Gateway Witchcraft

[stuttermoan]

Here's a clip about Laura Mallory, the Georgia woman who has been campaigning to get the Harry Potter books banned from her children's school. She had caught my attention a while back, and so I was curious about her voice. I admit I was really hoping to hear some of her crazy, since it wasn't showing up visually. Despite the fact that she knows apparently nothing about the series itself or the completely unrelated religion of Wicca, I can't help but admire her determination. Ignoring the misguided ideas themselves, she appears to be fairly sane.

Honestly, I feel an odd sort of sympathy for her. As unpopular as her opinion is, she has continued to share it, and endured "the toil, the hassle, the abuse," in the words of the interviewer. It's especially ironic since one of the themes of the HP series is perseverance, and standing up for what you believe in even when others around you can't or won't try to understand it. I wonder how Laura Mallory would react to meeting JKR? They're both mothers, and both seem to have strong feelings about how the ideal world would be run.

Another facet of my sympathy for Laura Mallory stems from the fact that I used to think very much like her (although not specifically about HP, since it wasn't around until I entered high school, and I didn't become a fan until a few years later). I grew up very conservative; I was judgmental, homophobic, and generally warped by my beliefs. Thankfully, once I entered high school, I began to shed my negativity, but it has taken me years to realign my ethics to my inner compass instead of a doctrine. Had my experience been different, it is highly possible that I might have eventually become a Texas version of Laura Mallory.

Recalling my own past experiences with things that challenged my religion at the time, I understand why she doesn't really know all that much about the books or Wicca. I mean, I've read that she's done research, but could she really have done effective research to truly believe the two issues are related? It's less of an understanding of the facts and more of a latching-on-and-twisting of them. When you're in such a state of fear, you avoid or alter new information, especially about something morally questionable, because you don't want to be pulled in. Somehow, even allowing yourself to know something is a defeat, because the knowledge is essentially what you fear; any idea other than your doctrine is not allowed airtime, lest it begin to make sense and you fall from grace. You honor your beliefs by hardening your mind against such threats, and if you're socially conscious, trying to protect other people as well. (And of course, thankfully, this state of mind doesn't seem to apply to very many Christians, or religious people in general, just the zealots.)

I can see how the enthusiasm of grade-school-aged fans might even seem cult-like to her. I bet HP fandom would completely blow her mind. Probably the most difficult concept that Mallory and my self-of-past-years would not be able to grasp is that passion--being a fan of something earthly and seemingly non-spiritual--can exist and not necessarily be a moral or religious threat to the people who feel it.

Comments

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking of the woman as a whack job, so I appreciate your post. It's good to remember that the people with whom we disagree are, in fact, people. Thank you.

[mimbulus.livejournal.com]

And that their opinions are as valid as yours.

But the problems start when those other people with their Very Valid Opinions try to shove them down other people's throats.

[stuttermoan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it definitely gets messy when someone tries to impose their opinions forcefully, at the cost of others' freedoms. I'm glad the board of education in her county get that, even if she doesn't.

[(Anonymous)]

Dialogue can sometimes stop people from behaving that way (or lessen it to some degree), and it's really not possible to have a fruitful discussion with someone one doesn't feel is human. I have been trying to remember that we're all entitled to our opinions, but my impression of Mallory was becoming fixed until I read this post. I still disagree with the woman, but I'm no longer dismissing or demonizing her in my mind; I'm happy about that because I have no desire to become like her.

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

*remembers to log in*

[stuttermoan.livejournal.com]

And thank you right back for taking the time to read it. I was honestly a little nervous about addressing the topic. I'm glad it provided some insight.

[pamoreno.livejournal.com]

Christians in the US seem to be way more commited to their religion than the rest of us around the world and that's kind of scary and ridiculous at the same time.

It's so obvious she hasn't read any of the books, because, despite her claim about Harry being related to wicca, I think it's more related to the new testament than to any other religious thing. If Harry dies saving his world in book seven, he'll become the "Jesus" of the wizards, (which I think it would be a REALLY boring ending, but that's just me) probing my theory.

[stuttermoan.livejournal.com]

"...more commited to their religion than the rest of us around the world..."

Or maybe just going about being committed in the wrong way. There are many closed-minded ones here, but thankfully there are also many of what I consider to be good Christians: people who respond to the world with tolerance and kindness, as they would want God to view them. Unfortunately, the narrow-thinking ones end up creating a lot more public controversy and therefore overrepresent themselves.

And yeah, I hope JKR doesn't kill Harry off, for the reason you mentioned and many others.

[estherthegb]

Very well put together article. It's nice these's days to read one where a person isn't just bashing another person due to disagreements.

As far as Mallory doing research, doesn't seem like she's done a good job of it if she compares it to Wicca :D

Sorry I wasn't on when you IMed me.

[stuttermoan.livejournal.com]

Thanks. =) And np, dude, I figured you were busy. I'll try to catch you again sometime soon.