Subversive Children's Literature

Am I the only one getting a little sick of narrowminded adults going ballistic over children's literature?

First, it was attacking The Rainbow Fish for being Socialist propaganda. Because we all know small children will immediately make the leap from "sharing with your friends" to "party-run state."

Then, there were the people who decided to have a cow over Dumbledore's sexual orientation. Because we all know that knowing an character in a book is gay, even if it is never mentioned explicitly in the entire series, will make your child pine for their same-sex peers.

Now, there's the proposed boycott against The Golden Compass movie. Because the novel apparently promotes an atheist agenda and will make children want to kill God.

Seriously, folks? You're adults. do you really, honestly believe any of this? Do you give children any credit at all for being able to experience something without having it re-wire their brains?

You know what? I loved The Golden Compass as a kid. I read the entire series early in high school, and I surprisingly did not turn into an anti-theologue (if such a term exists). I also love Harry Potter! And am not magically gay after hearing about Dumbledore (although I did think it explained a few things)! Also? My parents read me The Rainbow Fish. And I vote Democrat!

I also managed to reread all of the Chronicles of Narnia a dozen times over without turning into a religious fundamentalist. (if The Last Battle isn't a treatise on intolerance, I don't know what is) Oh, and learn about Orson Scott Card's ideas on homosexuality without becoming a homophobe.

I also read the Redwall Chronicles without turning into a crazy PETA-supporting environmentalist, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn without running away from home, and The Wind in the Willows without becoming a car thief.

Will wonders never cease.