Ga. Judge: Keep Potter Books in Schoo

[wakeme2008]

Source: AP

May 29, 2007
Ga. Judge: Keep Potter Books in School
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 6:09 p.m. ET

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) -- The adventures of boy wizard Harry Potter can stay in Gwinnett County school libraries, despite a mother's objections, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Laura Mallory, who argued the popular fiction series is an attempt to indoctrinate children in witchcraft, said she still wants the best-selling books removed and may take her case to federal court.

''I maybe need a whole new case from the ground up,'' Mallory said. The woman, who said two of her four children attend public schools in the county, was not represented by an attorney at the hearing.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Potter-Protest.html

[redwitch]

1. Someone should turn her into a newt.

And won't she be horrified when the owl brings the Hogwarts acceptance letter to her door!

[Dulcinea]

2. Her again?

Why can't this woman get a job or a new hobby? She makes me embarrassed to live in the same state.

[Javaman]

24. This is what happens when you have suburbian fundie wives that don't

get enough sex. They channel their fustration at the easiest target.

"will someone think of the children!!!!"

[jgraz]

3. To which I say

[NeedleCast]

4. The Good Guys finally win one

I enjoy occasional good news. It's a shame this case wasn't tossed to begin with.

Why does this woman have her children in school if she finds the material found in the library so objectionable? Home school them with the rest of the Evangelicas so they can learn that the world is flat.

[onehandle]

5. Has she spent as much time clothing and feeding the poor?

No? Satan will be so happy.

[CottonBear]

6. She's not going away...she's going to appeal the judgement.

What an idiotic, wingnut, moran. Why does she have to live in my state? :banghead:

[Javaman]

25. I'm waiting for her book in which to she writes about her "hardship"

in trying to get the devil out of the classroom.

[ninkasi]

7. These people really get on my nerves

Has she read any of the books? I am sick of people who think the whole world needs to conform to their own prejudices. If she doesn't want her kids reading Harry Potter, then she needs to tell them. Other kids shouldn't be denied their right to read a popular series, just because she doesn't want her kids exposed to them.

I was delighted when the books came out, because my two youngest grandchildren devoured them. Reading is good, and anything that encourages reading is wonderful. I enjoy the books, myself.

[NeedleCast]

8. Nope

In fact, she's said she won't read any of the books because of their content but that she formed her opinion by reading Evangelical web sites.

[left is right]

10. I agree, any book or series that encourages reading can't be bad

My grandkids are still too young for HP but I am buying the series and putting them away until they are old enough. Next, I will buy the Lemony Snickett series and sometime down the road, I will buy for them my absolute favorite "The Phantom Toll Booth".

[Lisa]

11. speaking of "The Phantom Toll Booth" -- sounds like that woman is jumping to Conclusions!

I'm amazed she managed to swim all the way back to the mainland to pester the court like that.

Then again, as the PTB pointed out, it's possible to swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge without getting wet.


p.s. I wonder if anybody has told her about "The House With a Clock in its Walls"? Does she know that other authors, even in the US, have been writing about witches and wizards? (Actually I found that Bellairs series scarier than Harry Potter ... the protagonist doesn't have the protection of a whole school of sorcerors, just his uncle and Mrs. Zimmerman with her doctorate in magic from the University of Gottingen.)

[Barrett808]

32. And she wants the kids to be driving around the Doldrums

Good stuff from long ago.

[Lisa]

35. bit of a coincidence -- I couldn't help thinking about the cities of Illusion and Reality ...

... when I read this news item about people walking faster in cities than they did a decade ago.

http://www.gothamist.com/2007/05/03/nyc_ranks_eight.php

[bpcmxr]

12. The Phantom Toll Booth!

What a wonderful book! Haven't thought about it in years - thanks for the reminder. :)

[CRK7376]

37. My middle child

loves the Lemony Snickett series. He's devoured all of them, but did not like the movie. I on the other hand enjoyed the movie, but haven't read any of the series. I grew up reading the Hardy Boys, finally moving on to other books somewhere near book 60. Probably 5-6th grade when I launched into the Hardy Boys. My daughter is just starting to read Nancy Drew and seems to enjoy them. The eldest has never been into reading books the way I was, but he does read the newspaper daily, loves Calvin and Hobbes and the Far Side, and everything Bill Maher writes, along with John Daily and Al Franken....

