Georgia mom seeks ban on Harry Potter
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amused
Category: Life
ATLANTA - A suburban county that sparked a public outcry when its libraries temporarily eliminated funding for Spanish-language fiction is now being asked to ban Harry Potter books from its schools.
Laura Mallory, a mother of four, told a hearing officer for the Gwinnett County Board of Education on Tuesday that the popular fiction series is an "evil" attempt to indoctrinate children in the Wicca religion.
Board of Education attorney Victoria Sweeny said that if schools were to remove all books containing reference to witches, they would have to ban "Macbeth" and "Cinderella."
"There's a mountain of evidence for keeping Harry Potter," she said, adding that the books don't support any particular religion but present instead universal themes of friendship and overcoming adversity.
In June, the county's library board eliminated the $3,000 that had been set aside to buy Spanish-language fiction in the coming fiscal year. One board member said the move came after some residents objected to using taxpayer dollars to entertain readers who might be illegal immigrants.
Days later, the board reversed its decision amid accusations that the move was anti-Hispanic.
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Comments: 17
You are more right than you know. My kids have attended school where they've decided not to have Halloween things. Candies are okay, but no costumes or other Halloween paraphernalia. This is in the "liberal" state of Minnesota.
But I am thinking that we are getting a little out of control in the US in general with things like this. Didn't a father somewhere in the midwest complain about saying the Pledge of Allegiance because he was an athiest. Back in the day we had kids in the class who were Jehovah's Witnesses and they just sat through the pledge.
Things are weird.
funnier still, i've had a passing acquaintance with some wiccans and i didn't find them to be bad neighbors or bad examples. i didn't find a lot of criminal behavior in their families. but in very religious christian families, i have noticed that there is usually someone that they don't talk about, someone that has really gone the wrong way. i don't know what the correlation is there. and i don't hope for bad stuff for people's children at all. i just think there's bigger stuff to worry about.
You are wrong when you say "and you know that "Christians" think catholics are evil!" because I am Christian and don't think that at all. I just think differently then them. Please don't lump a crazy nut lady with every Christian out there. Personally I think she has gone to far. But she is going with what she believes. So I can see her point of view. Even if it is different than mine.
Sandy, as a Catholic, I find a lot of Christians actually do think that Catholics are evil. I don't think Aiesha was trying to be offensive but is stating something that is true. You may/don't fall into that category, but you may be familiar with what she is referring to.
So, what's the point? Jesus did not declare any specific holidays be practised, so we incorported some. Jesus's birth celebration actually coresponds closely to the winter solstice, I believe. We CELEBRATE IT, that is what matters. The pagans, seculars, anthiists, have bastardized since.
Banning anything short of graphic, gratituous sex for kids probably not a good idea and few endorse it. Encouraging immigrant children to read English is proper, unless they are not planning on staying, then we are supporting illegal immigrants.
Their parents can by them books in espanol if that's the case and let them stay ignorant.
Oh, and I don't think it's so much about thinking of Catholics as evil. If you are a true Christian, you know that judging another person is neither your right, nor your job. I don't think Catholics are evil, I don't have the ability to say that. I believe that there is a rule about worshipping anyone other than God. I believe this includes saints and idols (golden calves and things of that nature). As a younger person, I was always fascinated by magic and even bought tarot cards and runes. Then I read the Bible and there is a phrase in there that does state. Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. That changed my mind.
As a child I read a lot and was read to and I would not have changed that for anything. I am a writer because of it and because I continuously read. Same goes for my children. Reading is so very important. I really get a bug up my hindparts when people proceed blindly led only by ignorance. I am so glad you posted this article.
Pamela