Book Burning Photos to Raise $$ for New Library
Sunday February 24, 2008
I love it when people can take a really negative event and find a way to bring something positive out of it. That's what's happening in the case of a book-burning rally held in 2001, in Alamogordo, NM. At the time, some local churches were up in arms about the Harry Potter phenomenon, and held a rally to burn not only books, but magazines and movies that the church leaders deemed "obscene" or "pornographic." Organizing pastor Jack Brock called it a "holy bonfire."
Freelance photographer Gerald Moore heard about the event in advance, and made sure he was there to take pictures. Moore said, "The long-term implications are almost surreal. We should always be concerned about people trying to control freedom of thought."
Now, seven years later, the local library needs money for an expansion project, and Moore has donated seventeen framed and matted prints of the 2001 book burning as auction items. The photos contain some interesting paradoxes, including people of the same faith as Brock who clearly do not support his actions -- for example, a t-shirt stating "Real Christians aren't afraid of fiction."
The Art Auction Gala, will be held on Saturday, March 1, in the Exhibition Building at the Otero County Fairgrounds. Proceeds will be used to fund a new library and cultural center for the Alamogordo area.
Freelance photographer Gerald Moore heard about the event in advance, and made sure he was there to take pictures. Moore said, "The long-term implications are almost surreal. We should always be concerned about people trying to control freedom of thought."
Now, seven years later, the local library needs money for an expansion project, and Moore has donated seventeen framed and matted prints of the 2001 book burning as auction items. The photos contain some interesting paradoxes, including people of the same faith as Brock who clearly do not support his actions -- for example, a t-shirt stating "Real Christians aren't afraid of fiction."
The Art Auction Gala, will be held on Saturday, March 1, in the Exhibition Building at the Otero County Fairgrounds. Proceeds will be used to fund a new library and cultural center for the Alamogordo area.
Maybe we could organize something for the chains of bookstores who are giving in to the pressure of the same groups of people and are severaly cutting back on their stock of Pagan and occult-related books? I live in Tampa, FL and am noticing this, but I’m sure those in samller towns have to resort to online sources for their books. Thank the Gods for Amazon.com!
In Light,
Raine
Quoted: “”Real Christians aren’t afraid of fiction.” Love it, although the person wearing that shirt seems to be in the minority.
I live in a big city, Chicago, and every time I go to Borders and Barns and Noble, I see the Metaphysical section shrinking. Even the new age stuff is dissapearing. There used to be an entire wall of selves for such topics, now there is half a wall, and is shrinking shelf by shelf every month. They keep the stuff right next to the Bibles and Christian books.
Are we slowly slipping back into a dark age? Book burnings and witch trials. How strange it sounds. How scary and sickening.
The section on the occult, Wiccan, Pagans etc. is actually growing in my area.Our town is small with only about 7k people at the peak of the college season.We have always been known as a town with a large group of Wiccans but we are not vocal about our covens.We have a book store that is friendly and orders anything we cant find on half.com.With the present Christian base becoming more radical we think it is best to hold our celebrations in private.As for the book burnings they are just a start.Be safe and smart in your journey on the path right now.The radical Christians are always looking for more targets to expend their hate.
Well Meet,
DW
I just think it is so hilarious that Christians believe harry potter is evil!! I remember when the first book came out. I was still going to the Baptist church down the road from my house and they were talking about protesting the book and how it was written to try and convert children to witchcraft!! It’s just too funny!
I have been a huge Harry Potter fan ever since the first book, and it is so ridiculous to me that Christians are scared of this book, with all the great moral issues it brings up! I remember visiting my sister, a Christian living in Ft Worth, and asked her if she’d taken my nieces to see Harry Potter. She replied “Uh….noooo…we don’t watch that stuff.” LMAO. Silly. I can’t wait until my nieces come to visit, because you KNOW we are going to have a Harry Potter movie marathon!
I live in a small town, but often go to Oklahoma City to Barns and Noble for books. I am very sorry to say that I, too, see the Wicca/Pagan/New Age section of the bookstores shrinking rapidly. And yes, it is rather sad that they always put that section right next to all of the so-called “Christian” books.
I hope we are not moving backwards as far as public opinion of us is concerned, but it appears that we are!
Even Pope John Paul II stated that Harry Potter was a good book that taught how good triumphs over evil. I heard about the book burning through the Pagan wiccan about.com back in 2001. I really like the statement, “Real Christians aren’t afriad of fiction.” I also can relate to Loretta Holmes in the way that the local Hastings that is in my area now only has a few shelfs of Metaphysical/Witchcraft books. When It used to be the whole back wall. And now the christian section is half the entire section of books. I have bought over $1,000.00 of books that the people of Alamogordo, New Mexico would have probably brunt. So, I think it’s not a fact that nobody is buying their products, but more to do with the culture of my town.
As a pagan community all you can do with large corporations is to ask for the bookstore in your area to please stock up on what you are willing to purchase, or order through the store, you can usually ask someone at a reference desk if they will order books from there corporate warehouse, or another store, so they know what you are buying and might have more of the same in store next time.
“Even Pope John Paul II stated that Harry Potter was a good book that taught how good triumphs over evil.”
Ahh… But the Fundies think the Pope is the Anti-Christ! And his supporting Harry Potter proves it….
Arh then but the Pope is the Anti-Christ; right? LOL Okay which Pope?
I really love that t-shirt slogan, I may just pinch it and paint it on one of my own t-shirts!
Once upon a time I used to go to Church and I once I’d had the guts to get past my mental christian programming and gone to Witchcraft lessons 101 here in Hamilton NZ, I maintained that that if Christians were afraid of something when their scriptures tell them that there is NO fear in Christ; then they cant have a very strong faith anyway.
So that’s my msg to anyone who burns books; they have no faith in whom they believe, or they wouldnt be afraid of a book made out of paper and word etc.
Hello. And Bye.