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Rowling tops US library ban wish list over witchcraft fears

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Published Date: 01 October 2006
By NICHOLAS CHRISTIAN
HARRY Potter creator JK Rowling has been voted the author Americans most want to ban from libraries over fears that her books promote witchcraft.
The American Library Association (ALA), who compiled the list for their Banned Book Week, said there were more than 3,000 attempts to remove the books from libraries and schools between 2000 and 2005.

The ALA said some of the main reasons cited f
or protesters trying to get controversial books removed from circulation were sexually explicit material, having an occult theme or offensive language.

Other complaints highlighted books with violent content or promoting homosexuality or a religious viewpoint.

Other authors on the list include John Steinbeck, for racism, violent language and sexism in Of Mice and Men, Harper Lee for To Kill a Mocking-Bird and William Golding for Lord of the Flies.

Rowling

said: "As this puts me in the company of Harper Lee, Mark Twain, JD Salinger, William Golding, John Steinbeck and other writers I revere, I take my annual inclusion on the list as a great honour."

An ALA spokesman said: "Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to express one's opinion, even if it is considered unorthodox or unpopular and it stresses the importance of ensuring others have access to those viewpoints."



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1

Sanny,

Ex-Pat Scot 01/10/2006 00:52:16

Why don’t they ban the Bible? It contains far more horrendous stuff than HP books. The HP books celebrate the triumph of good over evil in the best schoolboy escapist style.
Whereas the Bible Fundamentalist such as Bush Blair and Rumsfeld have involved us in an unjust war that has cost the lives of thousands of innocent people.
Please give me a logical answer.

2

Guga,

Rockall 01/10/2006 03:59:31

This is another "only in America" type of things. They were even banning Noddy books at one time because Noddy sometimes shared a bed with his pal Big Ears. And, of course, for calling someone "Big Ears" in the first place.

And all this from a country which is the main supplier of hard core porn, snuff movies, racism and violence; and that's not counting the 100,000 Iraqi civilians that Bush and Blair are responsible for killing since Bush "won the war".

Also, as Alexander (#1) said, they should definitely ban the Bible as it is full of violent language, sexism and racism.

3

Bob Brundige,

Kentucky, USA 01/10/2006 07:18:09

Harry Potter is fictitious and overly-hyped. The WTC bombings were real and provocative. Bush's push for democracy in The Middle East is hampered bye insurgents who are buffaloed into thinking that death and destruction of life is somehow charming, and magical.

4

Anne,

01/10/2006 07:42:21

This doesn't surprise me at all.
Over twenty years ago, an American mother (wife of an exchange minister) tried to have the hallowe'en party at her daughter's playgroup banned.
She was swiftly routed on that one, but the mindset was unaltered.

5

maestra,

01/10/2006 08:24:52

Bush's push for Western control, you mean, surely, eh Bob?

I would say that the Bible is proving a far more dangerous book than all of the Harry Potters combined...

6

Sanny,

Ex_Pat Scot 01/10/2006 09:01:20

Careful folks: Remember that the US is controlled by its Bible Belt and its so called leaders are died in the wool Christian Fundamentalist with tunnel vision that can only see their own hypocritical view on the World. One wrong word and they could start sending their Christian message of Peace & Democracy on Cruise Missiles.

My message to America is taken from Matthew 7:5: -
You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.

7

julien brellier,

01/10/2006 09:40:23

lets not forget these are the same nutters who had oliver twist banned because alec guiness potrayed the jewish thief fagan in a 'bad light' and the same nutters who said chapman reading about 'pency's finest' in the catcher in the rye caused him to kill john lennon.

8

HMB,

Glasgow 01/10/2006 10:26:05

When I was in high school, a number of students were permitted to not attend 9th grade (age 14-15) biology class for the two weeks that we learned about human reproduction and they were issued separate textbooks, as their parents did not want them seeing images of the reproductive organs or learning about the s-word.

This was 15 years ago. Today in the US you cannot say the word "hell" on television as it upsets the same lot, so it's censored.

But let's put this story into perspective, please: for every one parent condeming Steinbeck or Lee there are 300 parents who are happy for their children to read those books and who find the fundamentalist parents as nauseating as we do.

9

Cadgers,

Perth 01/10/2006 12:47:59

#3 You said it Bob..."Harry Potter is fictitious"! Or are these book ban persons not able to distinguish this fact?
#8 Well said.

