| Author |
Message |
    
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1347
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 6:11 pm: | 
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I know how my reaction feels, but I can't quite articulate how absurd this is.
Parents complained about a book (based on a true storey actually) about two male penguins who adopted another penguin egg (little did I know adoptions are actually common in the penguin world). I'm not sure which appalls me more - that anyone actually had "concerns" about the "homosexual undertones" of the book and the fear that their children could be exposed to it, or the fact that the library caved and moved it out of the childrens section when TWO parents complained about it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060304/ap_on_re_us/brf_book_flap
I just don't get it. |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 5850
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 6:15 pm: |
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Just dumb. This is one of my son's favorite books and he can't wait to get to the zoo to "meet" Tango. Sheesh.
It actually saddens me. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7084
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 7:49 pm: |
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This book is in very good company. Some of the best children's books have been banned by libraries at one time or another.
It's really sad that some people feel they have to control what young people read because they (the banners) read things into the books which the children will never even notice and which are often incidental to the book's main message and entertainment value. |
CageyD
Citizen
Username: Cageyd
Post Number: 631
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 11:46 pm: |
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Red vs. Blue |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1220
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 12:34 pm: |
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Hey, all you parents should just thank your lucky stars that we have this kind of 'moral protection' available to us. Remember when the Teletubbies were secretely trying to recruit more homosexuals? Gosh darn it, we stopped them then and we'll stop them now - these gay penguins are sending a very clear message that will destroy the very fabric of American society.
And remember, for every 1 person that registers a formal complaint there are at least 5,000,000 other folks out there who feel the same way. (I'm using the same statistical process that the FCC uses to process obscenity complaints - these numbers should be valid). So basically, when you say 2 parents complained at the local library it was really more like 10,000,000 parents complaining.
Are you going to sit there and tell me that the library should IGNORE 10,000,000 complaints? I don't think so!
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Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4198
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 1:06 pm: |
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Case-
You might want to add a 'smile' at the end of your post or someone is bound to think you're serious! |
Chris Prenovost
Citizen
Username: Chris_prenovost
Post Number: 796
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 2:05 pm: |
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The book got moved out of the library because TWO parents complained about it?
Here in Maplewood, Chrismas music was banned because of ONE complaint. |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 74
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 2:25 pm: |
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Remember Bert and Ernie? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6848
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 3:41 pm: |
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Yeah, but Bert & Ernie had separate beds.
But, then again, so did Rob and Laura.
Hmmmmm.. |
ina
Citizen
Username: Ina
Post Number: 315
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 4:28 pm: |
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The perturbed parents should be told that after their chick was raised, one of the penguins turned straight; the other was single, last I heard. I can't wait for the "Healing from homosexuality" crowd to hear about this & run with it.... |
Rick B
Citizen
Username: Ruck1977
Post Number: 1008
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 8:11 am: |
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"Red vs. Blue"
fight stereotyping with stereotyping...nice |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12769
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 12:52 pm: |
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When I was five, one of my favorite books was Ferdinand the Bull, about a bull who refused to engage in a bullfight and instead sat down in the middle of the arena and smelled the flowers. (Does that say something about me?) I wonder how these people would respond to that book these days.
I think the moral of the story of two penguins adopting an egg could be that one does what one should do, even when it's a bit unconventional. Besides, they were responding to a situation, not creating one. What better message of compassion is there? Oh well, I suppose I am probably preaching to the choir here.
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2512
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 2:03 pm: |
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Tom, I agree. And I think the moral of the news story is that people will read into things whatever they like. If you have a distorted view of the world, that distortion carries over into everything you see, read, and experience. |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 80
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 2:26 pm: |
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Most people are not aware that when a penguin couple has a baby, the father protects and cares for the infant when the mother goes looking for food. I think it was very natural for two males to protect and care for the egg they found. |
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