Harry Potter could be BANNED today in Gwinnet County, Georgia

[Roland99]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/0420gwxpotter.html

A Gwinnett County school board hearing on whether to remove the Harry Potter series from all school libraries will begin at 2 p.m. today and is expected to last less than two hours.

No decision will be made at the hearing. The hearing officer, who was appointed by the school board to handle the case, will have five days to give board members a transcript from the appeal and a recommendation on whether to keep the books. The board will then have 10 days to make a decision. The hearing is open to the public and will be held in Hearing Room A at Lawrenceville East, 723 Hi Hope Road in Lawrenceville.

The Loganville mother who complained about the book, Laura Mallory, will have 15 minutes to make her case, district spokeswoman Sloan Roach said. Mallory, a missionary who moved to Gwinnett County about two years ago, has three children at J.C. Magill Elementary.

Mallory may share her speaking time with others who support her stance that the books are inappropriate for children because the stories glorify witchcraft. The following people signed up to speak with Mallory: Cathy Fleenor, Marsha McWhorter, Stacy Thomas and Jordan Fusch.

If I were there, I'd have one question for Laura Mallory:


ARE YOU FREAKIN' INSANE?!?!?!

[bryant69]

1. Marsha McWhorter?

Is it just me or doesn't that sound like a potential name for a character in the Harry Potter series.

Maybe it's personal.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[rurallib]

2. So will people be willing to cross the county line or maybe go to

the public library to obtain a copy in utter defiance of this policy. Will there be no end to this lawlessness? If they believe in witchcraft soon they'll believe that a man could rise from the grave, that a man can be changed into a wafer and eaten, that a woman could have a baby without having had intercourse.
I mean Harry Potter could lead them to believe in all sorts of wild stories.

[SmokingJacket]

3. Excellent!!!!

The kids will be champing at the bit to READ!!

They'll be sneaking out behind the gym to sneak some HARRY POTTER!

I say, ban away. There's nothing that can make reading more enticing than telling kids they can't do it.

Those people are so, so, so frigging dumb.

[Roland99]

7. My daughter is on the 4th book right now. She'll hit the 75-point club

in her school's Accelerated Reader program.


I think I'll make her stop reading it, though. I mean, the thought of her thinking she could swim under water for an hour just gives me the willies. And turning classmates into ferrets? Geez...she'd be in detention for the rest of the year!!

[jmowreader]

16. Only if they're Democrats' children

Republicans' children already ARE ferrets...or some other kind of weasel.

[Rocknrule]

31. The Slytherins are perfect examples of Republican children

Especially Malfoy - he reminds me of *

[tenshi816]

44. I was thinking that exact thing earlier today

when I was reading this thread. Lucius and Draco Malfoy are perfect as Poppy and Junior Bush.

But who is Voldemort? If we asked Alex Jones at prisonplanet.com, he'd probably say the Illuminati...:evilgrin:

[jayfish]

8. Not Only That, It Will Further...

expose the RW as the reactionary nut-jobs they really are. I hope they try more of this stuff.

Jay

[colinmom71]

26. Don't you just love it?

I remember how Judy Blume's "Forever" was THE book to read in 8th grade because of it's "forbidden fruit" status. My parents had NO IDEA what the content of the book was when I asked them to buy me a copy (they weren't big on reading...), and I was quite popular for a while there because I owned a copy of *that book*. But man, we ALL wanted to read that book...

Funnily enough, I came away from reading that book concerning teenage sexuality with an even greater respect for the consequences, both physical and emotional, of sex before one may be ready... It's probably one of the many influences that lead to me having sex with only one man, who is now my husband of more than 10 years.

If Harry Potter is fostering a love of reading in our youngsters, it's a great thing to my mind.

Though I do find it ironically funny that this lady is campaigning against a book concerning something that doesn't exist (witchcraft) and is unconsciously validating the very thing she is arguing against. But then I tend to occasionally be perverse in that manner. ;-)

[Lusted4]

29. Lawrenceville GA.

figures. Thats the town Larry Flint got shot in.
My in-laws live down there, that place is so uptight if you look inside all the cars you will notice the drivers seats have become shaped like hersey kisses.

