Potter Fights Book Banning
 

Over the past few weeks it appears that a women (who claims to have not actually read the books) in Gwinnet County has been fighting to have the Potter books removed from the shelves of public schools. She claims the books insight witchcraft and promote demonic activities. This is not the first time that the morals of the Potter books have been questioned.

The school board came to the conclusion that the accusations being made had no reasonable grounds and allowed the Potter books to remain on the shelves for children to enjoy.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported:

Personally I agree, the magic in the stories is mearly a shell to the underlying subtext of the stories. The overall value of Harry's journey is the relationships he makes with those he loves and the importance of sacrafice, messages that are clearly evident in history and important in teaching children.

To learn more about banned books check out the American Library Association.

Source: TLC

Note: Please remember in your comments that everyone has a right to their own opinion about the series.

Ottery says, Don't censor me. Oh, and we're tapping your phones...LOL
 

I can't believe you read those vile books Will, they are from the devil. :mad:
*Teddy takes out his pentagram*
*Ottery's all :dizzy: *
T: What? I'm doing Geometry homework.
:poke:

O:Yes that's sarcasm kids... :lol: but in all truth and fairness I think Censorship should be allowed in some instances. *Ottery has turned Republican* No seriously, hear me out...I mean we're for wiretapping too.
T: You're just asking to get scolded.
O:Then we lie about it. :yes: I mean...
*A snickering Teddy takes off the Imperius Curse*

No Censorship is evil! No books should ever be banned, or put in restricted sections or anything like that, everyone should have access to everything. Except the poor, they can't afford it. What I can't be an imperialist pig too? *Teddy smacks Ottery* I mean...I think it's a matter where the parents should police their children and not the library should police us all. I mean, I'm sure there are more people in favor of not banning the books than there are those in favor of having them removed.

I respect that people want to keep their children away from bad literature. *hands the kiddies copies of Jackie Collins* She's better than Shakespeare let me tell you...*back on topic* But that should be the parents responsability, like television, we know it's evil but are you going to ban a show a small number of people in Nebraska (It's always someone in Nebraska isn't it?)
T: I thought it was Utah?
O: I thought it was Texas
*goes on to list the fifty states and some providences*
Anyways, censorship cases are always about excerpts in books taken completely out of context anyways, and to make a more valid argument wouldn't you have to read the books first?

Oh and I'd just like to remind the people in Utah and Nebraska

everyone knows whats real and whts not,,, so instead of making it an issue we should let the reader decide what he wants to read.

And therein lies the whole root of the problem. Most of the people who claim to be against the Harry Potter series and people reading them are those who have not read the books themselves.

To these people : Let's not make generalizations based on assumptions.

Nowhere in the HP books does it say "Come on kiddies, let's kill people with our awesome learning of witchcraft!" The books are ultimately about good versus evil, and managing to overcome evil by the power of love and relationships that the protagonist has managed to forge in the 7 years of is life. What's so evil about that?

Yipee!
 

My college thesis is about the Potter series and kids reading them, and it's really a no-brainer that they do understand the difference between fact and fiction. It's just sad that there are still some narrow-minded people out there who would not want to look past the outside of story and delve further into what the series is really all about.

Ottery belongs to the Ministry of Magic..."Censorship" it's for your own good kiddies
 

Actually Nabs in HBP on page 465 of the American edition...you know the one with Arnold Schwarzenager as Ron on the cover... :lol: but arguably that's a recurring theme in the books...I mean from the Death Eaters point of view...and we're tapping your phone Nabs. :shifty: We know you're secretly a DE.

Jeez, how pathetic!!! Any sane person can tell the difference...

I agree that is really pathetic!
I'm sure that people that read the books even children can tell that it's only fiction!
This lady has just got to much time on her hands!

Right. this lady needs some therapy. she should probably read the book before commenting on it "promoting demonic activities?"

i agree she should read the book before commenting. Everyone can tell if its a fiction or not

if she does'nt want to read it then why let not others to do what they like..stupid women!!!

