whoa! (aka dissent and HP)

[nobodysrib]

Alex wrote: 

> My cousin won't even discuss the books with me. Her kids will read
> them in the streets, I guess. 

LOL!  Considering the state of, well, just about *everything* right 
now, I'd think children *wanting* to read would be the least of 
someone's troubles.

> Anna wrote: "[when reading Richelle's email] I had visions of that 
> California father who felt that his daughters' rights were being 
> violated because the children mentioned 'God' in the national 
> anthem. unfortunately, there's always going to be some person out 
> there who will object to any kind of resolution, no matter how 
> crazy they're being."


and chaunacy noted: 

> now, somebody going out of their way to eliminate options for other 
> people (ie folks wanting to ban harry potter from libraries) is a 
> WORLD AWAY from someone not being willing to declare a false belief 
> on a daily basis (ie folks protesting mandatory national 
> anthem/pledge of allegiance in public schools). i mean, it's all 
> about freedom, isn't it? kids should be free to read what they want 
> and believe what they want, right? (or parents should be free to 
> monitor what their own kids read or what they believe in, depending 
> on how you look at it.)

I was debating getting involved in this, but chaunacy phrased it so 
well (and so simply, too) that I had to throw in my two cents.  I see 
it as being all about two different kinds of Freedoms...  "Freedom 
To" vs. "Freedom From."  Being free *to* do something (read Harry 
Potter, for example) or Being free *from* someone doing something to 
you (being forced to declare a false belief).  (For further 
exploration, check out Margaret Atwood's _The Handmaid's Tale_).

In terms of Harry Potter, one reason of the reasons the Dursleys 
abused Harry and tried to keep him from Hogwarts was to keep their 
family free *from* magic, while Harry wished to be free *to* make 
that choice on his own.

I say, the more options we have (ahem, not banning books), the freer 
we are from others imposing their belief systems on us.  And it's not 
like any of us are forcing young kids to read HP.  Offering chapter 
one for free (to get them hooked, of course) and then charging 
exponentially increasing rates for each additional chapter...  

[apocalyptic thought: If, for some strange reason, OoP cover price 
was $100, who among us would shell out the dough?  <I tentatively 
raise my hand> $200?  <my hand's still raised...> $500...  
<embarrassingly, my hand is still raised...> Where's your limit?  
Higher?]

- Nobody's Rib (who prefers that all moral-regulatory laws are kept 
off her.  but she does obey speed limits.)