[tenshi816]

48. I used to live in Lawrenceville

when I was in high school. Felt like the life was being leeched out of me. I didn't know exactly what awaited me in the "outside world", but I knew it had to be better than where I was. This was back before that part of Gwinnett County turned into just another far-flung suburb of Atlanta; there were still plenty of farms and cow pastures around there in those days, and not a McDonald's in sight. I hated it even then, but it's far worse now. At least it used to have a bit of countryside going for it but now it's nothing but fast food places, strip malls, housing developments and churches. Lots of churches.

The area still has as many narrow-minded, sanctimonious, judgmental people as ever too.

[warrens]

4. Well, I know another book filled with supernatural events, sex, violence..

That needs a good banning. That would be the Bible.

[Tsiyu]

5. Ban the book of Judges, too

That book of the bible contains a graphic story of a gang wanting a man to rape, but the man of the house sends out his own daughter. She is gang-raped, dies, and is chopped into twelve pieces.

Nice stuff for kids to read about, eh?

[Mojambo]

6. I love Georgia. Not as much as I love Mississippi, but I do love them.

Keep on with the crazy you guys!

[LiberalPartisan]

11. Comments on the AJC blog are running 10 to 1 against her

So, the normal people are at least writing in. Hopefully they show up at whatever hearing takes place to confront this oh soo concerned 'christian' busy body. I did notice Dad is no where to be found in this issue - probably feels like he fell down a rabbit hole.

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/education/entries/2006/04/20/harry_potter_to.html

[RubyDuby in GA]

13. They are handing that woman her ass on that blog

There's really no need for me to even chime in :)

[tenshi816]

27. I graduated from high school in Gwinnett County.

We moved there the summer before my junior year and it was like moving to another planet after being in the Atlanta and Decatur school districts all my life until then.

Nothing about this surprises me.

[RubyDuby in GA]

36. It's embarrassing. I want to take out full page ads in the foreign press

and tell everyone in the world that there are some of us that really are not that stupid left here in America.

And above all, they didn't decide on the thing yesterday. WHAT IS THERE TO DECIDE ON? YOU EITHER LIVE IN REALITY AND ACCEPT IT FOR THE CHILDREN'S STORY THAT IT IS OR YOU LIVE IN FANTASY LAND AND WAIT FOR VOLDERMORT TO COME GET YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry. Didn't mean to shout there...
The amount of willful ignorance in this state is just staggering.

[tenshi816]

39. If that idiot woman had

ever bothered to read any of the Harry Potter books herself, she'd see that they're all about good vs. evil. Aren't the fundies supposed to be all about that? <snort>

I've enjoyed watching my older son (15 this July) grow up with the books and movies over the last several years; I've watched him change and mature just as the Potter kids have. Harry's tight bond with his friends at Hogwarts and his sadness at losing his parents made a big impression on my boy, as has the fundamental goodness of the principal characters.

I suppose it helps that Nathan goes to school with the boy who plays Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, but that's by no means what got him interested in the first place. (Hmm. Come to think of it, the little girl who plays Lucy in the Chronicles of Narnia goes to school with my next-door neighbor's daughter. What were the odds that would happen in such a small corner of Yorkshire?)

[RubyDuby in GA]

41. I completely agree.

One of the things I love is watching the progression of the children. Reading about them going through adolescence and experiencing all their growing pains is something that all children and adults can relate to.

This stupid woman has no idea what she's talking about as she admits she's never read them. That right there would be enough for me, if I were in charge of the fiasco, to tell her to sit down and shut the hell up and stop trying to ruin it for the rest of the intellectually curious.

And as a nearly 32 year old adult, I will gladly tell anyone that I will push any little kid out of the way to get to my book on the day they come out. Yep, I'm that dork standing in line at midnight. And it thrills me to see so many children there, dressed up in their little wizard capes, waiting for their books. The books are just ridiculously well written and they capture children's (and adults) imaginations. Isn't that what reading is supposed to do?

Why must all children be punished for the sheet stupidity of one adult who can't distinguish between reality and fantasyland?

And I just adore that boy who plays Neville. I'm looking forward to seeing him get his due in the next couple of movies. :)

[Reciprocity]

35. Boy Howdy that's some fine reading!

[Chiyo-chichi]

9. Could somebody please tell this woman

that the Potter books are filled with Christian imagery and symbolism and that J.K. Rowling is a Christian?

