What the heck!?

Question

Look at this article!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070529/ap_on_re_us/potter_protest

Some kids mom wanted to BAN fantasy books because they are "attempt to indoctrinate children in witchcraft"!!!

She said :

"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 have a dream that God will be welcomed back in our schools again," Mallory said. "I think we need him."

She goes against her own point! She says that the books are about witchcraft and should be removed because it's a religion and the church and the state should be seperate. And then she says that god should be brought into school!!!!

(This isn't meant to be offensive, by the way.)

What do you think about this?

Answer 1

1) I think it is important to recognize that it is difficult to think clearly about these issues.

2) This illustrates the danger of totally excluding beliefs in the public schools. I have no problem with expressions of Christian belief in the public schools and in other public forums. The problem comes when expressions of belief other than Christian are excluded. Then the only alternative is to exclude them all. In most jurisdictions, Christians represent the majority, so how can any expression of Christian belief not represent some sort of official endorsement of Christian belief. And how could expression of non-Christian belief not be offensive to Christians. Can you imagine a Hindu giving a prayer to Krishna at the opening of graduation.

3) So the book expressing Wiccan/Witchcraft practices does give expression to a religious belief. But I do not think that the mere expression of a religious belief should be construed as official endorsement and therefore not a violation of the establishment clause of the the U. S. Constitution. But, therefore, we non-Christians need to tolerate some belief expression by the Christian majority without being offended.

4) I think there is room for flexibility in literature reading assignments, particularly where the purpose of the assignment is simply to encourage reading and basic literacy.

5) Banning books is something that I think should be very rare in schools. Unfortunately, this problem arises not only from the political/religious right, but also from the left.

Answer 2

As a Christian, I think it's ridiculous. I'm staunchly against book banning, and always will be. I happen to personally enjoy the fantasy and sci-fi genres. If this person doesn't want to read fantasy books, then she needn't buy any, but to attempt telling others what to read is absolutely wrong. All she's succeeding in doing is making Christians look like undereducated, reactionary fools.

Answer 3

yep. That's Laura Mallory. She's not the smartest, she hasn't even read the books she's condemning and I doubt that she knows anything at all about Wicca. I'm a fan of the books so I've been following this story.

Answer 4

Seriously misguided.

Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot

Answer 5

just as silly as CHristians trying to ban groups like the Beatles.

Answer 6

Yes, imagination and fantasy are HORRIBLE things to have.

Please note the sarcasm.

Answer 7

Yeah it's already been talked about here twice that I've seen.

Answer 8

Just another backwoods yokel.

Answer 9

I think SHE'S a witch.

Answer 10

What's new?

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