[hyphenate]

41. Another short series you might like

is Madeleine L'Engle's trilogy with A Wind in the Door, A Wrinkle in Time and Swiftly Tilting Planet. It's a great series and while I read it as an adult, it's quite brilliant. The series has won many accolades and awards, including the Newbury Book Award.

[Norrin Radd]

9. I don't understand why she objects to witches,

when people like her enjoy burning them, so much.

[superconnected]

15. hahahahhhahha

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Oak2004]

42. Actually what's really amusing is how much "witchcraft" is in

fundamentalist Christianity ("witchcraft" here meaning magic, not Wicca).

Much of what goes by the name "Evangelical" these days is so-called "prosperity" theology, which attempts to use prayer to evoke material objects. Evangelicals also often resort to all manner of ritual exorcism (much of it dangerous, often against the will of its victims, sometimes lethal) which certainly falls under the category of magic. In fact, many Evangelicals practice a religion which, when looked at with unbiased eye, is indistinguishable from the primitive magical practices they claim to be against.

[Book Lover]

13. ''I have a dream that God will be welcomed back in our schools again,'' Mallory said.

Well then, why don't you send your kids to a religious school? My parents did.

[Ginzie777]

26. There's nothing wrong with

Inviting God back into our schools. I am a Christian myself & don't see the problem with the Harry Potter series. In fact, I've read them all at least twice & can't wait for the 7th. I know that this is a sticky issue in the Christian community mainly because most refuse to actually read the books. They all have the notion that JK is trying to turn our kids into witches, however; I view the series as the classic struggle between good & evil.

I've heard many Evangelical pastors put down the Potter Series for the content (which I think they know nothing of) but sing the praises of The Lord of The Ring Series. When they are asked why, they say because Potter supports witchcraft & Rings supports good vs. evil.

Just as Non-Christians condemn the Bible without really knowing what's in it, so the Christians condemn Potter. Such a sad world when we protest before we understand.

[ulysses]

27. god was never *uninvited* from the schools.

[Ken Burch]

40. I don't think it's even metaphisically possible to invite or uninvite God anywhere

From what I see, like some omnipotent Ruby Tuesday, "in the darkest night, or when the sun is bright, no one knows...she comes and goes."

[Book Lover]

28. What would having God back in public schools look like to you?

What would change from our current experiences and expectations?

[yardwork]

33. Welcome to DU and you make a good point about LOTR

My 4th grade teacher had the Narnia books in our classroom. They're the darlings of fundies these days, but they too involve a great deal of good magic.

I think that the politicians just latch onto certain books or TV shows every couple years to keep the faithful (by which I mean contributors to the military-industrial capitalist complex) whipped up in a froth of concern.

If it isn't a purple Teletubby it must be Harry Potter. Rationality has nothing to do with it.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

34. I agree with much you say.

but I HAVE read your book, repeatedly, and that is why I condemn it heartily.
But, I also support your right to believe what you will, and why you wish to.
ergo, I will not protest your religion . . . . . much.

[Zhade]

47. I *was* a Chrisitan, and I know exactly what bullshit is in the bible.

These "gods" you speak of have never been banned from schoolchildren's minds, so stop with the lies.

[brentspeak]

14. You don't need to get a "whole new case", Ms. Mallory; you need to get a whole new LIFE

[annarbor]

16. Stupid Muggles!

Good grief, those are about the only books my 13 year-old will read!
She needs another hobby. Ten bucks says she never read a single one of them and she's forming her opinion based upon fundy internet bullshit.

Ann Arbor

[annarbor]

17. Stupid Muggles!

Good grief, those are about the only books my 13 year-old will read!
She needs another hobby. Ten bucks says she never read a single one of them and she's forming her opinion based upon fundy internet bullshit.

Ann Arbor

[kimmylavin]

18. Silly Muggle...

Yes, Mrs. Mallory, Harry Potter "indoctrinates" children in witchcraft. In the same way that reading Watership Down will indoctrinate them in bunny war. Or the Lemony Snicket books will indoctrinate them in spy networks and arson. Apparently, her children are incapable of using their imaginations, or of distinguishing between the real world and fiction.