10

Dave,

01/10/2006 13:39:29

Harry Potter is a covertly dangerous poision. It uses evil to claim victories and a calls it good. If a baker baked you brownies and you said they tasted good, then I told you he/she put a little bit of dog poop in them, you'd be furious. the baker shrugge his/her shoulders and say, it was only a little.. so what. A little poison in a childs mind is not good. plain and simple. The Bible never confuses good and evil. Evil is bad. Tapping into evil spirits for any reason is bad. Harry Potter is the dog poop of children's literature, and it is celibrated as great brownies. If your local baker did this you'd ban his product in a heart beat. Yet its much easier for a child to recover from the bad baker than bad writing

11

Kevin,

USA 01/10/2006 15:23:09

Just for the record. Public Libraries don't actually ban books in the US. They simply record the requests that various groups and individuals make to have books banned. Quite to the contrary, when libraries celebrate banned books, the books are displayed prominently for everyone to see and read.

Cheers.

12

Khristina,

01/10/2006 15:25:57

Wow Dave, comparing HP to dog poop in brownies...
Is that because it deals with good and evil in a palatable vein to spark imagination in children?
Gods forbid a child use their imagination, perhaps then they'd start questioning things around them...and whether or not wars based on religious politics are justified?
Iraq did not bomb the WTC. Saddam had a hit out on Bush Sr. That invasion was based on a Texas grudge. Bush was planning a war with Iraq before WTC, go back and archive some of his speeches, it's there.
And perhaps someone could explain to a practicing witch what exactly is wrong with witchcraft? I respect the planet I live on, I live as green as I can, I don't throw trash out of my car window, I try to leave only my footprints behind...
Because I don't believe in a "Dying God theory" then I'm evil?
If Christ died today you'd all be wearing little silver electric chairs around your necks.

13

Lisa,

USA 01/10/2006 16:10:28

Khristina ... I have to agree with you. I'm taking Dave's comments as coming from a Christian without tolerance for other religions - whether he understands them or not.

Whether anyone likes it or not, witchcraft is an active religion across the globe. If you feel that it is dangerous wouldn't you want your children to know what they are facing rather than hiding it in a back room?

And just for the record ... as a mother I know that as soon as you tell a child they CAN'T do or read something ... they will.

All I can say is that I am glad that my children and grandchildren will be allowed to see, read about, hear about, and possibly experience whatever religious aspects they are curious about ... with the guidance of understanding parents.

If Harry Potter is to be removed from libraries, then so should the Bible, the Quran, and any other religious books found on those same shelves. Let's not play favorites with our kids ... give them access to all of it or none of it.

14

kermit,

USA 01/10/2006 16:47:24

Bravo #12!!!

A list comes out every year and books are still on the shelves.
Our first admendment includes the freedom of speech. Books are a difficult item to get banned in the US on a national size. People have tried but I am not aware of any that ever have been.
I have known certain books to be taken off the shelves of elementry schools for in inappropiate age material though. Although I do not see that in the same light as "banning" a book.
We have freedom of religion so what purpose would banning a book that one thinks promotes witchcraft do.....hello, how stupid is that.
We had a big stink a few years ago locally over the classics Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn because an African American teen found the reference to slavery and the word negro offensive. As her right as an American she could protest, however the same admendment protected the book. If she really saw the book as that then she needed to look at it in a enlightened way and take it as an example of history that is longer practiced here........and how did that happen? Feedom of speech and expressing the need for rights of slaves in speeches, protests and the written word had to have something to do with don't you think?!
The book is not anymore about slavery than Harry Potter is about converting children to witchcraft.
I grew up on the Narnia series, Tolkien's books and many others of the like. I am not a practicing witch and do not think it is the religion for me, but friends I grew up and have known all my life are. My own daughter is for that matter.
There are many different branches of witchcraft as a religion or practice just as there are other world religions and beliefs. I have not heard of a single war started because witches were fighting over land or differences in the different sects of thier beliefs.
Witchcraft to my knowledge what I know from my friends and family is about nature, mother earth,about nurturing and honor

15

Alexis,

01/10/2006 17:51:48

As a member of the American Library Association, I ask that at least some of the other commenters please note the phrase "wish list" in the headline. I am sure that your own national library association gets similar requests. Also, some people in the past have wanted the Bible banned. As Billy Grahame the evangelist has noted, the Bible has some of the dirtiest literature in our mutual culture. You might also note that every year the American Library Association does have a national "Read a Banned Book" week.

16

Alexis,

01/10/2006 17:52:26

You might also notice that the Harry Potter books have NOT been banned!

