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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 19904
[Civil]
Date Posted:
8/7/2008
4:27:16 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 6,870
RSS: 14,334
Comments: 18
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Suit Filed Over 'Harry Potter' Discrimination
Author: Brian Koonce Source: Baptist Press
Title: SUIT FILED OVER 'HARRY POTTER' DISCRIMINATION
A Missouri Baptist is suing after she says she was discriminated against and suspended from her job for refusing to promote a "Harry Potter" book she believes promotes "worship of the occult."
Deborah Smith, a member of Temple Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, filed suit in U.S. District Court in May against the director of the Poplar Bluff Public Library and the city of Poplar Bluff. This followed a series of events after the library's release party of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" last summer. The lawsuit alleges that participating in the event would have forced Smith to engage in "promoting worship of the occult" and "promoting witchcraft to children."
The suit, filed in Smith's behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union, alleges that after securing time off from her immediate supervisor so as to not be involved in the library's after-hours Harry Potter event, the library's director, Jacqueline Thomas, said Smith would be required to attend...
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Community Thoughts: There are 18 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Now That I Have More Time... | Aug 8th. at 10:24:57 pm EDT
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Burning Vulture (Milan, Illinois) - Email Me
If we actually want to believe that this woman's claims are actually valid, then we have to point out some very serious flaws.
She'll check people out and handle any books, including the Harry Potter books and probably any "new age" books they have there, but won't attend and work an event like every other employee because that offends her religious beliefs? That's crap. She's trying to wiggle out of working an event happening at a time she didn't like.
As other posters have mentioned, claims of physical stress and injury are crap. Restocking books on shelves is somehow enough to cause this poor thing to become infirm? My ass. She's trying to make it sound like someone made her go from baking pies to the depths of a coal mine.
And of course, there are likely no witnesses to the Library Director telling her to lie about her activities. But that's not the point, it just has to *sound* bad, doesn't it?
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| Here We Go Again | Aug 8th. at 3:02:18 pm EDT
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ladynoogs (lowell, Ohio) - Email Me
new potter movie in 3 months = more pro-potter anti-potter related news articles
the only good thing about the series of books being over (or is it) is that this anti/pr-potter stuff has to eventually die off right?
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| I Wonder. . . | Aug 8th. at 7:50:38 am EDT
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Dynnys Derwydd (Lubbock, Texas) - Email Me
. . .what most here would say if they were librarians and were forced to work when one of Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins' "Left Behind" novels were released? At least a few of the posters would scream bloody murder.
While we can all say, "Harry Potter is fiction, so get over it," which is truthful; the other side could say the same about the "Left Behind" series, though it is based on Revelations.
Discrimination can come from a minority and placed upon a majority. How you ask? Easily, just ask the majority native Africans in South America who lived decades and decades under Apartheid; a ruling class of a minority of whites suppressing a majority of native peoples and others of dark skin.
Yes, we can all say that the librarian suing is a bit of a nitwit, but that does not mean her case has no justification.
Fight with knowledge, not in ignorance.
honi soit qui mal y pense,
Dynnys Derwydd
(It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.)
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| Library Staff | Aug 8th. at 7:45:30 am EDT
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SnowRaven (Medina, Ohio) - Email Me
Just a note that in most libraries, staff that work on the circulation desk [checking out books] are part of the same staff that make up the shelving department. They are related and equal positions that are usually performed by the same person, usually within the same shift. A few hours on the desk then a few hours out in the stacks shelving. She's crying wolf about this....
and PS to all - she is NOT a Librarian, she is a staff person. You have to hold a Masters of Library Science to be a Librarian. [Can you tell we get that a lot? ;-) ]
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| Librarian Gets In On This.... | Aug 8th. at 7:34:21 am EDT
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SnowRaven (Medina, Ohio) - Email Me
I'd like to make some points as a Children's Librarian who is Pro-Potter and has 25+ years in the field:
1. Working as a 'Page/Shelver' is not a heavy lifting position. Her complaint about job changes smacks of someone used to being behind the check-out desk now being forced to be a 'lowly' shelver. Unless she has severe trauma to her lower back that precludes bending, she is blowing this portion of her complaint WAY out of proportion.
2. Library release parties are every bit as rough & wild as those held at bookstores - more so because we don't have a copy for everyone that attends. I can easily believe they needed everyone they could get to work that night.
