DBAHO Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 THE parents of a young girl are fuming over the book their daughter brought home from the school library: a children's story about a prince whose true love turns out to be another prince. Michael Hartsell said he and his wife, Tonya, couldn't believe it when Prince Bertie, the leading character in King & King, waves off a bevy of eligible princes before falling for Prince Lee. The book ends with the princes marrying and sharing a kiss. "I was flabbergasted," Hartsell said. "My child is not old enough to understand something like that, especially when it is not in our beliefs." The 32-page book by Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland was published in March 2002 by Tricycle Press, the children's division of Ten Speed Press of Berkeley, California. A sequel, King & King & Family, was recently published. The publisher's website lists the books as intended for readers age 6 and up. Barbara Hawley, librarian and media coordinator at Freeman Elementary School, said the book has been on the library's shelves since early last year. "What might be inappropriate for one family, in another family is a totally acceptable thing," said Elizabeth Miars, Freeman's principal. Hawley said she couldn't comment on the book because she hadn't seen it. She declined to say whether she knowingly selected a book on gay marriage. The Hartsells said they are keeping the book until they get assurances it won't be circulated. But Hawley said all county schools have a committee that reviews books after their appropriateness is questioned, and the Hartsells must make a written complaint and return the book for review. The Hartsells said they intend to file such a complaint and are considering transferring their daughter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Since I don't have kids yet, I am not sure if my opinion on this is fully informed or not, but, I don't have a problem with this book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochpuppy Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Since I don't have kids yet, I am not sure if my opinion on this is fully informed or not, but, I don't have a problem with this book. Nor do I. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Hmm must be a Minneapolis thing??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 I absolutely do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 I absolutely do. What is your problem with the book? Just trying to get an opposite point of view is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxy Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Heard about this book a while ago, and think it's fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 What is your problem with the book? Just trying to get an opposite point of view is all. The same people that encourage these types of books on the basis of nondiscrimination and diversity are the same that won't allow a teacher to even offer abstinence as an option to preventing diseases and pregnancies. This isn't just accepting homosexuality and being tolerant of it, it's encouraging it. I wonder how many bibles are in this school's library. I would bet not one. Diversity? Ha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 The same people that encourage these types of books on the basis of nondiscrimination and diversity are the same that won't allow a teacher to even offer abstinence as an option to preventing diseases and pregnancies. This isn't just accepting homosexuality and being tolerant of it, it's encouraging it. I wonder how many bibles are in this school's library. I would bet not one. Diversity? Ha! I agree with ya mreye. I would not want this book in my childs library, especially that young. On the bright sidw though, it is very diverse...they have an asian character as the other prince, eh, eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsox Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 The same people that encourage these types of books on the basis of nondiscrimination and diversity are the same that won't allow a teacher to even offer abstinence as an option to preventing diseases and pregnancies. This isn't just accepting homosexuality and being tolerant of it, it's encouraging it. I wonder how many bibles are in this school's library. I would bet not one. Diversity? Ha! I would bet you on the Bible in the library but what does that have to do with this? Many, many, many Biblical scholars and theologians and church bodies would vehemently disagree with the idea that anything in the Bible is "anti" this story. As one story book of many that children read, I would have no problem whatsoever. The children learn about hate all over the place in society (outside of school). That there is one book out of all the books the kids encounter in school that presents this viewpoint, right on! Diversity! Ha! You would stifle diversity by not allowing this book to be presented. When your candidate for president is proposing a constitutional amendment to enshrine in the constitution his own narrow views, please do not discuss diversity unless you put it in green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochpuppy Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 This isn't just accepting homosexuality and being tolerant of it, it's encouraging it. How is this book encouraging it? I would rather have my child learn about this from a book or hearing about from myself than a gossip session in the playground from their friends. In this day and age kids learn about alot more at a lot younger age, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapkomet Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 You would call his opposition on gay marriages a "narrow view"? I can tell you that a whole lot more people oppose it then support it, and I don't buy that as a "narrow view". It's pretty black and white to most folks that homosexuality is WRONG. If people practice it, it's WRONG. They're WRONG. Every modern "religion" views it as WRONG. So why is that such a "narrow view"? Notice a trend of WRONG? Now to propose a constitutional amendment banning homosexual marriage is another issue, one that should be left to the private lives of folks. Just like other things that humans do as wrong, I don't see our political leaders going out and proposing a constitutional ban, like adultry. It's wrong too. So everything that's morally wrong should have a constitutional amendment? In this sense I agree with you that putting it in the constitution goes too far. The problem is that these folks want to flaunt their views and force the country to make a decision on the legalities. Therein lies the problem. (Note: I don't hate, dislike, or anything else people who practice homosexuality, but I would say that they're in the wrong for it anyway. It's their lifestyle choice. So please don't take this post that I hate folks like that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 When your candidate for president is proposing a constitutional amendment to enshrine in the constitution his own narrow views, please do not discuss diversity unless you put it in green. Everything has to go to that, huh Vince? :headshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 (Note: I don't hate, dislike, or anything else people who practice homosexuality, but I would say that they're in the wrong for it anyway. It's their lifestyle choice. So please don't take this post that I hate folks like that). It's sad that you had to include this in your post, but I understand why you did. Too many times you get attack for stating your opinion about something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsox Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Everything