First of all, I want to say thanks to all the questions on the open thread; keep them coming. I will address them this week! This is going to fun, as there are definitely some interesting ones there, and I look forward to writing about them! But for today, a quick rant (since a lot of people don’t read blogs on Saturdays).
Right now, there is a woman that is trying to get Harry Potter books banned in Gwinnett county (article). She claims that her daughter was turned onto the “dark life” of witchcraft after reading the Harry Potter series. The girl testified that Harry Potter has ruined her life by making her a witch, and she wants to save other children from the same fate. The mother then said that she believes by having these books in the library, that they are basically teaching and condoning witchcraft at school. But her quote is much better:
The books are indoctrinating children into witchcraft. It’s not mere fantasy.
So, um, yeah. Basically, I just want to know if this woman is completely insane, or just slightly off her rocker; we need to know what level of nutjob we are dealing with here. And I also want to have a talk with her retarded child. Basically, they are saying that against the will of this child, she was indoctrinated into witchcraft by reading a fantasy story about kids in fantasy situations. In fact, I bet seeing the movie sent her over the edge; because we all know how many kids out there are now wizards and witches because they read and saw Harry Potter movies. Hell, I even admit that I became a Hippogriff for a short while, so I guess I do see the potential for these books to “harm”. One night while practicing spells I learned in the Harry Potter books, one of them backfired, and I accidentally made James spit up slugs for over an hour. Seriously. I guess I do see the danger!
Wait a second, back to reality. WAKE UP YOU STUPID BITCH!!! If you can’t teach your children the difference between reality, and fantasy, they aren’t really going to have a place in society, so you better get to working on that. Taking away these books, which interestingly enough are pretty much single-handily credited with bringing back children of today’s desire to read, because your dumb daughter “fell deep into witchcraft” or because you believe that she was indoctrinated, is complete and utter ridiculousness. If you don’t want your kids to read them, then, um don’t let them! That is a novel concept. (hee hee, I said novel) Perhaps you are under some stupid spell or something, and that is how we must explain your rash and outlandish reactions. Yes, perhaps that is it. Or, more terrifyingly possible… Could it be? IS THIS WOMAN THE REINCANATION OF HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED???!?!? Dare I say it… Is Voldemort living in Gwinnett County???!?!?!
Duane, every kind of magic is evil. Very evil. Don’t underrate it.
You know, I’m a conjuror and I do card/coin/rubberband/whatever tricks. A couple from the East (I guess Russia) told me that all the tricks I’m performing are actually done by the devil. So I did something I’m not supposed to do. I explained some tricks to them to show that there’s no real magic. Yes, kids, that’s right. And there’s no Santa Claus either.
Anyway, although it was pretty obvious that it’s not real magic, they insisted on the devil thing. It’s just ridiculous, but somehow funny. I mean, some kids respectfully adore me after I did some tricks, and maybe believe in some kind of magic. But grownups really should know better.
LOL!! Quote of the day!
you know - I blame Harry Potter for making me gay!
Good thing she didn’t read War And Peace. She may have tried to invade France.
Wait.. I’ve been reading HP for YEARS and I can’t do ANY magic.
I feel jipped.
If the mother wanted to shield her children in their specific elementary or middle school that would be one issue. I’d still disagree with her, but her scope and priorities would seem a little more logical.
Instead she has the audacity and the nerve to force the hand of the entire school district and insert her own biases and ignorance on an entire county. Pathetic.
I mentioned the whole thing at my other blog: Blogging Harry Potter.
Is Voldemort living in Gwinnett County???!?!?!
Um, I thought he was in D.C. (that’s Dick Cheney).
Oh the joys of living in the damn Bible Belt. I know several Christians who think that the Harry Potter books were written by the devil herself.
All Harry Potter made me do was lose some sleep. I’m with Gumby - I want my magic powers, damn it!
Filthy Muggle should shut her trap before her little Mudblood gets taken out by the Ministry of Magic. Gosh just love your Child, Lady! She is crying out for your attention. Let the Children read what they want and they will read many books and learn many things. Force them to read only what you want and they will hate reading and learn very little. “Where, oh where have the smart people gone?”
OMG!!! HELLO! is this women insane!! I’m seriously scared to think about hw horrible our world will be in 20 or 30 years!! I’m going to go cry!!! By the way can any one tell me how to levitate things? Hermione didnt explain it well enough.
I definitely think she is somewhat of a nut job, and definitely shouldn’t be trying to take it out of librarys, thats just stupid. But….kids are so influential these days, I’m surprised more kids aren’t trying to jump out of their windows with brooms, so I can see maybe where this kid has been someone conditioned to think that maybe it could be real or could happen, that I just blame on bad parenting. For god sakes, theres 5 damn movies of the kid.
The mother is going overboard and should just talk to her child instead of pointing fingers. For god sakes, rap music influences grown adults, whats it happening to a kid that makes it so appauling.