Mom blames manga, library, for putting her son into "home for extensive therapy"

Looks like ignorant, irresponsible, parents are at it again...

A Japanese serial graphic novel genre popular with young teens has raised the ire of a Crestview mother whose teenage son got hold of an adult version of the genre from the Crestview Public Library. “Manga” depicts highly stylized adventure and, occasionally, violence in fantasy settings. Margaret Barbaree, founder of a citizens’ group called Protect Our Children, presented examples from a manga book to the Crestview City Council Monday evening that she described as “graphic” and “shocking,” taken from material she said is “available to children” at the Crestview Public Library. Click to Enlarge “My son lost his mind when he found this,” Barbaree said of the manga book from which her examples were taken. She said her son had removed the book unsupervised from the library’s general stacks last summer and put it in his backpack. “Now he’s in a home for extensive therapy.” Earlier this year, Barbaree had circulated a petition bearing 226 signatures of citizens protesting the availability of manga, which she mistakenly referred to as “anime,” which is actually Japanese animation. However library said some patrons complained they were misled when they signed the petition. “They told us she (Barbaree) approached them at the Christmas parade and asked them to sign a petition protesting pornography in the library,” said Resource Librarian Sandra Dreaden. Barbaree said Library Director Jean Lewis explained to her that there is a demand for manga, and that the library strives to meet the needs of its patrons. Council President Charles Baugh Jr. assured Barbaree that “We have safeguards in place to protect our children and we have committees that review library purchases so they meet the standards of the [American] Library Association.” The books that concerned Barbaree “are in the library for those who wish to partake of them and they are in a section of the library” for adult patrons, said Baugh, who visited the library himself the day after the council meeting and said he found the manga available in the young adult section perfectly innocuous. “We follow up with our citizens’ concerns,” Baugh said after meeting with library staff and viewing the young adult manga. Baugh also confirmed that the book Barbaree’s son had accessed was in the general stacks well away from the children’s and young adult books. “Our library is well managed and well staffed,” Baugh told Barbaree while assuring her, “I am a family man and I understand what you are saying.” Lewis said the manga available in the young adult section of the library is oriented toward young teen readers and does not contain the adult themes of the book Barbaree’s son took. That book had been in the general stacks, on a top shelf in a section with other graphic novels and comic books not geared toward young readers. “We have policies and procedures in place to prevent underage children from accessing those materials,” Baugh said. [Crestview News Bulletin]

Nothing makes me want to stab an innocent bunny like outcry from a group called Protect Our Children. Do us all a favor and actually raise your own children and leave everyone else alone. You're responsible for the development of your child and his understanding of the world around him. If some lousy manga is going to push him over the edge it's safe to say you've failed at your job of being a parent. Imagine what would've happened had he read American Psycho or bothered to read up on human history. As for the manga he was reading? Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources reported that Barbaree mentioned the comics, "The Naked Suicide Girl," and, "Psychic Academy." Psychic Academy is mundane. Skimming through the first volume, there's some definite fan service, but no real violence or nudity. At it's worst, near the end, the main character trips into his love interest, only to accidentally cop a feel. Terrible, just terrible. Every measure should be taken to prevent young boys from encountering any knowledge of sexuality.

The Naked Suicide Girl is actually chapter three of the acclaimed manga, Gantz. The manga contains violence, nudity, and one hell of a story. The American distributor, Dark Horse Horse, clearly rates it for ages +18 and up. The synopsis?

In my opinion even Gantz isn't going to do enough to justify the need for "extensive therapy." I'm betting that the mom, after reading the manga, completely overreacted and forced her son into some program. Kids, when they get a hold of something like Gantz, love it. Nudity, violence, crazy story, it's the shit they go crazy for. Every guy with a childhood worth a damn remembers getting their hands on that first porno or rated R film. It's the same thing. Imagine instead, that upon finding that Playboy, decided that you were best sent to counseling. Ugh. Huge props for the city council and library for standing up to this madness. It's bad enough that some libraries ban books due to "objectionable" content. We don't need to make it worse via continual capitulation.