Christian Coalition emerges from obscurity to launch campaign to get "Twilight" books banned

[ck4829]

Imagine that you were the president of a Religious Right organization that was, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, among the most influential political operations in the nation. Since then, the organization has drastically constricted and lost nearly all of its relevance. As such, as president of said organization, you are constantly on the lookout for ways to make an impact and announce to the world that you are, in fact, still a group to be reckoned with.

How would you go about trying to do that?

Well, if you are Roberta Combs of the Christian Coalition, you do so by announcing that you want to see the Twilight series banned because the books are luring the nation's teens into the occult:

Conservative Christian organizations that sought to ban the Harry Potter books because they're about wizards and witches are divided about criticizing Twilight.

Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America, which called for a ban on the Potter series, says she's considering a similar campaign against Twilight because even though it's pro-abstinence, it's also pro-vampires.

She says vampires are definitely not good role models, and she blames Hollywood.

"We can let our voices be heard, and anytime you do that you have an effect one way or another," Combs says. "These Twilight books are very disturbing books for family values. Teen marriage is not the standard, but the part that is more troubling is the vampire. It's just not normal for young people to idolize a vampire."

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/christian-coalition-wants-twilight-books-banned

Your monitor is not playing tricks on your eyes, there really is someone that painfully stupid.

Is the fantasy of Combs and the Christian Coalition to buy a whole lot of guns and explosives, and then walk into a library and empty all their weapons against the EEEEeeeeEeeeEEvvillllllll books in said library?

[Brickbat]

1. I'd have them banned because the writing is crap, but that's just me.

The description of what love is like is also pretty bizarre, but the real crime is the writing.

[Junkdrawer]

36. "That's kinda like Hitler having a slap fight with Pol Pot"....

Reaction from my First-Amendment-Absolutist 16 yr. old son.

[LostinVA]

2. They are anti-abortion, pro abstinence, pro young marriage books

A devout MORMON wrote them

Morans.

[Kitsune]

3. Don't forget pro-abusive-relationships.

This is a part of the whole Twilight thing that gets glossed over most of the time, but a friend of mine pointed out to me that Edward pretty much matches every single one of the classic signs of an abuser in a relationship.

This leaves aside the fact that the writing quality is sub-internet-fanfic level, of course.

[LostinVA]

26. See, I disagree -- I think Bella is the one stalking HIM

Seriously. And, Jacob, imo, is way more of an abuser than Edward is. But yes, they are very twisted about some of the relationships, although most are very loving, especially among the Cullens (ie good vampires).

[patrice]

4. There shall be only fantasies c/ Christian Coalition seal of approval:ones that start WARS of Choice

such as the millionaire false prophet Timothy LeHay's Left Behind series:

http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/2414.htm

[Cleita]

5. Too bad we can't get them banned, but

that would be trampling on their rights, wouldn't it? So why do they want to trample on people's rights to read what they want to read no matter how bad the writing is.

[MadMaddie]

6. It was only a matter of time wasn't it?

I know that they are not the best written books, however; I think many people miss the point.

The children are reading.....

Harry Potter

Twilight Series

They are reading! Not sitting in front of the TV.

Sorry, but that's as basic as it gets.

[Angry Dragon]

7. I am amazed at the stupidity of some people

Does she have first hand knowledge of vampires?? Does she believe in vampires?? Is she afraid Dracula will creep into her bedroom at night and suck her dry?? Or has that happened already??

[patrice]

10. ! Yes !

She and who else amongst her sorority of life-sucking sisters!!

:rofl:

[meegbear]

8. It's amazing that they think that young people aren't able to figure out it's fantasy ...

better ban The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe while we're at it.

[NeedleCast]

34. It's also amazing (or is it ironic) when faith-based organizations

attempt to ban works of fiction...

[NeedleCast]

9. I often think these kinds of "movements" are good things

I'm no fan of Twilight. I'm also not a hater. Not something I'd choose to read/watch but if it's something you like, hey, knock yourself out.

When the poor, persecuted christian majority go after highly popular movies/books, they end up forcing people to make decisions between the secular world and the world of "faith" and in this case, more people who are fans of Twilight are going to choose Twilight over fundamentalism. Maybe a few will even question their faiths and break away from the bonds of religion.

[ck4829]

12. These teenagers might be voting in a couple of years from now as well

Hopefully, some of them will remember what those fanatics are trying to do to their books.

[NeedleCast]

18. Fundamentalist thinking like this is what made me question my faith

As fundamentalists made more and more broad attacks in the 90's and 00's, I began to question whether or not I really wanted to be on the same "side" as these nit-wits in an argument. This lead to my actually reading the bible and becoming more aware of the faith I was involved in and that study led me to believe it was all bullshit.

Fundamentalist religion de-converted me!

[backscatter712]

20. If it exposes the right-wing crazy for all to see, then yes, it might bring the sane to our side. nt

[Iggo]

11. Xtian Coalingus forgot to set their alarm clocks.

They're late.

[donco6]

13. Haven't read them. But good luck with that anyway! n/t

[dmallind]

14. Not stupid at all. Desperate and transparent, but not stupid

You see the CC and their ilk KNOW they are fast becoming irrelevant and laughable. They know their 15 minute clock stands deep into the late 14 minutes, and they know that the only way they can milk that cash cow one more time and fleece the few remaining gullible idiots who support them for one more social security check is to glomm on to some hack but sinister sounding element of pop culture with even less of a remaining lifespan but far more cachet than themselves and have a big attack of the vapors about it.

