose not to serve, that's fine. Let's look at this simply...
1. Book banning as well as burning is wrong, to do so puts you in a society of Fascists as well as Communists, where censorship is the norm.
2. No need to blame everyone who believes in God for things that only a few do. If that were the case, could we blame all wiccans for skipping out on work on one of their holidays and ruining the economy for that day? I don't believe that would be proper as well.
3. People need to take this political climate into perspective... IMO, it's not just the far right conservatives who are misguided and wrong, but the far left liberals are as well... The wonders of being a moderate, you should try it.
Now, as for some replies I saw,
"Anonymous said...
'Indeed, magic is not real. Just like religion'
16:14"
-Religion isn't real? Oh really? Prove it...
"Randal2k said...
'Religion should be kept to ones self, and never should it be forced upon anyone'"
-Ok, but doesn't it seem wierd that one doesn't want that, yet it seems ok for people to be forced to accept things like gay marriage and amnesty for illegal immigrants (now, before people get all up in arms over these comments, I want to point out that I'm trying to show both sides of the argument. What I'm trying to point out is you don't want it one way, you can't have the other.)
I've never read the HP books, and nor will I, for basic reasons that they aren't what I'm in to. I read, and considering I'm a Junior history major in college, I read many different books. But, even though I don't read Rowling's works, if someone wishes to, that's their business... It's called the 1st Amendment.
All books should be banned except for the "good" book. A good narrow perspective is what our country's childen needs. Ignorance is bliss. We cannot have our suburban fantasy children be educated, to find out that there are other ways of life. We must shield them from the evils in life's experiences. They can then grow up and spread the goodness of ignorance.
religion=belief in magic
ZOMG WE HAVE TO BAN RELIGION NOW TOO
To the person who said that Mark Twain's use of "n---er" was acceptible because of the times...actually, he was known to have used the term satirically. He was quite heavily criticized for presenting southern whites as a bunch of toothless bumpkins. Just wanted to clear that up.
No, the problem is not christians persay it is american christians. Remember that we live in the only modern country where evolution is openly debated inthe media despite the fact that over 95% of all scientists agree evolution is real and happens. This is a country whre bigots like Jerry Falwell et al use religion as a platform to obtain gross amounts of money to further their neolithic views through special interest lobby groups. There are people ion this country who genuinly believe the apocolypes is coming and wait for itto happen and even more frightening these are the people who are influencingthe dicisions made in Washington DC. Sadly ignorance is rampant in this country and since the American people seem to thing that building smaller better bombs and blowing up nations just because the are full of "little brown" people is really important, to paraphrase Mr George Carlin. Instead of focusing on the problems we have at home such as lack of education, lack of healthcare, and for that matter roads that get repaired on a resonable basis.
Until those sorts of issues get sorted out we will have to deal with frightened morons who have to hate and fear everything they do not understand and more importantly refuse to attempt to understand.
I am goddamn sick of the frightened minority tryingto tell me what i may consume if you don't likethe first amendment getthe hell out of the counrty and don't come back because what the first amendment realy means is that even though I may hate and abhor what you stand for and say, I will fight to the death to protect your right to say it.
Due to the last 6 years for the first time in my life I am ashamed of my country. American stands for beautiful ideal and the last 6 years have almost irreparably damaged that image, in the eyes of the world....
wooo...i got on a bit of a tear there.
Well bottom line, CENSORSHIP AND THE SUPPORT THEREOF IS UN-AMERICAN!
BE A BLOODY PARENT AND DO YOUR JOB IF YOU DON"T WANT YOUR CHILD TO CONSUME CERTAIN MEDIA PAY SOME BLOODY ATTENTION TO THEM, AND PARENT!
I have to tell you Jordan that Magic is real and if you look up 1 Sa 15:23, You will find that witchcraft IS sin. Now I believe that the book should be banned from schools. If we can't have the Bible in school, then why should we let one more sinful thing in!
