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DECEMBER 14, 2006 at 11:53 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: Associated Press
In a year long battle to remove the Harry Potter books from the shelves of the Gwinnett Public Schools in Georgia, Laura Mallory, who has not read the books, may appeal the decision after it was announced
this morning that the books will stay on library bookshelves.
Ms. Mallory started her crusade in November 2005 and with constant decisions and appeals her last avenue, in which she will be able to present testimony from experts, will be the Supreme Court. Ms. Mallory believes the books foster:
... murder and greed and violence. Why do they have to read them in school? If parents wanted to get these books, they could get them in bookstores.
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Princess of Anime
Points: 7543
Allenoray Mozart says:
murder and greed and violence
Oh, yeah! Murder, greed, and violence is all throughout the HP BOOKS! I can't believe this. Before now I hadn't heard about this case, anyway, it's nothing new, I'm sure alot of people want HP out of the schools. But why? Alot of the stupid people who dislike HP haven't even read them, yet they have all these bold proclamations about them, 'Harry Potter is about devil worshiping', 'Harry Potter is about violence', 'Harry Potter is about bla bla bla' =PP Seriously I don't get it.
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 10:37 AM EST
Witch
Points: 692
~Remember Snape~ says:
I am so happy she lost. That was a ridiculus argument. Who in there right mind tries to ban a book. It's just a book no harm can come from reading it. I just can't believe that it took so long to decide that.
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 10:48 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1595
the_girl_who_lived89 says:
HAHA! Ms Mallory you are so lost...ps You don't need to waste time.
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 10:53 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 11
owl_of_artemis says:
It continues to astonish me that there are people who really believe that brooms can fly, dragons roam the Earth and you can kill someone just by pointing a wand at them. This is essentially what Ms Mallory is saying by making her claims, which fly in the face of facts.
Of course 'murder, greed and violence' feature in the books but to say that they are put forward as positive values is absurd. In fact, without being explicit, the books actually espouse a very Christian worldview. Many previous commenters have already noted the fact that Ms Mallory has not read the books. So who told her that they promote witchcraft? Hmmm...
I suspect this is yet another glorious foot-shooting exercise by the Christian Fundie Right. It would confuse me that they alienate so many potential recruitees by banning perfectly harmless children's fiction if I didn't already know that at least half of them are clinically insane.
Right. Do excuse me, but my broomstick needs a service...
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 10:59 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 971
swimrcooch says:
She is right, Kids/parent can get the books in book stores, but a child typically doesn't have very much money to buy a book, however borrowing one from the library promotes the reading of quality books. I don't understand why people complain so much about kids reading and learning.
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 11:05 AM EST
Witch
Points: 500
the Half-Blond Princess says:
I'm really glad she lost. Narrow-minded people like her,who haven't even read the HP books,just don't have the right to discuss them. And as we all know,the books don't promote "murder and greed and violence" - they do exactly the opposite thing and children should read them at school.
By the way,I wish we studied HP in my school...
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 11:59 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 449
Emma#1fan says:
On the bookshelves, where it should be. Harry potter soe'nt encourage any type of murder or violence. its a book/ movie that kids AND adults should enjoy. I LoVE HARRY POTTER!!!!!
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 1:41 PM EST
Student
Points: 253
Freya says:
Why do people that never read a line of the HP books say that sort of stupid things ??
Well, maybe because they think that in their far far far far away fields they are the only ones in earth ?!
I'm not christian but my mother is and she read all the books ! And she never tells me : "aaaargh !!! you read that sort of SINFUL books ???!!!"
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 1:55 PM EST
Witch
Points: 987
crazywitch says:
This is just ridiculous, how can someone who hasn't read the books possibly pass judgement like that.
I'm glad she lost!
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 4:02 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 453
sparkle_fairy92 says:
I bet the students are happy! I don't know what I'd do if they took the books off the shelves at my school; I have all of the HP books at my house, but I first read them at school. The Harry Potter books taught me that reading is and can be fun, and all of the younger kids deserve to read and enjoy the books, even if they can't afford to buy one!
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 4:15 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 302
Regulus Alphard Black says:
Thank God the crazy woman didn't win.
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 4:47 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2575
Miss Amortentia says:
Serves her right!
Ha in your face Mallory!
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 6:10 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1430
Godric's Hallow says:
I am so tired of people like her. Why can't Ms. Mallory get a life. Even if she did get the books to stay off georgia bookshelves there are still harry potter books all over georgia aren't they.