3. The story leads me to think she has embroidered her take on the proceedings a bit. Just a feeling, but can agree that if she used available days off to avoid this I as a manager would have just let her stay home. Then again, we are expected to do our jobs regardless of personal beliefs. [Pharmacists too] My snarky personal response is that she should be working the checkout in a Christian bookstore where she won't be offended by the material.
Lastly, on a personal note:
4. I had several whacko-Baptists working for me in 2005 during the last release and they just did their jobs and kept their thoughts to themselves. When one asked me about Harry Potter I pointed out to her that in Harry's world they celebrate Christmas every year just like she did. Why is it that the reactionary book-burners always seem to miss that fact?? Being a Witch or Wizard isn't their religion - it's their vocation.
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| Critical Thinking Skills | Aug 8th. at 6:36:57 am EDT
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Finn (San Marcos, Texas) - Email Me
The ACLU doesn't take just any case. You can rest-assured this woman has a legitimate argument. Practice your critical thinking skills. This is NOT about Harry Potter. It is about the rights of an employee and the rights of an employer. Time and time again we see stories here on Wren's Nest about people under the Pagan Umbrella who get mistreated by employers because of their beliefs. If we are going to cheer them on and support them, then we must apply the same logic here.
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| I Won't Rag You. | Aug 8th. at 1:38:20 am EDT
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Burning Vulture (Milan, Illinois) - Email Me
This woman is just a fool. Just an ignorant clown whose meager intellect is barely functional due to a lack of critical thinking skills, brainwashing and fear.
Being born in America means you get the right to think about things, investigate most subjects and be educated to a certain level (or higher) . Squandering all those rights is her own damned fault. Frankly, it's disturbing that a Library employee could be so stupid.
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| Everyone | Aug 8th. at 1:38:15 am EDT
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Azuris-Raen (Austin, Texas) - Email Me
has their own prefrences, belifs, and what they believe is morally correct. Regardless of the point of view, she is in the right. If what really happened is reflected in the article then she is entitled to composation for what was denied. If you made arrangements prior for a day off during an event and was approaved, then you don't have to do anthing they ask of that day; plain and simple. And they have no right to go back on their word because they already approaved the time-off to begin with.
Many of us don't agree with what they believe to be true, and many of them don't agree in what we believe to be true. But you shouldn't base your argument on the fact that you don't agree with what they believe; which for them IS THE TRUTH. We cannot bash someone for not seeing our point of view. I personally don't agree with her belifs, but she is entitled to them REGARDLESS of my belifs. This is the true essence of the First Amendment.
I hope she get her compensation within reasonable boundaries.
Brighest Blessings and may The Light protect thee! ^_^ Azuris-Raen
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| The Stupid... OH DEAR GOD IT BURNS | Aug 7th. at 9:42:10 pm EDT
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Perihelion Xanateris (Tamworth, New South Wales) - Email Me
I'm probably going to get ragged on for this, but I'm siding with the library on this one. HP does not - in any way, shape or form - promote Pagan religion. That woman did little more than display her own stupidity (and by extension, her bigotry) in the public eye. If I were the supervisor, I would have given her a good solid lecture on how to tell the difference between fiction and reality.
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| Let's Be Considerate | Aug 7th. at 8:02:14 pm EDT
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Ander s. Drake (hays, Kansas) - Email Me
I don't agree with this librarian's opinion of the occult (hidden wisdom) or her opinion of the Harry Potter books but I still believe it's wrong to force a person to do some thing against her/his will. Even employers need to realize that people have values and beliefs that they can not just ignore when one goes to work. We have lives out side of work and employers need to respect that, to many employers believe they own us or at least our time. I 'm not saying a person should try to get out of just any task at work but in this case it was an after hours event. I certain would not want to be involved in any monotheists events after hours so, i can't expect this librarian to be part of some thing she thinks is wrong. She still has to check out books to people with out adding her opinions about them, and that means Harry Potter books. Unless, there is more to this her boss acted childish, why not let her off if she did not want to be there she would have only crashed the party any ways. Changing her job duties to more physical demanding labor and suspending her for ten days is silly at best. Why employers feel the need sabotage themselves by running employees off just because they are angry or don't like them is ignorant, you can't expect to like every employee who works for you and cost at lot to retrain new employees.
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| There Was No Profit In This For A Library! | Aug 7th. at 7:54:00 pm EDT
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River (melbourne, Florida) - Email Me
I work at a bookstore where it was 'all hands on deck' for Harry Potter, but a library?