Or is Rowling not the right kind of Christian? Would this woman like to run all the Presbyterians out of Lawrenceville, too?

[Brazenly Liberal]

10. Don't even try to make sense of it.

These people are freakin' nuts. The same ones who want to ban the Potter books because of the magic in them find the Narnia books absolutely delightful - talking animals, magic and all.

The day a new Harry Potter book comes out, there's a line a block long outside the bookstore in town. I can't remember when - or even if - I ever saw that many kids that eager to read. And what are they reading? A rollicking good adventure in which young people fight for what's right and use their heads for something other than a hatrack. And that's where you run into trouble with the fundiest of the fundies - the ones who want to ban this book. They believe children are born evil and have to be straightened out. They follow the childrearing advice of sadistic nutcases like Gary Ezzo who promote spanking infants. Children using their heads, thinking for themselves is not acceptable to these lunatics.

All the kids in our extended family are HP fans and so are the adults.

[Bob3]

12. oh that witchcraft - wicked witchcraft -

Lord Jesus prince of peace and light of light - protect us from your followers. God in heaven what the hell is going on with these yahoos? You know if they had actually read the books instead of getting out the gasoline and matches they would have discovered that the Potter books talk about a lot of good things, like the importance of learning, what is friendship, loyalty and honor and being brave. All damn fine things. But since some old testament book said "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (ignoring the incident when Saul went to consult with a witch) they feel like they have to be some kind of half assed witch finder general. Jesus what a sad waste of available oxygen.

Again this is ignoring the fact that the old testament spent more time waring about shrimp, ham sandwiches(ham really sandwiches not having been invented yet) and clothes made of more than one type of fabric than Witches but I don't see these defenders of the faith screaming about Red Lobster or all the clothes for sale at Walmarts. No it's witches.

And grow up ITS A FANTASY LIKE TOLKEN OR C S LEWIS - really if magic as described in the potter books really worked that way - First Wizard would be a cabinet post.

Chill - life's to short. these clowns to get a life and stop trying to make everyone else's miserabel.

[Charlie Brown]

14. Wow, check out this talkback at the AJC

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/education/entries/2006/04/20/harry_potter_to.html

Almost everyone is on the side of the school district, although one or two fundies seem to pop up here and there. The discussion degrades into a very nasty debate about how Catholics are not Christian.

Just wow.

[Roland99]

24. First one is the best!

"I have another view. I think the Gwinnett Mom should be removed from parenting."


:rofl:

[CottonBear]

32. Here's a message from Ms. S, a freeper who can't spell or write correctly:

By Ms. S.

April 20, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this

When my daughter was in the 3rd grade i did not allow her to read Harry Potter, I do know what she reads and whad she watches on television, and where she travels on the internet. The enemy who is satan will use little slick sly was to get his mess out there. If you choose to allow your children to read that book that is fine by your standard. It should not be in the media center of the public schools, also some of these other books need to be removed for their content also. You have to gurad your childrens eyes and hearts. everything is not alright for them to do regardless of the signs of the times you creat unstable people when this is allowed. if you allow room for the least of the sin the greater will follow. Gwinnett mom good looking out.

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

Why oh why can't freepers write correctly? :(

[Lucy - Claire]

38. The fundies here loathe Catholics....

In my Catholic Parish, they have Harry Potter DVD's in a rental library for Parishioners to borrow...So Catholics must be dangerous...

[Roland99]

15. DARK SIDED!!!!

[Beelzebud]

17. ROFL

[donco6]

45. Randi played that on her show a while ago.

Jeebus, you just can't make that sh*t up.

[Charlie Brown]

18. UPDATE - Potter books attacked, defended

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/0420potter.html

Harry Potter fans, parents and children alike, told a Gwinnett County hearing officer today that the popular children's books should remain in public school libraries despite claims from other parents that the books lure children to witchcraft.

During the hearing, which drew an overflow crowd of about 95 people, seven people criticized the tales of the boy wizard as dangerous. Eleven Potter fans defended the books as modern-day literature that inspires children to read.

"Harry Potter teaches children and adults that witchcraft is OK for children," said Laura Mallory, a Loganville mother of four whose complaint led to the hearing today.