17

Alexis,

01/10/2006 17:53:40

As for the National Read a Banned Book week, only in America. I've been to Britain twice.

18

Leyla,

Phoenix 01/10/2006 18:15:18

Ban Harry Potter Huh? So you wish to ban something that promotes a religion other than a Catholisism-based religion? Sounds like the ones trying to institue this ban are a bit prejudiced against Wiccans. As far as Harry Potter goes.....it is sad to think that books that promote thinking outside the box and encourage children to read more than "Dick and Jane" are the books that people wish to ban. I wonder if these folks are just the anal-retentive ones who wish to control their child's every move so that the pitfalls of life never befall them. REALITY CHECK: that doesn't work in the real world. You have to have conviction in your beliefs all the time to make wise decisions throughout life. You have to be able to defend yourself if need be by more than just saying "well....my mom and dad said so."

I respect the fact that not everyone will like everything but in place of Harry Potter, what are they reading? What will encourage non-traditional and forward thinking in these kids?

Wicca and witchcraft (and not Satanism.....for all of you uneducated in matters of paganism, Satanism is a different thing entirely) is based on respect of yourself, the earth, and doing unto other as you would have them do unto you. Funny.......isn't that in The Lord's Prayer? Wonder where they got that line from?


"Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us"


the wiccan Rede states:

"Bide the Wiccan Laws ye must In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. Live an’ let live - Fairly take an’ fairly give"

So next time someone starts spouting about how witchcraft is the root of all evil.....just remember that all religions are connected somewhere in time whether you admit it of not. And in this world there are many things worse than being pagan.......rapist, child molseter, murderer.....

19

Amelia,

01/10/2006 18:36:23

I'd like to note the persons wishing to ridicule Harry Potter are also the ones with simple spelling and usage errors.
# 3 Bob and # 10 Dave

20

Doreen,

The Ether 01/10/2006 19:51:13

I would much rather my brood were reading Harry Potter than gawping at some mind numbing murderous video game. I do not think that children play or use their imagination as they used to. Reading gives them a chance to enter fantasy worlds and exercise their imagination. We have done this since time began....its called story telling. It motivates children to be creative and artistic, which is a good thing. Harry Potter is harmless, only the extremists would have it as some sort of witches bible, get a life!

By the way Leyla, there are some pseudo pagans/wiccans in America who are vile racists. I came across their site, cannot remember their name, anyway they are all for maintaining the 'purity of the white race' and spout rubbish about black people of note. The woman laughingly go on about goddesses and Gaia, they really are an affected bunch of saddos. But then again its just another hate religion.

21

Doreen,

All around you 01/10/2006 19:52:07

I embrace all of my children, black or white.

22

Doreen,

The Ether 01/10/2006 19:53:54

I should have said that their particular brand of paganism is another hate religion.

23

Kelli,

Michigan USA 01/10/2006 20:39:00

Ok guys, the majority of the commenters are not American so stop dissing my country! HP aren't evil and they are on the wish list for banning.

Another thing, don't talk crap about the WTC attacks like it's no big deal- it is!

Thirdly, America is not the only country with racists, rapists, bigots, porn or anything.

The Bible shouldn't be banned.

24

Joanna,

Cambs 01/10/2006 20:46:45

Harry Potter is just the age old story of good versus evil .......... and thats it!

25

Gaia,

Scotland 02/10/2006 03:31:28

Kelli (24)

Yes Kelli, the majority of comments on here are not from Americans, that is because this is a forum on a Scottish Newspaper.! As we still have the freedom to express our opinions in this Country, then I'm afraid if you want to come on to this forum you must expect to encounter differing opinions to yours.
I did not read any comments that said the World Trade Centre attack "was no big deal", what i read was people expressing their opinions about the reasons behind it and the war on Iraq. You may not have had access to information that we have had over here in the U.K. Indeed i know that my two Sisters in law who live in the U.S have been shocked to discover that important information reguarding these matters are not being broadcast on your news media as it is here, and only learn about it from talking on the phone to us. Also they relate to us that they know people who have lost their Jobs and had threats made on their personal safety after they have spoken out against the war.!! One of my sisters in law (both are American) who lives in Texas says that she is very afraid of what is happening in her Country because "Freedom and Democracy" is being taken away in the U.S by the Bush administration, just the same as they are taking it away in other Countries. I feel i have every right to express my opinion that i think Bush and the Neo cons that rule your Country are the most Greedy Morally corrupt Murderers on the Planet, and if allowed to carry on what they are doing they may "Destroy" us all. Please take note that this is not my opinion of most of the American people, it is my opinion on their Leaders.!!