But what TRULY gets me about this is that in the same breath, she uses separation of church and state against Harry Potter, and then says that we "need" God "back in our schools". I wonder if she is even capable of recognizing the breathtaking hypocrisy???

BTW, counting down the days to Deathly Hallows! :)

[Worst Username Ever]

19. Republicans for Voldemort

(I've been seeing this bumpersticker everywhere, hilarious)

[RamboLiberal]

20. If I was one of her kids not only would I be embarrased but

I'd be reading Harry Potter under the covers by flashlight!

[wakeme2008]

21. No more like Playboy

:rofl:

[pingzing58]

23. People who book burn, I think, are threatened by the person who wrote it or the information therein.

I know that maybe some authors are without scruples and write
such books as "The Turner Diaries" by William
Pierce.  This book has inspired many to violence and
notoriously inspired Timothy McVeigh to commit such a heinous
crime.  But aside from fiction in general, there is the
literary vehicle of Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. 
Both use such a vehicle to take us on a road to discovery very
often about our world, society, culture, maturation, values,
etc.  I loved it when in the sorcerer's stone Harry turns to
Hermoine and lets her know that she is better at magic than is
he.  But she says (AND THIS IS THE POINT OF THE JOURNEY - THE
LESSON FOR EVERY BOOK BURNING EVANGELICAL) "Books! And
Cleverness! There are more important things-friendship and
bravery and-oh Harry-be careful!"  It's about teaching
our children about friendship and bravery and not about book
burning and religious intolerance.  
 

[acmavm]

22. What happened? When did one nutcases insistence on their 'rights'

override the majority's?

[insane_cratic_gal]

45. George Bush happened

*cough* Dictatorship anyboody,... what Georgie wants Georgie gets. I can't imagine what sort of power trip that creates for his minions.

I don't know if she is one of them, but I'd hedge a bet or two on it.

[Charlie Brown]

29. so she's basing her argument on sep of church/state?

"At Tuesday's hearing, Mallory argued in part that witchcraft is a religion practiced by some people and, therefore, the books should be banned because reading them in school violates the constitutional separation of church and state."

I thought the theocrats claimed there was no sep of church/state, so why use it as an argument here?

These nutters get loonier every day.

[Canuckistanian]

30. Why are they so obsessed with Harry Potter?

It's not like Rowling is the first author of books about witches, magic and fantasy.

What about the Lord of the Rings? Narnia? Wizard of Oz? Peter Pan? (there's a whole ISLAND of BOYS LIVING WITH EACH OTHER in that one.)

So, what is it about HP that sets them off? I mean, other than being told that it is evil?

[Maeve]

36. Because they're afraid Harry is more popular than Jesus?

:shrug:

I think he may have beat out the Beatles, after all...

[Canuckistanian]

39. You may have something there

I never thought of that angle.

Harry IS more exciting than a guy who makes fish and bread.

[NeedleCast]

43. Popularity

It's high profile, which means it's going to get them the attention they crave. These mis-guided folk seem to think that the more attention they get, the better.

It's funny, because these toolbags usually pick on the most commercial, least risky, targets. I'm willing to bet there are fiction novels in the school library that are a lot "darker" than Harry Potter. I know there were in my middle and high schools. I remember in the mid-late 80's when Dungeons and Dragons was the primary target even though, of the dozens of role-playing games out there, it was generally one of the least "evil."

Women like her will never understand that a book is an inanimate object. It is neither inherently good or evil. It's pulverized trees, glue, ink. It's what you do with it that attributes good or evil to it, and if the kids I know are any indication, they read the book, are delighted and that's it.

[insane_cratic_gal]

46. Narnia and LOTR

was written by two very christian guys.

That is to say they were both very religious once Tolkien finally converted Lewis.

[PassingFair]

31. Guess she won't be lining up in December to see "The Golden Compass"

But I will....


http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/

[qdemn7]

38. A "New Case" from the ground up???

No, you dumbass, you need a new HEAD from the neck UP!! :nuke:

[getting old in mke]

44. I suspect

I know where she WON'T be vacationing in 2009...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/31/potter.park.reut/index.html