[Blue_Tires]

30. +1

[Initech]

15. Then would they also try to get True Blood banned? Hypocrites.

[msongs]

16. rising from the dead and raining frogs are not witchcraft? nt

[burnsei sensei]

17. Hitler did not care for novels either.

To comprehend a novel and to set it in relation to life, and to filter out what is not in relation to life, is a skill you only get by reading novels.
If these people had it their way, all novel reading would be suspect.

[no_hypocrisy]

19. Wouldn't want nice Christian teenagers to grow up to be vampires, would we?

[Mojambo]

21. LOL

The role model part really cracked me up.

It kinda seems like something would have to, you know, actually exist in order to be a role model.

[JitterbugPerfume]

22. here we go again

they want to ban anything they find disturbing.

Personally I think Twilight is silly and juevinile .

[Angry Dragon]

25. They find life disturbing

They are so afraid of people that can have thoughts. For so long they have been told how to think, that when they have a thought they think of it as evil. So by extension anyone that can think must be evil

[IcyPeas]

23. Thank goodness they are leaving Zombies alone.

that would be a travesty if they started banning them too. oh, I forgot they are FICTIONAL.... kinda just like witches, vampires, santa clause, angels, monsters under the bed.....

I also had a xian friend who wouldn't let her son read Harry Potter because there were witches in it. Poor kids, no halloween, no reading imaginative make-believe stories.

They should just be glad that their kids are reading anything nowadays.

rock music doesn't make you kill either.

[Wounded Bear]

24. Finally, a cause worthy of their talents....

:sarcasm: Did I need that? I wonder how much the publisher "donated" to their group for the free pub. Hell, the Catholic Church is as much responsible for the whole "Da Vinci Code" fad as the writing talents of Brown. As I recall, Browning got a lot of mileage for Harry Potter from these guys.

Christians, supporting bad writing for centuries. :rofl:

[Tailormyst]

27. Yeah- good luck with that!

Sadly Roberta is under the fantasy that vampires are real......

[housewolf]

28. Well.... I'm an almost-senoir 'girl" and I found the stories to be compelling

if becoming somewhat redundant after reading the 4th one.

The role of vampires in our society is an interesting one. Vampires have played all three sides of the victim-persecutor-hero triad in different circumstances. They have been both heroes and villians. Underneath it all, the role of the vampires reflects something deep within the human psyche that resonates with certain individuals more or less strongly at differnt times. As does certain Chrisian stories, and other popular recurring themes.

The Christian Coalition's thinking on the matter is incredibly shallow. To think that they can suppress what is being revealed through poppular culture by banning stories in naive, at best.

[PBS Poll-435]

29. If they would just do something about the movies...

:yoiks:

[Forkboy]

31. I'm all for it.

:hide:

[supernova]

32. Pathetic. Latching on to a popular series for a new

crack a their own 15 minutes.

They don't actually want to ban Twilight because that would take away their fundraising tool.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

33. I want them banned as well

The author has really butchered the Vampire genre. I can't take these invincible, glittery, day walking, no sex having "vampires".

[Missy Vixen]

43. Then don't read them.

You might also want to bear in mind that the "Twilight" series is a YA, which means the books are written for 12-18 year olds.

[LongTomH]

35. Actually, I'd have thought vampires would be good role models for young Republicans.

:eyes:

[Bluenorthwest]

37. The fundie extreme is on a big boycott push right now

They are aching to generate some income, get some of that ol' steam back in the hate machine. These grandstanding hypocrites are always snitting at something, always. Shows that do not yet exist, books that have been on the shelves for years on end, nothing is safe from an announcement on the part of the right wing religionists that they have prevailed. They boycotted Disney for 9 years. Harry Potter. Monty Python. Star Trek. The Beatles.
It's a cash cow for the ravers, it's a drive in Saturday!

[NeedleCast]

39. You've nailed it

Generally, these boycotts do two things:

1. Raise awareness (and usually fund raising) for the fundamentalists doing the boycotting.

2. Raise sales of whatever it is they're attempting to boycott by pushing it further into the spot light.


Formula works for just about any organization full of parental hand-wringers. I remember back in the 80's when hair-metal was all the rage that if Tipper Gore and the PMRC mentioned your album it was pretty much guaranteed to go double-platinum.

[NeedleCast]

40. You've nailed it

Generally, these boycotts do two things:

1. Raise awareness (and usually fund raising) for the fundamentalists doing the boycotting.

2. Raise sales of whatever it is they're attempting to boycott by pushing it further into the spot light.


Formula works for just about any organization full of parental hand-wringers. I remember back in the 80's when hair-metal was all the rage that if Tipper Gore and the PMRC mentioned your album it was pretty much guaranteed to go double-platinum.

[WillyT]

38. Good... When They All Turn 18 They'll Become Democrats

The rightwing... further eroding the youth vote... priceless!

:evilgrin:

K & R !!!

[Jade Fox]

41. 'Twilight' Author Thrilled

"I saw what banning attempts did to the sales of the Harry Potter series and The Da Vinci Code", she reportedly stated with a grin.

[Odin2005]

42. LOL!!!, Stephanie Meyer IS a fundy! Morons.