People like that really annoy me, what about free speech?? if we start telling people what we can and cant read then it’s a dictatorship.

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The books are more about friendships and growing up and discovering who you are than Witchcraft.

You Go Girl!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is absolutely ridiculous. There is no reason for the books to be banned. It's just a book. Reading it will not make us all Satanic and whatnot. RIDICULOUS.

me agrees with ottery
 

[o.k i agree with ottery, it's parent's restriction that counts too :dragon:

That kind of crap makes me regret being a Georgian!!!!! Plus I have 2 kids of my own and I have read the HP books to them and they love them,and they are ages 10 and 6 and they are able to understand the difference between reality and fiction. If this woman is to narrow minded to understand the difference well that is her fault!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah everyone has the right to ahve their own opinions.. but his one :| omg.. well, glad that the final decision was made by someone with a clear mind :|

Very nice rant Otts! Just remember though, some of us in Utah are very against censorship! ;) Myself at the top of them! ^_^

Anyone who can bash and judge books they have not read, needs to be slapped repeatedly with those books. :yes: Yes I know I have to accept other peoples closed minds, but it's sooo hard! ;)

*Sighs* How many times do we have to hear this! It's just sad in my opinion! Is there any actual real proof that suggests they are right? I don't think I've seen any proof at all! *Points at her and laughs*

Let's look at both ends of the scale!

Good: Getting millions of children into reading and making it cool! How much of a benifit is that to the adults of tomorrow! That's a major thing in my opinion! Not something to complain about.

(So called) Bad: Giving children an insight into witchcraft and promoting the dark arts. How many children do we see that actually think Harry Potter is "real" and practices spells and has asked Mummy and Daddy to buy them spell books from the local book shop? Huh? I don't think so!

Well that's what I have to say to her! She's not even read the books! *Sighs*

I don't understand-she hasn't read the book, so how on earth does she "know" what's actually in the books. I also object to someone making the decision for everyone else; it's a personal choice whether or not they read HP, I respect the opinions of those who think it is encouraging witchcraft-they're the ones missing out-but to impose that on others is just not fair.

Yea, everybody has one and they all stink.

I wish people wactually READ the books before attempting to do something as ridiculous as banning them

[QUOTE]The school board came to the conclusion that the accusations being made had no reasonable grounds and allowed the Potter books to remain on the shelves for children to enjoy.[QUOTE]

I totally agree with the school board...if students want to read the books then they should have the opportunity to read them...I mean come on, atleast they are reading and not doing something completely stupid that will get them into trouble...

I can't believe it!!!! She is such a prat! Man! Why would you attempt to get read of something that you haven't met!!!! Geesh!

Non sense :|

i think if this woman actually read the books she would realise that dark magic is considered bad and those that practice dark magic are the villains in the book.

She needs a life. I mean go save whales or something. Do something productive. Don't try to censor literature. I mean in some cases I believe it is necessary, but what does she take the people of this country to be? Morons? We are far from that. She is odd and she needs to realize that people even kids that are 10 or 12 know the difference between what is fiction and what is real. And if they don't then their parents are doing a lousy job in raising them.

The Harry Potter books are some of the most brilliant and well written books that I have ever read. They aren't just about magic, they have real life lessons in them that we've all encountered or will encounter at some point in our life. Friendship, betrayal, love, hate, feeling lost, are emotions that we all feel. Yes we don't have wands and we can't do spells but the books are more than that. Put all of the magic aside and what it really comes down to is the human spirit.