Well anyway I am glad they ignored her complaints and another person trying to make money by suing therse books looks stupid.
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 6:10 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 492
~Mrs. Black Wood~ says:
Goodness gracious! What is it with all these people that think HP is about witchcraft, greed, hate, gore, etc?!? I'm getting really tired of hearing about it- especially when the person has never even read the books!! Arrrggghh!!!!
Do they not know the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover??"
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 6:31 PM EST
Queen of the Fae
Points: 4616
marauderette says:
Yay to the courts! I am always appalled when I hear she hasn't read them. That is her belief, don't force or deprive others of theirs.
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 7:14 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2108
phoenix_feathers says:
Well, Ms. Mallory, had you read the books, you and your arrogant self would realize the fact that these books do in fact revolve around friendship, love, and loyalties. How ignorant to skip over the facts like Lily dying for her son, Harry possessing an immense amount of love, and the trio's depth of friendship! No, no, no. These ones never do actually READ the books... the hypocracy of criticism is unreal, absolutlely unreal.
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 8:19 PM EST
Witch
Points: 883
Bossy Boots says:
Murder, greed, and violence. Harry Potter isn't the first book with those themes. Try the Bible.
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 9:02 PM EST
Witch
Points: 797
magically delicious says:
This is ridiculous. Does Ms. Mallory have any idea how many books in that library are thematically worse than HP? Why is she fighting against this one instead, because it's famous? I guarantee she wouldn't be opposed to it if she had read it. Lame.
Posted Dec 15, 2006 at 10:48 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2266
Harry Houdini says:
I guess there will always be people that jump to conclusions before investigating what they are condeming. But why should she read it? We Know!
Posted Dec 16, 2006 at 1:23 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 800
Dr EraseR says:
Some people just can't think right , how can she judge if she hadn'r read them , that's the drawback of so much free time
Posted Dec 16, 2006 at 5:04 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 419
Madeline Belle says:
Well now she can just go take the time to read the books can't she? -_-
Seriously, IF she read them, there's a good chance whatever normal sense she still has left would tell her that they do not promote "murder, greed, witchcraft, violence." but you maybe she doesn't deserve the experience of Harry Potter, it would probably be a waste.
belle
Posted Dec 16, 2006 at 9:02 AM EST
Long Way from Happy
Points: 2952
OEHFICE says:
Oh, Goodness, that woman will never give up. Is she really that ignorant? My advice to her is to read the books and then make judgements about it, but to simply judge without reading then she's just fighting a lost cause. A victory for literature! ooh!
Posted Dec 16, 2006 at 9:04 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 880
Silly Dragon says:
I find it hard to lend credence to the opinion of someon who has not even read the book, meaning she obviously doesn't know wat she is talking about. Although it is true that greed, murder and violence appear in the Harry Potter books, they are never praised, but are always proven, in the end, misleading and fruitless. As to withcraft, it serves above allto create an attractive universe for readers of all ages, not to fool, but to entertain. "A holistic reading of the book" is the key to understanding that it fosters, above all, reading.
Posted Dec 16, 2006 at 11:29 AM EST
Witch
Points: 614
RonsCrush says:
The bad news is that this woman won't give up very easily, so we have not heard the last of her. The good news is, by stating that her specific problem is the use of witchcraft in literature, she places Harry Potter in the same ranks as "The Wizard Of Oz", and "Macbeth", which have been on library shelves for generations.
That is the joy of having free will Mrs. Mallory....if you don't like it, don't read. If you don't want your children reading it, tell them no. Don't tell me what my son is, or is not, allowed to read. I have raised him, I think I've at least earned the right to help him choose his reading material myself.
Posted Dec 16, 2006 at 11:35 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1068
Ginny511 says:
Man i hate those kind of people if you have never read the books i mean comeon read them before you sterotype!!!!!!!!! Why don't they just go pick on something elese because Jo will not stop writing.
Posted Dec 16, 2006 at 11:46 AM EST
Witch
Points: 844
~Silver Potion~ says:
This is ridiculus. I have a few suggestions for ms. mallory,
1. How about reading the books before you pass judgement on their content?
2. Please stop cramming our justice system with meaningless trials, I'm sure the supreme court has better things to consider.
3. Finally, if you really want to devote your efforts and time to something, you should try making it worthwhile. I don't know, maybe help charities or fights against incurable diseases.
Laura Mallory, you are a disappointment to the U.S. and the entire world's literate population. Just. Drop. It.
Posted Dec 16, 2006 at 11:55 AM EST
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