Whatever little arts and craft activity they had planned I'm sure paled in comparison to the 3 release parties I've been through and I'm sure she was not that needed.
Def. a discrimination.
I sure anyone I worked with that didn't want to participate would have been scheduled for a shift that worked around the events.
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| Not Brand New | Aug 7th. at 6:27:57 pm EDT
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Stormsinger (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - Email Me
Suit was filed in late May -- here's another article link (below) .
And to the previous poster, there was no attempt at "reasonable accomodation." SHE arranged for time off; was then told she would have to work the event anyway, SHE tried to be assigned to something else and was told to simply lie to her Church and do it anyway -- as if the problem was not her OWN beliefs, but just appearances.
That's discrimination.
When she complained that this was discrimination, her job was threatened. She refused to work the event, and was suspended without pay. When she came back, she was assigned duties that were not in line with what she had been previously assigned, and which to her away from job duties she enjoyed.
That's retaliation.
The supervisor is an idiot. Unless there's a whole lot to this story that hasn't shown up yet, this library is going to be eating crow -- the only question being whether it will be served by settlement, or judgement.
The ACLU does not take frivolous cases. Really. Whether or not you agree with their reasoning, they take cases based on their assessment of the infringement of Civil Liberties involved. This one sounds pretty cut and dried to me.
Find More info -- HERE
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| This Woman Is Wrong | Aug 7th. at 6:13:53 pm EDT
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Shadow (Webb City, Missouri) - Email Me
When you are in the workforce, you must do what you are told to do. The directer of the library made alternant job duties for her so she would not have to be in the public eye., but she refused to work anyway. That right there blows her case. Should could have worked if she wanted to and not have been involved in the Harry Potter party, but she choose not to. I have been in several situations that at work that I did not agree with, but I did what was asked of me. Would it be nice if everyone could just tell thier boss they did not want to do something? I think this women went overboard on this and she should not get a dime for her willfully disobeying her boss. What will be next, I am sure the library has more than several books that she will disagree with, should this woman not have to do any job that she just does not like?
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| Would Like To See Another Source | Aug 7th. at 6:06:54 pm EDT
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Valerya (Greensboro/Stokesdale, North Carolina) - Email Me
Based on the article, it does indeed sound like this woman was the victim of religious discrimination. However, I question the objectivity of the writer and editor of this article. I worked in a large public library system for several years, and the administration lived in absolute terror of lawsuits - any kind of lawsuit, whether it was sexual harassment, racial or religious discrimination. This paranoia trickled down into every branch manager, especially after someone in admin would go attend some library convention or meeting and come back with horror stories. On the one hand, I find it rather hard to believe that a public library director would behave towards an employee the way the one is described in this article. On the other hand, I have seen how petty and childish administrator can be when their orders are not followed to the letter. I really wish another news source would pick this article up and get some kind of comment from the library.
I also find myself questioning the woman's claims of physical problems resulting from "laborious tasks." Pages/shelvers shelve books. It's not a terribly laborious task. Not the most exciting one ever, but not something that you'd pass out from doing. Again, speaking from my own experience here, library administrators fear lawsuit and fear injuries on the job, so thee were always book carts and safe step-stools and even back braces available (not that anyone ever really used them) for the pages/shelvers.
Because of the long period of time in between this woman's resignation and the filing of the suit, I suspect that she stewed and brewed about this for a while and decided to see what she could get for her angst. If she'd felt at the onset that she was being discriminated against, wouldn't you think she'd have filed sooner?
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| She Might Be Right.... | Aug 7th. at 5:32:19 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
I believe that sometimes bosses do go overboard in what they sometimes do to employees. Most of this site deals with that.
While I don't agree with her beliefs (at all) I do admire her convictions, and in this case, as there were things she could have done that would have kept her working without compromising her beliefs, since she was not alone in the store, and promoting a book, (or not) is not quite the same thing as a pharmacist refusing prescription drugs or a cabbie refusing a ride to someone carrying alcohol.
She tried to use time away, but they could have put her in the back to catalog books or working the shelves or changing places with another person- or something, if she felt so strongly about this situation.
I know what it is to find oneself doing such ridiculous things for the job when it isn't really necessary, but demanded by the powers that be on that job, and the pressure they can bring to bear on anyone who refuses can be pretty intense.
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