N.C. Parents Angered by Gay Prince Book

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
I think these two guys thought of themselves as Gods. Interestingly, wasn't Hitler an athesist?

Hitler was fascinated by the occult. He certainly persecuted some religions and tried to use others to his advantage. Who can be sure of his true beliefs, except that they probably aligned with no popular religion I know.

- Jake

[strandinthewind]

I long for the day when it is not an issue. I mean just 20 or so years ago interracial couple had the same sort of taboo that has to be explained, etc. I mean I get that children should be sheltered from things and that that is a good thing AND it certainly is hard enough being a parent. But, to equate a gay or any other kind of couple to a "wrong" that must be explained, if you will, is a little bit condescending from the point of view of the gay person. I mean there is no need to shelter kids from straight couples because that is the norm and everyelse is abnormal and, therefore, perceived in some general way as bad or taboo. So, I long for the day when it is accepted as the norm and the only way for that to ever happen is for gay people to fight to get there a la the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's.

Note: Pip and Alison - I am not rebuking you or anything like that. I am just commenting in general on most peoples' feelings that a gay couple or topic is kind of forbidden in the sense that it needs to be explained, etc. So hopefully no harm no foul

[Mari]

^ agreed, every word of it.

[Johnny Stew]

I've always found children to be quite open-minded and accepting of others.
We're the ones who become all tense and fret over how we need to explain the differences to them... but if we don't make a big deal out of it, a child will see two people of the same gender holding hands, or someone with a different skin color, and accept that as normal.

Left to their own devices, a child will generally accept something and move on.... we (adult role-models, society in general) are the ones who create the notion that something is different or abnormal, by our knee-jerk reaction of feeling the need to explain.

[Sugar]

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by Gypsy-Rhiannon
I hope you don't class me like that Johnny, after reading my above comment. I am certainly not narrow minded but I just feel that children seem to have to grow up far too quickly nowadays, and life is complicated enough. When asked the question I will explain the best I can. Until then I'm not going to confuse the issue.

I completely agree with you on the matter that children have to grow up far too quickly these days.
A child should have time to be a child, without "adult subjects" interfering.

But I do really feel that there are certain subjects... two people of the same gender being affectionate towards each other, for example... that don't really require an explanation, unless the child asks.
Children give each other hugs and kisses, so they usually don't tend to question it when they see adults do the same thing.

Still, each child and each situation is different, and it should always be left up to a parent's discretion. My problem with the Hartsells, was that they were threatening to keep the book... which would prevent anyone from reading it, not just their own child.

I still have to wonder whether their daughter questioned them about the content of the book, or if they just saw the subject matter and panicked.

[Johnny Stew]

(An update....)

N.C. School Restricts Book on Gay Prince
Sat Mar 27, 5:22 PM ET

WILMINGTON, N.C. - A children's book about a prince whose true love turns out to be another prince will be available only to adults in an elementary school's library, a committee has decided.

The book, called "King & King," will be locked up at Freeman Elementary School in response to complaints by some parents, a school committee ruled Friday in an 8-3 vote.

The parents who initially complained after their first-grader brought home the book say the decision satisfies them. Michael and Tonya Hartsell said they never wanted the book banned.

"It might be appropriate in certain situations," Michael Hartsell said. "But a child of this age shouldn't have a choice."

In the book, a queen tells her single son, Prince Bertie, that she had already been married twice at his age. The prince dismisses a line of eligible princesses before finally falling for Prince Lee. The final page of the book shows the two princes kissing with a red heart covering their lips.

The Hartsells submitted a written complaint about the book to the school Monday, which resulted in a review by the committee of parents, educators and community members. A second couple, Channing and Beth Hatcher, filed a similar complaint Tuesday.

The authors, Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland, of the Netherlands, have said they didn't set out to write a controversial book. School officials have said they didn't intentionally order a book with a gay theme.

One parent on the committee, Heather Stoker, said the book promotes diversity and focuses on love, not homosexuality, she said.

"I feel like it's my responsibility to make it clear that these things exist," she said. "It doesn't mean we have to agree with it. It's not about right or wrong. It's just different."

[strandinthewind]

My point exactly - this would never happen if the prince instead shacked up with a woman out of wedlock. Both, BTW, would be sins, etc.

[sodascouts]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
In the book, a queen tells her single son, Prince Bertie, that she had already been married twice at his age.

Hmm. Wonder why they felt the need to make Bertie's mom dissatisfied in her relationships with men? Interesting.

[sodascouts]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
My point exactly - this would never happen if the prince instead shacked up with a woman out of wedlock. Both, BTW, would be sins, etc.

Actually, I think a lot of parents wouldn't be too thrilled with that book either! lol

[sodascouts]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
My vote is Nancy is great (can I use the kissing emoticon again )

Oh, and I forgot to say, thank you Jason! You are a sweetheart.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by sodascouts
Hmm. Wonder why they felt the need to make Bertie's mom dissatisfied in her relationships with men? Interesting.

Perhaps the authors were subtly commenting on the fact that a marriage won't necessarily be happy and fulfilling, simply because it meets society's ideals... while showing that a same-gender marriage can definitely be "traditional," even though it doesn't fit those ideals.

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew


But I do really feel that there are certain subjects... two people of the same gender being affectionate towards each other, for example... that don't really require an explanation, unless the child asks.
Children give each other hugs and kisses, so they usually don't tend to question it when they see adults do the same thing.

Do you have children Johnny? Let me tell you.... they question EVERYTHING!!

Pip

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew


Still, each child and each situation is different, and it should always be left up to a parent's discretion.

That was my main point in all this. It certainly isn't because I feel anything is 'wrong'. And in my instance it has nothing to do with religion. I know a lot of you don't agree with me but I will always do what i feel best for MY children

Pip

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by Gypsy-Rhiannon
Do you have children Johnny? Let me tell you.... they question EVERYTHING!!

Don't have children of my own, but we have a large extended family, so I'm constantly around kids.

You're right, they do ask a lot of questions... but my experience has been that they don't usually ask questions about something that's just presented as normal.