Heathyr wrote:

ATLANTA - A suburban county that sparked a public outcry when its libraries temporarily eliminated funding for Spanish-language fiction is now being asked to ban Harry Potter books from its schools.

I am so against banning books. It makes me ill every year to read all the challenged books, and the idiotic reasons why. The attempts to ban HP really amuse me, though. "Oh my god, it's fantasy! RUN RUN RUN, the devil is going to get me!"

We should be so lucky.

It's the sign of a small, petty and insecure mind, someone who is so uncertain in their beliefs that they have to destroy anything that might start to rock it. If your faith isn't enough, then examine yourself, don't try to impinge upon my rights to broaden my mind, entertain my spirit, and enjoy knowledge.

~Heathyr

While I agree with your principal one of the interesting dynamics of the US is its hierarchy of community and legislature. That is to say that there's things that go from federal to very local (think even home owners associations) that while tending to be similar, can tune and tweek for the local community. If people in South Bumfuck want to ban books and post the Ten Commandments all over shit, then fine. If put up for a vote and it passes, then great. The community has spoken and that's what they want. This works just as well in Mississippi as it does in the Castro.

What will be obvious over the years is what is reaped by these choices. When people who grow up in these communities are inexperienced, narrow minded, and intolerant - and all of the joy and prosperity that this provides - then they will have gotten exactly what they wanted. Communities who make more informed choices and strive to find a workable balance will thrive. As Ted Nugent said wisely (I'm paraphrasing), it's good when crazy and stupid people speak up and without censorship - that helps me to find and avoid them.

I am so embarrassed to live in Georgia.