scottobear: (comics code authority)
scott von berg ([personal profile] scottobear) wrote2001-03-28 07:29 pm

(no subject)

Church’s book burning gets attention

PITTSBURGH, March 28 — The Rev. George Bender says he never thought a little book burning would get so much publicity. But reporters have not stopped calling his tiny Harvest Assembly of God Church in rural western Pennsylvania since word got out that church members held a ceremonial burning of “ungodly” videotapes, music CDs and books, including some of Harry Potter’s fantasy tales.

you know, I have mixed feelings about this... it's not like they're destroying the original work, and I imagine they paid for the stuff, so they're free to do what they like. the symbolism there is queasy, though... like burning a flag, or a cross, or any other representation of meaning... something just feels wrong, but I suppose it's the intolerance behind it.

I wonder if the folks who get riled when the flag is burned will get as mad about an old Journey album, or harry potter...

I don't think I mind, on reflection... they're not banning the stuff, just expressing distaste in a rather loud fashion. I'd probably feel differently if they were burning one of a kind items, instead of mass produced ones... although, I have to wonder how they dealt with the burning CD's, if it's environmentally sound. They're not banning stuff, just expressing themselves in a way I find distasteful.

As far as keeping it from children, well, I'm all for letting parents dictate what the kids read, as long as society as a whole doesn't deem it damaging to the kids. Keeping stuff from adults however... that's a no-no.

[identity profile] filthymonkey.livejournal.com 2001-03-28 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
This kind of thing torks me off although I respect their right to freedom of speech and expression. Just wish I had that right of zealot termination I heard was in the first draft of the constitution...

[identity profile] mauracelt.livejournal.com 2001-03-28 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I am not partial to book burnings of any sort.. I think that people that do that are going overboard and can cause children to think that books are dangerous and not Want to read.. it's a double edged sword that should never get sharpened..

[identity profile] nbbmom.livejournal.com 2001-03-28 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
This is completely unrelated to your post but I just wanted to say that Kathleen (krussell) and Jen (applelard) say you are the bomb and that I'm the only semi-cool person in LJ left that hasn't added you as a friend so I just thought I'd let you know I'll be lurking for awhile. Based on the enormity of your friends list, I understand completely if you don't add me to your list :) And as a word of warning, I'm a highly opinionated, mouthy broad who gets paid to talk for a living so if I'm buggin' ya, say so! :)

Nice to make your acquaintance m'dear.

Re:

[identity profile] scottobear.livejournal.com 2001-03-29 04:14 am (UTC)(link)

Well, thank you! I hold both of those dear young ladies in high esteem, too. Welcome aboard!

Actually, I'm trying to pare my friend's list down to 50... but it's so hard to do! Instead, I read with filters and hope not to miss anything. Unlike Jen, sometimes I scan, instead of readnig the whole posts of folks...I'd like to get back to getting more into reading the full journal of people.

Having opinions can be a good thing, and so can being mouthy... as long as things are kept mostly kind and respectful, it shouldn't bug me. Rest assured, that I'll let you know otherwise.

A pleasure to meet you, I'm sure.

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[identity profile] nbbmom.livejournal.com 2001-03-29 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
I'm never ever nasty :)

And even with 35 on my list, I still scan.

Glad to be aboard!

[identity profile] ex-foom23660.livejournal.com 2001-03-28 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I guess in a way they are practicing a form of freedom of speech - I just hope that they remember that they do not have the right to take that right from others...

And book burnings make me think of the Nazis.

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[identity profile] scottobear.livejournal.com 2001-03-29 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
likewise... I'd certainly want to keep an eye on folks like that...

late-night rambling

[identity profile] burgundy.livejournal.com 2001-03-29 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
I have such a knee-jerk reaction to book burning. Partly it's 'cause I think so highly of books. Burn a flag, a draft card, whatever, I could care less, but books are special and precious, even if they're mass produced trade paperbacks.

There are also the connotations. How can anyone be surprised that book-burning causes a furor, given the associations in so many people's minds? They're doing it because of its symbolic value; well, this is what the symbol means to other people.

On the one hand, people have the right to raise their own kids. On the other hand, no one has the right to harm their own kids, and where is the line? I think that teaching kids that Harry Potter is evil is silly and wrong, but I'm not the thought police, and eventually the kids will figure it out for themselves. Let the parents burn whatever books they want, I guess, as long as they're still available in the libraries (which in many cases, they're not).

[identity profile] cottoneyedjoe.livejournal.com 2001-03-29 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
My friend Nonni and I have joked alot about throwing a festival called "Nazi Day" as a kind of spring festival thing. We would have a big ole book bonfire, hand out little flags, clowns who paint swasticas on faces, and have "li'l hitlers," midgets dressed as hitler, and Elvis impersonators in ss uniforms, and we were even talking about a pig picking and puting a yamica on the pig, but we figured that was going to far. And we'd get alot of cool hippy kids, and blacks and jews to come. Then we'd let a bunch of real neonazies know it was happening, and they'd get all fired up about it, and drive all the way from like alabama and louisiana, "we're gonna go have us a good ole rally!" then they'd get there and realize that they were just being mercilessly made fun of, but the police would be there, and it would be just worth it all to see the looks on their faces.
I actually thing book burning is fun. A couple of my friends and I actually do have a private annual book burning, where we take all the things that we've read in the past year that pissed us off, and we douse them with gas and light em up. it's very cathartic
As for parents rights, I think that people talk way too much about parent's rights. No idiot has the right to a child, unlike what people thing. IF you are a good parent, then a child has the right to you.