Just so everyone knows... They have banded the Bible from schools!!! Why do you think that we have school shoting, teen pregnacy is up, more drugs, and you think it is ok to kill in born babys. Why should i and my children have to listen to your athistic veiws. I don't judge you for your choices, so please return the favor. You will all have to answer to God on Judgement Day, and declare that his is LORD!!
Speaking of ironic, did you mean English teacher? Thought so.
First of all, I am an Evangelical Christian and proud of it. Second, there really isn't a need for all the bashing of Christians and Religion in general. Most Christians do not wish to ban the Harry Potter books, nor any other book. Its just the few over zelous mis-guided and under educated groups that act out and make fools of them selfs. And it is unfair to bash our entire religion due to the actions of the same media hungry groups that exist in every sub culture in our great country.
When they came for my Bible, I let them take it. I do not read the Bible.
When they came for my Koran, I let them take it. I do not read the Koran.
When they came for my Torah, I let them take it. I do not read the Torah.
When they came for my first-edition copy of Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, I met them at the front door with an Olympic Arms AR-15 modified with a military-grade upper receiver chambered for 5.56 hot rounds and demanded them to either provide both search and arrest warrants signed by a local judge or get the hell off my property.
" If you're a Liberal, meet a Christian Conservative. If you're a Christian Conservative, meet a Liberal."
What, only Conservatives are Christians? Liberals can't be Christians?
A.G.
Of course these books should be banned! Religious zealouts should know, more than anyone else, how influential a work of fiction can be.
Take, for instance, the Bible, Q'uran, Book of Mormon, 1984, Mein Kampf, Playboy, Easy Rider, and Dell's Sudoku Compilation #874.
Ok, maybe not the last three, but you get the picture.
I also love the Harry Potter series and look forward to the last book as well as the next movie. I also believe strongly in Jesus Christ and his ability to save us. I am not one to force my beliefs on anyone, but for those of you that believe religion and Jesus are meer fantasy... I guess I won't have to worry about seeing you in heaven. Would like to see your face when God himself looks upon you and asks why you didn't believe, right before he sends you away.
okay first i am a christian. however i also went through a faze of wiccan. i can tell you first hand that both are real. banning books is NOT right. and to those who say that ONLY the bible should remain you are truly from a cult. god gives us free will for a reason. what we do with it is our choice. he may not like what we do but newsflash what parent does. saying only the bible should exist is like saying that we should not have free will and you are worse than those who want to ban books. also if they ban books do they realize their kids can go to other places to retrieve them or a friends house? the hp books are not bad nor are the other ones that they want to ban. if they want to go that far ban the news and the papers. those have worse violence than these books ever will and thats real life.
okay first i am a christian. however i also went through a faze of wiccan. i can tell you first hand that both are real. banning books is NOT right. and to those who say that ONLY the bible should remain you are truly from a cult. god gives us free will for a reason. what we do with it is our choice. he may not like what we do but newsflash what parent does. saying only the bible should exist is like saying that we should not have free will and you are worse than those who want to ban books. also if they ban books do they realize their kids can go to other places to retrieve them or a friends house? the hp books are not bad nor are the other ones that they want to ban. if they want to go that far ban the news and the papers. those have worse violence than these books ever will and thats real life.
Being pagan, first of all, HP has nothing to do with "witchcraft." Second, just because you don't want your kids reading it, doesn't mean that other people's children shouldn't have the right to read HP. Thirdly, it's HP already!! Give me a BREAK. Aren't there more important issues going on in our country than a fantasy novel?? The people obsessed with banning HP need to get out more.
3 things...
1-i just re-read the article and it is the ALA not the christians [for once]who want to ban the books. now why would the library want to ban books?
2- no one anywhere should have the right to ban any book for any reason.
3-i am a single male parent with a full time job and i raised my two oldest children by my self. and as a parent it is my job to teach my kids right from wrong and fantasy from reality. and with the exception of nudie books i chose to let them decide what they wanted to read HP included and they are fine .they haven't killed anyone and they dont sacrifice the neighborhood dogs. everyone needs to just tend to their own and leave their neighbors alone.
