[silk] bookburners are alive and well

[Udhay Shankar N <udhay@xxxxxxxxx>]

<x-flowed>Just in case we forget what censorship can do...the following story is an 
example of one of the early steps on the slippery slope that leads to 
things like Dachau. I am not joking.

Udhay

http://www.latimes.com/print/asection/20010328/t000026662.html

Burning of 'Ungodly' Books, CDs Puts Church in Spotlight

From Reuters

PITTSBURGH--The Rev. George Bender said Tuesday that he never thought a 
littl book burning would get so much publicity.

     But reporters have not stopped calling his tiny Harvest Assembly o 
God Church in rural western Pennsylvania since word got out that churc 
members held a ceremonial burning of "ungodly" videotapes, music CDs an 
books, including some of the Harry Potter fantasy tales.

     "We got a lot more attention than we were planning on. I've been 
getting calls all morning from all around the country," Bender said. "W 
were only out to make a little noise in the local community."

     The Pentecostal church, which is about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh 
sponsored a book burning Sunday evening at the edge of its gravel parkin 
lot. Among the 30 church members and guests in attendance were teenager who 
led hymns including "Amazing Grace" and "Father of Creation."

     Into the fire went 1970s albums by Joe Walsh and the rock grou 
Foreigner; CDs by Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and AC/DC; and Walt Disne 
Co. videos of "Pinocchio" and "Hercules." Titles by actress Shirley 
MacLaine and psychic Edgar Cayce, whose wor touched on supernatural or 
paranormal themes, also went up in smoke.

     The American Library Assn., which tracks challenges to controversia 
books in the United States, said book burnings are relatively rare.

     "We haven't had any burnings that I'm aware of since . . . I believ 
it was back in the '80s," said Judith Krug, director of the association' 
Office for Intellectual Freedom. She also noted that the wildly popula 
Harry Potter series has attracted more formal challenges in public schoo 
libraries than any other book or book collection for two straight years.

     "The prevalent reason for challenges is the notion that if children 
read these materials, they will become believers in [witchcraft], and that 
evil pervades the material," Krug said.
		

--
((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
     God is silent. Now if we can only get Man to shut up.




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