26

doubtful,

CA 02/10/2006 08:45:41

What goes around comes around. Literature, be it HP or the Bible, show that life is not simple, requires judgement, and can require restraint of one's impulses. Even Jesus had a moment. That which involves dealing with good and bad and imagination help us understand, making better choices. On the other hand, it seems we would do well to require reading good and bad, which might immunize minds to Hitler and Rev. Jim Jones.

27

SafeLibraries.org,

Chatham, NJ, USA 02/10/2006 12:55:53

Folks,
The American Library Association's Banned Books Weeks is, in my opinion, a fake event designed to convince people why children should have access to sexually inappropriate material. First, no books are banned in the USA. None. Second, the books chosen as examples of "banned" books are great works of literature. And yes, that includes "Harry Potter." Third, the books chosen as examples rarely include the ones containing sexually inappropriate material for children. Fourth, the US Supreme Court says in Bd of Education v. Pico (1982) that although books should not be taken out of public schools, those that are "pervasively vulger" may be removed for a lack of educational suitability. Then in US v. ALA (2003) the Court said it is "legitimate, even compelling" to keep minors away from inappropriate materials. And survey after survey of the American public shows this to be the case as well. It is only the ALA and its members in control of local libraries that claim no material should ever be taken away from children for any reasons because that would be "age" discrimination.

I say this because as I read the comments to this article, I feel embarrassed that people have a wrong impression of America precisely because the ALA intentionally fosters this wrong impression to put pressure on those who value the law and the US Supreme Court greater that the ALA.

To learn more, please visit http://www.SafeLibraries.org/

28

Maggie,

02/10/2006 14:50:28

Wow, everyone is so angry about this, it's not that they ARE banning the books, it's that a small group of people want them banned. Not EVERYONE in the US wants rid of the books, I own everyone of them and really enjoyed them. And we can so say 'Hell' on T.V.

29

Gaia,

Scotland 02/10/2006 23:32:39

Safe Libraries (29)

I agree there are some books that may not be appropriate for a child, but the problem is who determines what is inappropriate. Also what may be inappropriate for a younger child, is not always inappropriate for an older child. I asked who gets to decide this because in the U.S it is a fact that the numbers of Christian Fundamentalists who are getting onto School boards is increasing greatly and what they would deem sexually inappropriate is ridiculous.!! So they would and indeed do remove books that are to most of us good educational books. It is not just books either because they are also dictating what can and what cannot be taught in schools irrespective of what parents want. Examples of what they do not allow are sex Education and not permitting Darwins theory of evolution to be discussed let alone taught. The most disturbing thing is that they are now in some places teaching children intolerance and hate. One of my sisters inlaw lived in one of the southern states untill 18 months ago, and she was unhappy about what was happening in her son's school. Sex education was removed from the curriculum despite protest from Teachers and Parents and books were being removed and teachers that did not agree and fall into line were also being fired and replaced by those that would.! The day though when her son came home and told her that his class was told that Atheists and Muslims were Amoral and Evil, she and her husband were incensed and went to the school and complained as did other parents but they got nowhere and were told if they did'nt like it they could send their children to another school. The problem was (as the school knew very well) there was no other school within a reasonable distance, so the parents did not have that option. Anyway that was when they decided to move up north, but she says that it is even getting more common up there as well now. It would seem that the Fundamentalists are getting a foothold in lots of places

30

SafeLibraries.org,

Chatham, NJ, USA 03/10/2006 05:48:45

Jamie (31):

You make an excellent point: "I agree there are some books that may not be appropriate for a child, but the problem is who determines what is inappropriate."

I have an answer for you. In one case a certain book was deemed by the ALA itself to be appropriate only for the 11th grade and up. Then, the same ALA, on another ALA web page, said the very same book was great for children of all ages.

In another case, a "pervasively vulgar" book, shall we say for the sake of argument, was awarded as the top book of the year 2006 for kids 12 and up, while the award winning author said he would not give it to his own 12 year old if he had one. See http://www.safelibraries.org/pushers.htm

So I think that illustrates that. Further, what is the use of the law and US Supreme Court cases like Board of Education v. Pico if the "who's to judge" argument is truly valid?