Isnt it ionlic that they want to ban "To Kill A Mockingbird" because it has racist slang in it?
If any of them had actually I dont know...... READ the book they would know that it is preaching against racism
It is a sad state of affairs when anyone is okay with banning books. Restricted access to certain materials is an easy solution, however, we cannot go locking up every book in the library because someone has a problem with it. I grew up in a family of readers with a "library" room in the house. Books I shouldn't have read were on the high shelves. Granted, I read Heinlein's "Friday" when I was 10, but I turned out alright. Certainly, the Anarchist's Cookbook shouldn't be available to a 12 year old.
Magic as a concept in literature is something that cannot be ignored as a genre. Disney is going to be in deep doo-doo if these fundies ever get their way. Censorship of books as innocuous as Harry Potter will stifle the already crippled imaginations of our children. I went through a phase as a 10 year old child trying to find various magical artifacts in our home and, when I didn't find anything that would levitate, light up, or transport me to other places, gave up and assumed that magic is not real. I LEARNED BY EXPLORING MY OWN IMAGINATION.
Likely the primary issue with these people is that they don't want to have to form an intelligent answer when their kids start asking questions. It's easier for the parents to cite the Bible as truth and tell their kids to take it on faith that if they read Harry Potter that they will go to hell than it is to monitor what their reading or *gasp* read it themselves and discuss it.
Kids have a natural tendency to ask questions and analyze what's in front of them until it's systematically and completely taken from them by the television, ignorant parents, and ever growing class sizes.
We should ban all books. Independent thinking undermines Christian values. We need to control our morals.
An ALA spokesman said: "Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to express one's opinion, even if it is considered unorthodox or unpopular and it stresses the importance of ensuring others have access to those viewpoints."
People should read the entire article to understand the context...
The problem with wanting to ban books comes down to the organization which is housing the book. Libraries orginated from private collections being opened for public use (thanks to Ben Franklin). The control was thus in the hands of the person responsilbe for purchasing the collection. Later libraries progressed to public/government operated facilities. Once public funds are applied then the decision of what materials are available no longer rest in an individual choice, but that of all. What we can not forget is first amendment rights regarding free speech(those of the author, the publishers, and anyone else who wishes to express an opinion), the freedom of religion (christain, wicka, pagen, etc.), and the freedom of information act are at play when dealing with public libraries and their contents. If individuals and groups don't want certain books available, then start your own "private" library.
Rowling has always been in the company of Lee. Both chicks can't write. These writer's books should not be banned but rather ignored.
I am probably beating a dead horse hear but, I can think of another very well know group that found it impairitive to ban whatever they found offensive. And I find it rather amusing that so many Christian groups are so eagar to join the ranks of Hitler and his feloow Nazis. Of course, if you READ books before banning them, maybe you would LEARN something from them. Everyone that I have met that says that they "hate Harry Potter" have never even opened the front cover. Pretty pathetic if you ask me. You don't like it, don't read it. I will continue to read whatever I feel like.
Not to point out the incredibly obvious, but isn't the Bible a book that features magical raising of the dead, feeding many with a fish, walking on water? To date I can not recall a massive war over someones belief in Harry Potter. I love the fact that the people that want to ban the book are in feel that they are the only people in existence with possession of "the one true answer". I am sure that they all possess multiple Ph.D's.
Anonymous 4:50 put it best. Let the Luddites exist and as Bryan said, let them exist somewhere else
To blame books for what Krystal the Troll has posted, is asinine. To blame lazy parenting is hitting the nail on the head. The nutty fundies (who, although, only represent a very miniscule portion of Christianity are the ones who get the airtime and exposure and are giving all GOOD Christians a bad name) are the reason for all of the hate in the world. They are the ones who breed intolerance, bigotry, and hate. If we are to ban anything, let us ban them. Lord, knows this planet would be better off without them.
