Griper News: Griper Blade: Harry Potter, Islam, and Why 'Values Voters' are Chumps

Ever wondered what it takes to be a opinion maker on the religious right? One requirement seems to be a complete lack of understanding of the concept of irony. Take Nancy Salvato from the Alliance for School Choice, who writes that worrying that Harry Potter books promote Wicca is paranoid, then heads out to points paranoid of her own. She begins out sane enough:

To begin, I must disclose that I whole heartedly agree with Gwinnett County, Georgia Schools attorney Victoria Sweeny’s opinion that, “Harry Potter promotes reading and good values.” Furthermore, she is absolutely correct when she says that, “The major themes are good versus evil, overcoming adversity, loyalty, friendship and courage," which I believe are all important ideas for kids to consider during their formative years. More needs to be said, though, in order to frame this ridiculous issue in its proper context.

We are facing clear and immediate dangers to our way of life and shouldn’t waste time entertaining the paranoid delusions of any person(s) declaring that Wicca is being proselytized through the Harry Potter series, especially anyone who hasn’t bothered to read an entire book. Indeed, from everything I’ve ever read about Wicca, it is a very peaceful practice. A good site to read more can be found here: http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/wicca.htm.

But then Salvato elects herself Mayor of Crazytown:

Yet, one can conclude that another religious practice is spreading evil amongst us; those who believe in the inalienable rights of every person to pursue life, liberty, and happiness; and respect and defend the U.S. Constitution which protects these rights. As Mehdi Mozaffari explains on the History News Network website (http://www.oneseek.com/cgi-bin/longboard/launchApp.cgi), Islamism is 'an ideology bearing a holistic vision of Islam whose final aim is the conquest of the world with all means'. Radical Islamists, in the name of Allah, will commit indiscriminate, non-selective and suicidal acts of terror, as has been demonstrated on American soil.

Despite this, in our nation’s public schools, children are being taught about Ramadan and have been required to play act being Muslims (http://www.oneseek.com/cgi-bin/longboard/launchApp.cgi). I find it perplexing that teachers are compelled to avoid explaining Judeo-Christian religious history and curriculum directors find it unnecessary to require teaching this aspect of our nation’s history, yet it’s acceptable to teach about Muslim traditions while removing the Ten Commandments from the public square. Even more curious is that those practicing extreme forms of this faith want to follow Sharia laws in our country; they want to be exempted from the “rule of law” which governs the sovereign citizens of our nation (http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/316).