People need to read the book before coming to conclusuions...*growls at that weird woman*

people like this are the bain of life. She has no idea what actualy goes on in potter! it is an escape from the real world for many people... it is well written and fantastic!

i cant stand narrow minded people! in usa dont you all have freedom of speach? that is what HP is! i hope no one takes her seriously especialy is she hasnt read the books

As usual ingnorance and censorship go together which is scary. Someone always believe that their morals are better than other people's and they think it is their duty to force their believes onto everyone else. Censorship destroys the essence of a country's culture, ideas and freedom and unfortunately in the U.S. this is occuring. So I am glad that there was a small victory for HP and people who do understand fact and fiction and those who were commited in stopping ridiculus accusations and censorship.

Sure, I understand your take on the censorship thing, Hotts. But "banning" is a tad extreme, don't you think? It's their choice, or specifically, their Parents' choice if they can read the books or not.
I may be a DE (or even Voldy's number one squeeze) but I dont go around telling kids to kill other kids. :P

I dunno why some ppl cant tell the difference between facts & Fictions, why r n't they attacking Sinderella(sp?) for example too, it has magic too u know.
1st of all this's fiction .. imagination, it's not like she's telling ppl how to really practice magic. 2nd, even the way she uses this fiction or imagination , is to serve good morals (like frienship, loyalty, love, widsdom, ..etc). even these magical ppl she created, some of them r bad (the ones who use magic to hurt others), some of them r good (the ones who use magic to fight the bad ones). Even magic (which is a pure imaginative item), can not be described abstractly as bad or good, the way ppl use things is what determine whither it's bad or good, & that's what the stories r always trying to show.

My friend and I have talked about the "Harry Potter bokks are evil" issue for a long time, it just comes up in our conversations. We are both fans of course, but we try to see it from the smallminded perpective of those that are saying these things. Her mother and father were, if not still are, against her reading Harry Potter at one point. But last time we were talking about it she brought up a good point this story, just like every other one, at its heart is just about the same thing, good vs. evil. There may be different degrees of "evil" in every story, some worse than others, and the "good" may always not be as clearly good, but it is all the same, good vs. evil, wrong vs. right, dark vs. light. Every story needs this formular, or the story would just be boring and no one would want to read it. Its like Ying and Yang, you can not have one with out the other, and they balance each other out.
I mean if you ask me the Harry Potter books are promoting evil and witch craft as much as say Lord of the Rings did, or any other book that has magic anywhere in its pages.

The woman who had the case lost and banning was stoped by the court. I heard it this morning so the radio. It was rubbish that that lady in Georgia want to have Harry Potter banned from school and etc.

Personally, its the reader who should be allowed to choose what he/she wants to read...

Censorship is totally *censored by SS because those are naughty words Otty*
 

You kids are adorable. :lol: I love you all, and your 'the world is black and white' views, it really is that simple. ^_^ *smoochies everyone* :music: you came into my heart, babybaby, so tenderly, with a burning love that stings like a bee... :music:

Diana Ross makes it all better...

:music: Baby, baby were did our love go? Don't you want me no more? :music:

:truckbana *screeches back on topic*

I would just like to say that I was highly offended by those words. :cry: *Teddy glomps Ottery* As a Dictator in the making, I want to say that you people who love freedom and all that are just wrong. I propose an embargo on all free countries...but anyways. FYI, some countries like say Japan don't have absolute Freedom of Speech like in America *Teddy's snickering* well ours is more absolute than most.

Popular opinion does not a clear mind constitute. :shifty: Just a popular opinion.

Actually yes, it is extreme, I'd just put the books behind like a very long and dangerous obstacle course, crocodiles and dinosaurs, and evil witches *Teddy's rotfl* I mean...everyone's all for freedom of speech but how many of you actually want to read the books that badly? Wouldn't it be sad if you went through all of that and then it was like a really bad book... :lol: now that would be sad.

You don't have to read Harry Potter to do that just watch good ol' American TV. You and Voldy :eek: :mwaha: You so bad Nabs. You flirt.