My 3 year old loves Hansel & Gretel which promotes kidnapping, child abuse, murder, canibalism and robbery... not to mention bad parenting. They had better ban that, too! I wouldn't want my daughter to become a witch murderer.
Why is Christianity the only group to be blamed. We are not the only subculture in America with media hungry looney tunes who jump on something just to have a cause. I don't think the constant bashing nof Christians is apropriate, considering The bible is on the same "ban" list. Obviously many other groups protest as well.
I would like to invoke Godwin's Law and call this comment section closed. At 0204 Anonymous called forth the ghosts of nazis past and as such the Law must now come into affect. Thank you.
first and foremost,
isn't this a great country?!!
where else can someone scream "ban the book" and another can retaliate with a rousing "blankety-blank"?
Only in the good old USA do we have true freedom to speak with out fear.
And I want to thank all those immigrants, stow-aways, bonded servants, and criminals that came to this great land so many hundred of years ago. I especially want to thank all the soldiers that fought and died to preserve "Georgia mom's" rights.
and JK, at first i hated your books (get off the killing of innocents chick!!) but they got my grandson to read instead of staring at the tv.
Oh, Georgia Mom; maybe you want to ban books because your child is no longer jumping every time you crack your whip. Get a grip on your relationship with the kids. Have a heart to heart with them and leave the rest of us out of it!
reason one - witchcraft isn't real anyway, so even if it promotes it (which it doesn't, because I've read the whole lot of them and don't call myself a witch)it will only be imaginairy and not real, so what would it matter?
reason two - Some idiots only want attention so they do stupid stuff like this which CAN ruin everyones lives.
reason three - You've actually just given me the idea that this promotes witchcraft, so you kind of have to blame yourself.
reason four - if you go through with banning this, you will have to ban all fantasy and most childrens books. If you do that, I will definatly grow up to be a mass murderer, and I mean that.
reason five - you can't blame me becoming a mass murderer on harry potter, it's your fault.
reason six - your going to start saying monster rock bands and heavy metal stuff like slipknot is bad, I will kill you.
reason seven - THE DEVIL DOESN'T ACTUALLY EXSIST except in people around you. And mainly in people who want to ban the things that people like and enjoy.
reason eight - Harry Potter isn't that popular where I live, so I doubt that my whole town is a coven of wizards and witches in secret. It's not like they would leave me out of it if they were.
reason nine - I'm trying to write a book myself, about werewolves and vampires. If that got published, you'd probably go on about how it makes people think they are vampires.
reason ten - your all so sad if you spend your free time planning things that will get you more attention, and if you do this, you may start riots.
P.S. If you do start riots, can you tell me what time I need to be there for?
P.P.S. I'm only a kid myself (12 years) and you could seriously damage my life if you do this, okay, maybe not that much, but I get annoyed easily.
God does not exsist. Fact. And if you feel like complaining and saying that he does, answer me this - If he exsists, and is all powerful and junk, what has happened to the world?
I was certain that we all lived in democracy, so one group of brain-deaf idiots (not being offensive to anyone who is, just using it as an expression) can't control us, or force us to read the bible.
I once tried to read the bible, I got really bored and fell asleep at the title. You cannot complain that Harry Potter taints the mind, when the bible does the very same thing. It's all lies. Sure, Harry Potter was great to read, but every sane person knows it isn't real. Most people don't see the link that the bible is complete lies as well. That annoys me.
Ban HP, and riots will start. Most may actually be kids in it, so you've just started a war which people everywhere will be watching, and that will teach violence. If you think it through, the idiots who want to ban HP started that.
You might as well ban all my favourite types of books. Fantasy. Do you know why I like them? It takes me away from this world, which is a mess. It gives me different views on things. Sure, I do live in reality and don't pretend to be witches (apart from on halloween) and other creatures. I only use the books as a gateway with my imagination.
You can take away my favourite toys, you can ban good websites on school computers, but you can't ban my favourite books. (You can't ban my music either).
