Some of the concerns about the Harry Potter books and kids being exposed to ‘dark’ things: “Magical characters–witches, wizards, goblins, werewolves, poltergeists” appear. There are violent battle scenes at the end of two of the books. There are references to blood, murder, death. There are several references to swearing, including a few “damns.” The use of alcoholic beverages is excused on occasion. I wonder if anyone’s taken a good close look at the Bible’s Old Testament lately – the seige on Jerricho, being turned into a pillar of salt, Sodom & Gomorah (sp?), and even Jesus turns water into wine in the new testament. I find the whole controversy to be about as interesting as the presidential debates and the lines drawn to be just as blurry and inconsequential. But maybe that’s just me.