31

cynthia,

US- New Orleans 03/10/2006 10:32:35

Well, now I know the nut-jobs have really lost their minds. I am 46 years old and I can't wait for evry up-coming book. We buy 2 copies here so that more than one person canread the books when they first come out. My kids love those books! The religious groups here also lost it over the Davinci Code. Can you imagine? It is soooo stupid. I am starting to get livid with these people. It's embarrassing, downright embarrassing that a group which is only 30 million out of 300 million people can give such a slanted view of America. Of course Harry Potter is the most banned book- only lunatics that think about banning books anyway. Think about it. What goes through the people's heads to waste their time trying to obliterate everything which contracts their very narrow view of the world.

32

cynthia,

US- New Orleans 03/10/2006 10:34:01

[contracts] should be contradicts

33

cynthia,

US New Orleans 03/10/2006 10:58:55

#29
what a lot of crap!!!!!!! As if children are in danger of reading inappropiate books in a library. Most kids go to the library with their parents. You know full well that this ban wishlist stuff is a way to tell people what to read. You can quote court cases until the end of the world, and it won't change the fact that what we are talking about is censuring. You are just part of the campaign of fear we have been subjected to since the right-wingers have taken over. Why don't you concentrate on the real dangers for kids- like republican US representatives who try to solict sex from 16 year old whitehouse pages or lobby for legislation to stop the free access to porn on the internet? ALA fosters inappropiate material for chidren indeed!!!!!!!!

34

cynthia,

US New Orleans 03/10/2006 11:05:59

Righht on Jamie! I live in the deep south but the fundamentalist are in the minority in New Orleans. They are still here though and I guess everyone can see how frustrated I am by their attitudes. But these fools aren,t chasing me out of mt country...let them leave if they don't like it.

35

Faye,

Birmingham, AL USA 03/10/2006 17:41:44

My now 17 year old daughter and I have 2 copies each of every HP book. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans we each donated a set of our HP to the relief efforts for the Red Cross. We now again have two sets and read them at least once a year and we watch the movies at least onece a year. It ticks me off that 3000 people want to whine and complain about them. I bet the can't read at all. I have a friend that was hit by a 18wheeler truck and has a tramatic brain injury and has been in a wheelchair for the last 18years. He was also a little lethargic but we gave hime the audio HP books and his eyes light up and he smiles. To the 3000 people is there a place all of us can send the whiners and complainer from all countries to? Like Pluto. The new non planet? There you can have your own flags, books, dishes, religions, cars, tags, jewelry,pajamas, pets, houses,... Does anyone see where I am going with this? As far as Bush goes there is not a place on our USA ballots to vote for none of the above.

36

Gaia,

Scotland 03/10/2006 18:51:29

Cynthia,
Could'nt agree with you more, those sooo religious right wingers are the BIGGEST HYPOCRITES on the Planet.!!! I just had a look at that safe libraries web site and i was appalled.....i would not want them to be able to decide what i or anybody else reads.! I dont think it is too difficult to work out who sponsers them.
Anyway Cynthia i wish you the best of luck in trying to get the extreme right wing out, our country is starting to go that way since Tony Blair became a follower of Bush. The majority of Brits are against him though and he and his cronies are going to be voted out, starting this coming May in Scotland when we get rid of his Drones that govern here. Hopefully we shall get an independant Scotland that we the people get a say in how our Country is run.
We have no regrets about leaving the U.S as we foreseen all the things happening now, including the war on Iraq....if you look at some of PRE 9/11 press statements Bush made, you know he was planning the invasion of Iraq long before 9/11. Anyway it was my American spouse who wanted to leave much more than me, but we both did miss my home here in the Beautiful Highlands of Scotland. Hope you can come over one day and see them, in the meantime i once again wish you the best of luck in stopping the extremists from taking over your Country.!!!

37

Jennifer,

usa 04/10/2006 05:29:38

I really enjoyed reading most of the comments on this page. I agree with so much of it . Nobody can tell us what we can read! There are plenty of things to complain about . Harry Potter is a good against evil fantasy I love it! the world would be alot better if there were people like Harry and friends and Hagrid too!
JKR is brilliant! Love to you all! Think for your self.

38

Becky,

04/10/2006 16:06:11

Stupid! Just plain ridiculous!

39

Alex,

usa 05/10/2006 12:11:30

My son loves HP! I truly dislike the people who try to tell me what he can and can't read. He is seven and has read all of the books and seen all of the movies. He also has a large collection of Noddy books, which he loves. Unfortunately they are the newer ones as my originals were lost during a move. As for the President we didn't vote for him and our son didn't in his Kid's Voting election. Can't wait to get rid of him.


 

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