Ottery would like to remind Mrs. Tonks that Ottery and Teddy made fun of all the fifty states we just couldn't list them all. He would also like to remind her that he doesn't hate Utah half as much as Texas where he lives, and lastly he would like to remind her that speaking like this in the third person is annoying. *drops the third person* Okay so yeah...uhm, I'll write you a poem Madame. LOL Just don't take me seriously next time okay? ;)

See? You all knock dictatorships but if I ruled the world close minded people would be slapped around like that alla time. And I would be married to Rupert, and Censorship would be banned, except the shows I don't like like Pepper Dennis or the Bedford Diaries and 7th Heaven...did I mention FoxNews, CNN, and uhm Lifetime...It'd be westerns all day on all the networks except the Soap Opera network and chocolate would be at the top of the food pyramid...

And lastly I'd like to point out that censorship and banning are both implemented by SS. And all of us as members of this wonderful community by virtue of our very membership condone and therefore are in favor of such things. ^_^ so what I'm saying is...I win :tongue: and I still don't like Utah. :lol: Listen tot he Supremes and don't take me too seriously. :yoshi: :monkey: :whale:

I'm a Christian, but I don't think that the HP books are anything ot promote witchcraft. It's just a fantasy and a story, after all. If you treat it the way it should be, there shouldn't be anything controversial.

I completely agree-i'm a Christian to and my parents argeed to allow me to read these books if I knew that it wasn't real and I would just read them for fun (and boy are they fun!) anyways, i really enjoy them and it hasn't effected me in any bad ways.

How can they say that?
 

These people who want the Harry Potter books banned haven't even read the books themselves, or they would know what a joy it is to read JKR's books. Who are they to dictate what we are to read? It is a free country after all, so leave us to decide. Our decision is, we want to keep on reading the Harry Potter books. So there!

I understand completely why they want to ban the books, but they aren't ALL that bad...it really makes the kids want to read.

Urgh. Silly stuff like this makes me worry about the future of the human race. How can you protest something you know nothing about?

I hate uninformed people.

YAY! Go Harry! Go Jo! I can't see why people hate them so much.

*sigh* if she doesn't want to read the series that's fine with her. But people can't go around trying to ban books because of beliefs. especially if the person hasn't read the books. It's the parent's choice, and I feel/ know that there's a lot more to the Harry Potter series than witchcraft. but this is my opinion.

good for potter!! im glad they are fighting it.

That's stupid! If you've never read the books keep your mouth shut! Then after you've read them we might listen to your opinion!

yeah! you go kick butt!!!^_^:woot:

total rubbish and crap. wait can i say crap? maybe i should put c**p instead? hahaha. instead of magic Jo now needs to write "the craft-that-must-not-be-named"

How much more crazy lady from Donnie Darko can you get? geeze...

gr..that makes me mad..just get over it already!

woo hoo, why on earth wud u want to ban HP? children wont get ideas from it

That is so dumb! Grrr...I'm mad!!!!!

Why do ppl hate potter so much? Potter sooooooooooooo roxs!!!!!!!!!!! The point of the story is bout a boi dealing with wicthraft! Some ppl can be so obnxious!!

What the hell!!!!
Maybe she should actually read the books before commenting, anyone can tell that their fiction!!

I have heard SO MANY times....."I can't believe you let him see GoF! He's only seven!"
My son has learned VERY valuable lessons from the books and movies. There is nothing wrong with good versus evil, friendship and loyalty and putting yourself in danger for the good of all. People that speak badly about HP need to be pitied. They only look stupid when they speak of things they know nothing about. If any of you get admonished for loving HP, read Connie Neal's books about why we SHOULD read HP. One is titled "The Gospel according to Harry Potter" and the other is "What's a Christian supposed to do with Harry Potter." Her parallels with the Gospel blow those naysayers out of the water and make them look like the fools that they are. This soccer mom is thrilled that her son loves HP.............as do I.

Ppl have 2 really stop hating. My family is mucho religious but I still luv potter!! So it has witchcraft. I doubt u'll burn in hell 4 reading a book bout magic. Gosh, ppl need 2 grow up & get a life!!