has to go to that, huh Vince? :headshake not at all but it does make a discussion on diversity funny as hell my post said much more than that but Rove always says go for the ad hominem to deflect the real issue :headshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 When your candidate for president is proposing a constitutional amendment to enshrine in the constitution his own narrow views, please do not discuss diversity unless you put it in green. I would bet you on the Bible in the library but what does that have to do with this? I'm trying to make a point that those that are for all kinds of diversity don't practice what they preach when it comes to Christianity. As one story book of many that children read, I would have no problem whatsoever. The children learn about hate all over the place in society (outside of school). That there is one book out of all the books the kids encounter in school that presents this viewpoint, right on! The classic "They're going to do it anyway" arguement. I fail to see how not wanting my kids to have access to this book in a public school has anything to do with hate. Diversity! Ha! You would stifle diversity by not allowing this book to be presented. I'm not the one preaching diversity. Would I be stifleing diversity by not allowing chilren to view porn at school as well? Or read the KKK by-laws? Or come to school naked because he's a nudist? There's needs to be a line in society, especially in a tax payer funded elementary school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 but Rove always says go for the ad hominem to deflect the real issue :headshake Continue... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochpuppy Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 (Note: I don't hate, dislike, or anything else people who practice homosexuality, but I would say that they're in the wrong for it anyway. It's their lifestyle choice. So please don't take this post that I hate folks like that). If it's THEIR (not yours) lifechoice then how can it be wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wong & Owens Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 You would call his opposition on gay marriages a "narrow view"? I can tell you that a whole lot more people oppose it then support it, and I don't buy that as a "narrow view". It's pretty black and white to most folks that homosexuality is WRONG. If people practice it, it's WRONG. They're WRONG. Every modern "religion" views it as WRONG. So why is that such a "narrow view"? Notice a trend of WRONG? Now to propose a constitutional amendment banning homosexual marriage is another issue, one that should be left to the private lives of folks. Just like other things that humans do as wrong, I don't see our political leaders going out and proposing a constitutional ban, like adultry. It's wrong too. So everything that's morally wrong should have a constitutional amendment? In this sense I agree with you that putting it in the constitution goes too far. The problem is that these folks want to flaunt their views and force the country to make a decision on the legalities. Therein lies the problem. (Note: I don't hate, dislike, or anything else people who practice homosexuality, but I would say that they're in the wrong for it anyway. It's their lifestyle choice. So please don't take this post that I hate folks like that). Where the f*** do you get your data? I can tell you that a whole lot more people oppose it then support it, and I don't buy that as a "narrow view". From USA today: While 48% of those surveyed say allowing gay unions "will change our society for the worse," 50% say they would be an improvement or have no effect. It's pretty black and white to most folks that homosexuality is WRONG. Says you? Show me ONE piece of data that supports your baseless statements If people practice it, it's WRONG. They're WRONG. Typical arrogant, undoubtably christian jerk Every modern "religion" views it as WRONG. Few major religions directly say that at all(Help, Vince?) The only thing WRONG with your post is that you wrote it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapkomet Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 I can choose to cheat on my wife, and that is a wrong choice. Period. See: 10 commandments, thou shalt not commit adultry. People can have same sex marriages, and it's wrong, period. See: marriage is between man and woman references in Bible. But I will not hate someone for doing something wrong. That was my point. All I am saying is they are wrong for what they are doing, but I don't hate for their wrong choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochpuppy Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 I'm not the one preaching diversity. Would I be stifleing diversity by not allowing chilren to view porn at school as well? Or read the KKK by-laws? Or come to school naked because he's a nudist? There's needs to be a line in society, especially in a tax payer funded elementary school. So you're comparing homosexuality to porn and the KKK?!? Why should society draw the line for you. Why not talk about this with your kids at home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Typical arrogant, undoubtably christian jerk Thanks. I'm Christian. I guess that makes me an arrogant jerk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 This is a topic that cracks me up to some degree (the 'we shouldn't expose young kids to being gay - it's encouraging it'). Growing up, my aunt had several openly gay friends who are the nicest people one could ever meet. My parents never said a bad word about them or were concerned with us being around them (and one of my parents is old-country Irish). The thing that thoroughly surprised me was something my father told us. There was a gay coouple (2 males) that lived down the road from his family and inspite of being in a country that is strictly Catholic, no one had a problem with them and were friends with them as well. He seemed to find it strange that there is such hostility towards gay people here. Now, I am not saying this attitude is prevalent all over Ireland, because I honestly don't know what the attitude is today. But, back then (he was born in '49 and came here in fall of '72) and in his area, the 'it's no big deal' attitude was prevalent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wong & Owens Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 I can choose to cheat on my wife, and that is a wrong choice. Period. See: 10 commandments, thou shalt not commit adultry. People can have same sex marriages, and it's wrong, period. See: marriage is between man and woman references in Bible. But I will not hate someone for doing something wrong. That was my point. All I am saying is they are wrong for what they are doing, but I don't hate for their wrong choices. Again, if your basing your OPINIONS on the bible, then they are simply OPINIONS. The bible says it, so it's wrong? Well, thank goodness this isn't a court of law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 So you're comparing homosexuality to porn and the KKK?!? Why should society draw the line for you. Why not talk about this with your kids at home? Don't put words in my mouth. I'm comparing the introduction to homosexuality to kids without parental consent to other things that parents may not agree with. I'm not argueing whether or not I agree or disagree with a gay lifestyle. I'm argueing about introducing it to children. I do want to talk to my kids about it at home. That's the exact reason I don't want them exposed to it at school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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