Potter on the pyre

[prince_galrion at yahoo.no]

No: HPFGUIDX 13275

The following appeared today, Thursday 01.03.2001, in the Norwegian 
newspaper VG.  Klaes Krog is that newspaper's correspondent in 
Germany.  Hopefully, our German members can shed more light on what 
actually happened, and on reactions to this in Germany.


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Potter on the Pyre 
By KLAES KROG 

BERLIN (VG) Fear of exciting magic caused a German Christian youth-
group to burn Harry Potter books recently, in the village Schramberg 
in Schwabische Alb not far from Stuttgart. 

It is no longer possible to borrow books at the library in Münsingen, 
because conservative members of the parishional council fear that the 
contents of the books will cause a growth of occultism.  That Land-
church in Stuttgart is shocked to hear these news.  Spokesman for the 
church in the region, Christof Vetter, is anxious to point out that 
the church in no way supports these actions. 

– the only thing that helps against this is irony, says Vetter.  In 
Germany, they find consolation that it is not only in pietistic 
Schwaben that bible-bloated guardinas of morale are in action.  The 
books are reportedly also banned in one English comprehensive school, 
because it is not in accordance to the word of the Bible, the way the 
headmistress of the school feels good literature should be – at her 
school. 

Spokesman for the stock-exchange-association of German bookdealers is 
clear in his views: 

– For the moment we have an occult wave.  The trigger for this is 
without question the four Harry Potter-books, which have beaten all 
previous sales-records for children's books, and have sold in 60 
million copies across the world. 

A similar wizardry-wave was experienced in 1970 as well, with the 
adventures of Frodo and Sam in their quest with Gandalf against evil, 
in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. 

– Purely entertainment 
The publishing-house that publishes the Harry Potter-books in Norway, 
has not experienced reactions of the kind now seen in Germany. 

This  according to Tove Steinbo, responsible for public relations in 
the Publishin-house Damm & Søn a/s.

– What wizardry is seen in these books, is purely entertainment.

These are not books that encourage children to do the same things 
that Harry Potter does, says Steinbo, and points to this maybe being 
part of what fascinates readers.

– We know that we cannot bring this magic into our everyday lives.

For this reason it is silly to be afraid of this; you realise that 
this is a universe that does not really exist, says Steinbo.
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