What a person! Like lady... ya we all go around cursing people with a stick of wood. I think she needs to read the books before she goes full out and tries to ban the books!

Hear hear hear!
honestly.
they can't tell if its bad for anyone
if they haven't read the books.
read them first....
and then try to argue with us that its bad.

Stupied woman!
It might actually help if she read the books, everyone knows it's only fiction!

how can somone be that overreactive?i mean it doesn't teach kids how to use magic..and what does she mean by "promoting demonic activities"?its about the fight of good and evil.....sometimes i don't understand what some people think *sigh*

Out of the mouthes of babes... * and they should ban multiposters and otters and...
 

<_< *Teddy's annoyed because Ottery keeps picking on the kids*

It's funny how everyone here is all about having an open mind and reading the books before talking about them, buuuuuuuuuuuut well, I'd like to point out the usage of the words: insane, they should just shut up, stupid, crap and dumb... *Ottery feels the word crap should be banned from SS because it's actually more offensive than as with two ss's* And you all should take back hell again too...

But anyways...bane is spelled, well bane Kaz, btw, and I'd like to point out mispellings are very offensive to me too, and mispellers should be banned, they're the bane of my existence. *fires the cannons* H/Hr shippers should be banned as well but since they don't ship here on SS it's okay...

We should ban rap too. And OMG! 7th Heaven and Bernie Mac...let's ban common sense while we're at it...I swear I don't have any :lol:

*Teddy interrupts* Oh wait there's hope for the human race.

Wow someone agreed with me :cry: they saw through the humor and understood... :cry: I'm so...so happy. :)

And they should ban Cuba, and femminism, and nuclear warheads, I mean who thought of those anyways right? They should ban war, and ban bans...

Ok then, that is really weird.

my opionion is that the HP books
shouldnt be banned because
some people really like the books
so they should be allowed anyways.

The woman hasn't even read the books..Just becuz its a witch/wizard (magic) book doesnot means that she start preventing kids from reading it!!!
HP's lotta fun..Theres no harm in it!!

u go girl :boggy: :yes: :cowboy: :shifty: :) :dizzy: : :blush: :ballcap: :lol: :whip: :pfight: :sorcerer: :hairpull: : :hello: ;) :flower: :drool: :angel:

That's just stupid. I love the books. It's good to read them. Inspirational in my book. SO I THINK THAT ANYONE CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE!!!!! I MEAN COME ON!!!!!

Each generation see books that the parents want to ban. I was talking with my grandmother about this and she mention a book written either in the late 60's or very early 70's that had people in a uproar. The book was titled, "Go Ask Alice", my grand said the same thing occurred conservative parents wanted the book off the shelf and out of the reach of kids. Banning books isn't new nor will it disappear in my opinion. What we can do is hope that these attempts will fail more often than they success.

I am glad the kids of that school system will still have a chance to read about Harry Potter and the world that JK Rowling created. The magic of HP is not the magic the book talks about but the relationships and struggles I read. Lumos isn't about lighting the tip of a wand in this case but allowing a world of fantasy to enlighten one's mind and spirit for good.

I just wanted to add something else.

If they do ban the books, than someone will break the law. THan those will be prosecuted, like in the old days.

Like the salem witch trials. You did something wrong you were accused off being associated with magic and hung.

Sorry but either this lady is a bone head or she just wants to recreate history.

GO andy!!!!!!

And yes many books have been banned. They will still be banned. No matter what type of book they are some body will not like it.

And another thing. This book brings kids imagination out that they need for school. Believe me I have done loads of projects where the Harry Potter books have helped me.

And also if you look deep anough in Harry Potter books. Reseach it. You will find folklores. Like Pixies came from a Irish Folklore.

The Harry Potter books aren't just fun they are a learning experience.

I too suggest that the lady should read the books first and then comment on them.