But Lisa Eickholdt, a reading specialist at Freeman's Mill Elementary School, argued the books emphasized universal themes such as friendship, courage and good fighting evil.

"The Harry Potter series of books are not the kind of books that need to be removed," Eickholdt said. "If anything, they are the kinds of books we need more of."

[Roland99]

19. "teaches children...that witchcraft is OK"....ummmm...

Does she expect kids to turn into Samantha from Bewitched or something? Or turn classmates into newts?


:eyes:

[CottonBear]

28. How can the school or a book teach something that doesn't exist?

Goddamn.

This woman is freaking insane. She should home school her spawn and the leave the rest of us alone.

(My step daughter and a friend's daughter attend Gwinnett County schools.)

[Bridget Burke]

52. Most of these attempted bannings fail.

There are plenty of level-headed people out there. But the fools are louder.

[theHandpuppet]

20. But of course they miss the true irony

Do they question the one book containing the most horrific scenes of murder, infanticide, genocide, rape, incest, torture and mutilation? A book populated by invisible, omnipotent gods and otherworldy visitors imbued with strange powers? A book retelling feats of magic (aka miracles), inanimate objects (such as rods) transformed into animals such as snakes, then wielded to perform wondrous acts of murder and to spread plagues? A book in which a virgin is impregnated by an invisible deity to give birth to a God who is then crucified and raised from the dead...

Oh yes, I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Harry Potter, in the scheme of things, doesn't hold a candle to the good old Holy Bible when it comes to myth and magic. No one has ever been killed in the name of Harry Potter -- which is more than I can say for the lead character in another book.

[blondeatlast]

21. The public library systenm for which I work bought 450

of the last "Potter" book.

Most have circulated at least 20 times.

I have yet to hear of any complaints regarding mass conversions to witchcraft--or any for that matter.

[devilgrrl]

22. Here's the school's web address...

http://jcmagill.org/

[Yatar]

23. That Trading spouses broad

looks so deemunized herself.

[kevinbgoode]

25. And I would be asking. . .

Why are you sending your children to public school to proselytize?

[guinivere]

30. Unfreakinbelievable.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. In this day and age for books as innocuous as the Harry Potter series to be up for banning in a school is crazy. When is crap like this going to end?

[moc]

33. Sounds like Laura Mallory needs a bit more imagination herself.

HP teaches kids to be witches? Uh, no. It teaches kids about standing up for what's right, even when it's not easy. It's about the undying hope that GOOD will overcome EVIL. If anything, we need more of that HOPE right now than ever before because truly, the Dark is Rising.

FWIW, I've read all 6 so far with my 9yo daughter, who is currently rereading the entire series. She's almost finished with her second reading of HP#5.

[Reciprocity]

34. Remember these are the same parents.....

That took there underage children to see a R rated movie, The Passion of the Christ.

A bit hypocritical don't you think?

[leesa]

37. One mother complains and a whole book series is removed from a state

Oh yeah...those poor persecuted Christians without a voice! These people must have really weak faith to be afraid of something so silly.

Just an aside, I wonder why Jesus' 'miracles' are never referred to as witchcraft.

[bunkerbuster1]

40. Oh, they were referred to as witchcraft

by that America-hater Thomas Jefferson.

[graywarrior]

42. This is what happens when they close mental institutions.

[All50inBlue]

43. Georgia

has been passing lots of extremist laws and that governor is a hardcore fundie.

[sweetheart]

46. muggles

The irony of a muggle trying
to put harry potter in to
the dungeon under the stairs.

[Roland99]

47. heh heh

[Rocknrule]

49. Meet the Sheila Brovlovski of Georgia

[stanwyck]

50. If only

people had the sense of my parents, retired public school teachers.
Parents should just be glad their kids are reading.
We were allowed to read comic books (gasp!) and the old Classics Illustrated. Magazines. Newspapers. Whatever was in the house. Including some "risque" adult books...like the Ian Fleming James Bonds, "Of Human Bondage", "Return of the Native", and (horrors!) "Huckleberry Finn".
The result? We all love to read.
And life is just that more enjoyable.
(and none of us are witches.)

[mitchum]

51. Once you get outside of metro Atlanta, Athens, and Savannah...

you will find that Georgia is FILLED with stupid stupid stupid people.
But what do you expect from a penal colony?