Belive it or not, these books can actually help you through life. When the characters have problems, you think of a way to resolve them, and can also find out how the character does that. You can normally link those problems to real life.
Oh yeah, and want to know something weird? I never actually knew J.K. Rowling was a woman. Funny how I've read all the books and have all the films.
And I can speak this truthfully, because I am one speaking for the kids and what they think.
First of all not all christians (none I know) are pulling for a ban on Harry Potter. Just the media hungry side, contained in all groups of people. Second of all in response to gothtilda, i'm glad you with your omnipotence have delcared with a 100% certainty there is no God. I'm sure a few people still wondering, so on their behalf thanks.
Lol. "Free Country."
Krystal- you are one ignorant bitch. I find it funny how you associate "Values" with the Bible. Perhaps we should promote incest in schools instead of sex-ed? You know, like Adam and Eve's son Cain???? or Abraham and Sarah??? I can't help but wonder if you've even read the Bible-not just those "Praise Jesus" phrases you repeat in church on Sunday. If you actually take the time to read the Bible, you may be disapointed-especially with the rape and incest parts.
fucking loons.
Ok... for starters, I believe that the Harry Potter series is an extrodinary learning experience written by an extrodinary author, JK Rowling. I don't see how people can control what other people read. It's just not right. I know for one I'd rather have my children reading, then out doing drugs, or being glued to the t.v. all day. Also, JK Rowling never implied outside of her FICTIONAL series that magic is real. I mean...the human race should have learned something by now, magic IS NOT REAL. And it's not just the Harry Potter series. Many other books are being challenged and banned. Classic literature is going to become wiped out if books are going to be banned as people say they will. And alot of people are right, challenging or banning books, is just going to make them more popular on the market. When people hear all the fuss about a book, they will get curious and check it out from the library, or even buy it at a store. Anyhow I think that banning books is just absurd... just leave the author's thoughts alone!!!
Hey yo! this harry potter stuff is cool. and kids are raised to dream and have a wide imagination, whats better than to read a book of excitment. we've been raised to story's of witches and goblins and magic all our lifes why is this so much different? lets see, why don't we just band halloween, its the same thing! but worse, children actually dress up like the magical creatures! get a life and have fun, we aren't telling all you people to stop doing the stuff you love to do, and stop reading the stuff you love to read!
Krystal said: "I have to tell you Jordan that Magic is real and if you look up 1 Sa 15:23, You will find that witchcraft IS sin. Now I believe that the book should be banned from schools. If we can't have the Bible in school, then why should we let one more sinful thing in!"
Okay...okay...okay! Sorry to break it to ya...but do you not realise that there are more than just Christians attending ANY Public school? Therefore the children who worship...lets say Judaism might find it offensive that the school has the Bible not the Torah?
Leave school related things separate from religious things. If you have a problem w/ it...then enroll your children into a Christian private school.
Also, dont hate on other books when they appear to be "sinful" Incase you havent noticed...HP is FICTIONAL!!!!!! Meaning: NOT REAL!!!
Jeeze!! Welcome to the real world!!
I love these debates. But I do have to laugh. The statistic was something like 3000 people out of 3 million wanted the books banned? Probably not even as much as that since it might be the same person complaining 3000 times.
*Newsflash* this has nothing to do with relgion. This is the media, as usual, playing devil's advocate and stirring up contention between people with differing beliefs. They do the same every year at Christmas when stories are published that suggest to say "Merry Christmas" might offend Muslims or other non-christian religions. The Muslims DON'T CARE! The Christians DON'T CARE about HP! The journalists write these things to SELL papers. Know who really has the power in your country.
Very Interesting Blog article. However, after reading comments from everyone else....I'm failing to see WHERE in the article that Christians were at fault? It seems this is a PUBLIC LIBRARY complaint, not one with the Church. Rowling's books (whether certain sects of society chooses to acknowledge them or not) are a timeless classic. To not allow kids to dream, and use their imagination and encourage reading is the downfall of humanity.
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