Well maybe that is true in its own twisted way, but then should we remove Helen Keller, because it talks about Nazis and communism. These are also looked down upon in our society. The Bible is in public Libraries (nothing wrong with that! I believe in God!) but let people believe what they want. There are worse things going on in our world right now them kids actually reading books! I would rather have my child reading a book then playing an Xbox game like Halo, where you go around shooting aliens and such. There are wars going on everyday and maybe people like her should help out with our soldiers or other countries care packages, or become a missionary. Do something with your time besides protest something that is giving kids a vocabulary and helping them read better, and faster. Find something better to do with your time!

that is sooo stupid! She hasnt even red the book! HP is helping children actually... to grow children's fantazy and their will to read books! Children these days dont read book they whats TV! this is a good way to change that!

my mother's family is Cristian, and they don't mind that I love the books because they know I don't believe in magic.

everyone is entitled to their own opinions though.

I don't feel that the books offer insight into witchcraft; however, I can see the point the woman is making. However, I believe that students know what is fact and what is fiction; therefore, they should be able to read whatever they and their parents feel appropriate.

omg!!! grow up!!!!!!!!!!!

I know! I hate it when people say they hate something when they've probably never even heard of it! Lady, at least read the books before you voice your opinion!

People know the difference. I mean they let their kids read fairy tales and not hp? fAIRY TALES ARE THE SAME! Well sort of....People know the difference between fact and fiction...well, except for young kids but they're not old enough to read HP...

Harry potter books are great because of the great fantasy and mythology which you can find in every line and each word of those books.
Rowling has created a fantasy for children even adults and he has made alive all of old legends and myths in a new shape. her job is great and I think people dont allow to affront them.
rowling has made alive her country's traditional and fairy stories which all are about sorcerry and magician.
its really a creative job. adorable! :)

Well, here is my opinon...

It is a story about LOVE and GOOD Vs. EVIL. And, in my opinon, I don't think JK wrote these books thinking "Yes! I am going to convert all these little kiddies to witchcraft! The world will be full of children commiting demonic activities!! :insert evil laugh: " Sorry but I can't picture that. JK said herself this book is about love. Soooo why would she write this book for children (and adults as well) so they would do "demonic activities" when Love isnt exactly evil. And I'm also sorry, if children do not know its real....their PARENTS should be doing something about that. See I'm not a big scary movie fan. And I use to have trouble with sperating them from being real and fake. And then my Dad helped me with that. I still hate scary movies but atleast I know they are not real now. And if parents are worried about their children taking them seriously, sit them down and talk to them.

I don't know. Stuff like this just bothers me. These books are so special to me and I just hate it when people attack them. Oh well. I guess you will always have that though.

i think that no one can make an accusation without understanding what they are accusating, so they first need to try it, then make the deceision on weather they think it shoul be banned
-I think it shouldn't be banned cause it is a great series

wow will people ever get tired of that?

i really don't think that the influence is bad...it's good....but this is just my opinion so...but they shouldn't remove them from the shelves, cause they will do bad not good...

I think we should ban *Ottery's promptly banned for annoying people w/opposing views*
 

Gosh! maybe she should read the book before she judge it.

interesting discussion

I dont think people should make an opinion on something if they know nothing about it .. thats just hypocritical.
The book isnt just about magic, which these people seem to think. The book has many values, morals and a storyline. From the words of Lupin jr, the magic is just a 'shell' which makes it interesting and adds spark and opens up options for the book to explore.
I think banning the books is redtricting the childrens choices and preventing the children from becoming active in something great ... Harry Potter and reading!

not cool
 

perhaps the hp books do. however its not going to stop people from reading them. I believe that if this were to happen theyd have to bann some of the christian books that are in our high schools.
:poke: :vgame:

I find nothing really wrong with the Harry Potter books so I do not understand why Harry Potter books are being banned! It is an absolute outrage!~

omg those ppl want to band harry potter but hopefully they wont succed