YOUR COMMENTS

If Katie Spofford and others think Voodoo Dolls are harmless, ask Fr. Gabriele Amorth. He is the Chief Exorcist in Rome and his daily appointments are filled every day with people who have "harmlessly" dabbled in the occult and witchcraft just for fun. Read his book "An Exorcist Tells His Story." The movie The Exorcist is based on an actual exorcism Fr. Amorth conducted. There is no one more experienced on earth than him. Believing it is harmless does not make it so. Note to librarians: We don't have to entertain the self absorption that is so prevalent in teens today.
- Catherine, Manhattan, KS

Katie Spofford (Milford Assist. Librarian) was simply trying to do something with teens that they'd get a kick out of. It wasn't a lesson in VooDoo, or meant as a way for one person to do harm to another. It was just a way to lighten up what can be a dismal day for some. Her intentions were all good. There are plenty of things to worry about in this oft-times frightening world, but this event wouldn't have been one of them. Lighten up.
In case you missed it...this Christmas you could buy little magnetic voodoo doll memo holders to put on your refrigerator at the Christmas Tree Shop. They weren't dangerous either!
- Lynn, Hollis

It's not like the library was going to have the kids make dolls out of hair and nail clippings. Clearly these were not going to be REAL voodoo dolls. (And by the way, voodoo only works if you believe in it!).
- Bethany, Milford

They teach satanism in the public schools, and now voodoo - too bad they can't teach Christianity!!
- Carole, Winnebago, Illinois

Wow. What a poorly written editorial. Wow. Someone must be pricking me with Voodoo doll pins because I'm seeing stars!!
- Kristen, Manchester

What you mean is let's keep our teens spiritually safe as long as they follow your religion.

I don't buy that defense but in this particular case I don't even think it applies.

Have you seen the dolls? They are adorable! I want one! They look like a character out of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas.

And as far as teenagers and adults not playing with dolls, how do you explain all those expensive dolls that the old ladies buy from TV? Also, how do you explain the green haired trolls on my computer (or are they harbingers of evil as well?)
- wendy-o, merrimack

VOODOO Dolls. I won't buy my children one of these. I wonder how Jesus would feel about these VOODOO dolls. Have any of you Voodoo doll endorsers considered that? I have only seen the teachings of VOODOO and the occult in one area of the bible and it isn't in the heaven section. Aren't we the teachers of GOD's children and shouldn't we be teaching them about bible content. WWJD. Mmmmm, does GOD really approve of VOODOO dolls? If you ask me, "I think not"!!!
- Reuben Ortiz, Albuquerque, NM

How can you think Voodoo dolls are cute???? They're very nature seem to say to the maker that they will gain some kind of control over others or situations. This is not a good message to tell young people to make a doll and ALL THEIR PROBLEM WILL DISAPEAR OR MADE BETTER.

Dolls themselves are for children and teenagers are far beyond playing with dolls too.

Why don't you organize trips to the theatre, museums or art festival? Get the children involved in community service, world outreach ect..

Read about the 3rd world peope in need and organize fund drives.

I think this so called cute activity just gives the wrong impression to the worlds problems at large.
- Carreen, Jackon, NJ

Lighten up, lighten up that's all I hear from you liberals. Everything is fine with you, do what you want. Well, I'm Catholic too and wake up and smell the coffee. Look around you and see what is happening. NO things like this are not alright. They are NOT alright for our children any more than that crazy board was when we were younger. You ask it who rules it and it say satan you put a Blessed Rosary on to of it and it won't work at all. If you don't believe me, try it. Let's keep our teens Spiritually safe, they have enough dangers around them, like those who think this is just fine.
- Sharon, NY

I've lived in the New Orleans area all of my life, and believe me, VOODOO is known as an evil practice. Last year, a young couple moved into an apartment that was right over an apartment where a VOODOO high priestess lived. Not long after living there, the young man literally chopped up his girlfriend and put some of her body parts into the OVEN ! This is a true story. Even when the occult is nearby, it is always a bad thing.
The occult has no place in a learning environment for children, other than to teach them that it should be AVOIDED at all costs. That librarian needs to be taught FIRST before she teaches children.
- B. Cola, Metairie, Louisiana

"The Lord of the Rings" was written by a devout Roman Catholic, "The Chronicles of Narnia" by a devout Anglican, "The Wizard of Oz" by a Mid-West Republican. Please, people, don't confuse fantasy with reality, storytelling with religious belief, childrens' literature with tracts. The end of that road is blacklisting half the Disney canon because there's magic in it.
- John, Manchester

What many unsuspecting, searching souls may not realize is that the enemy of God is always seeking whom he may devour. When we open our minds to this type of material (occult-oriented), we are opening our souls to darkness. If you drink poison without realizing that it is poison, it still kills you either way. You do not have to be aware of the dangers of this material for it to be dangerous to your soul.
- Joni, Pierre Part, LA

Ed and Brian, the only one misguided is you. The UL has shown what this is...HARMLESS. I am a practicing catholic and am so sick of the holier than thou types making the rest of us look bad. Let these teenagers have their fun with the pin cushions and lighten up!
- Brian, manchester

Yeah, like teaching kids voodoo, to "get them into the library" isn't going to marginalize them further. What happened to normalcy? What happened to encouraging reading for the pure enjoyment of it, notwithstanding the education which comes along with it? Let's try and remember what life used to be like when we encouraged normal, healthy things. Shut off MTV, stop blasting rap into their heads with lyrics that promote sex, violence and drugs, and disrespect for others, especially women and authority figures, ban cursing and foul language and cell phones and I-Pods, etc. in schools, and guess what? They might read just to have something to do. Talk about raising a screwed up generation of people. God help us. This country is filled with parents who are afraid to set rules and limits, and school and civil officials who have basically handed over the running of the shop to the children. Get a grip, people!
- Kathy B., Rockville Centre, NY

oh please. I for one see the humor in this. A voo-doo doll, what a great way to humorously vent a little frustration. If the truth be told, I have a magnetic voodoo doll on my white board, it is far safer (and cleaner) to push a little pin into a doll than it is to punch someone out or yell at them. Oh and I don't believe for one minute that anything will come of it or that I am courting the "Dark Lord" through its use.

Lighten up. This program was not an attack against Christians. I liken it to the psychological practice of giving patients Rage doll onto which they can vent thier anger.
- wendy-o, Merrimack

Judging by the comments left by Brian and Ed fear and ignorance are alive and well here in NH. Learning about any subject takes away the mystery and may encourge people to learn more.
- Joe, Manchester, NH

Maybe we all need to take a deep breath and relax. It's about learning...not converting. Chill out!
- Bill, Antrim, NH

The person from New Orleans was not a real Catholic. Practicioners of the Occult go to Christian churchs and act like good Christians to lead others to believe the occult is ok. When it is calling on demons to inflict harm on others. Do your research next time
- Chris, Jupiter, FL

There are so many problems with this editorial, it's hard to know where to start. Here's one example:

"Contrary to popular belief, voodoo dolls were used for both good and wicked purposes. Practitioners used the dolls to try to inflict pain, but also to make others fall in love with them."

So trying to force someone to "fall in love with you" against their will is somehow less selfish than inflicting pain on them? Someone explain to me how this is a good thing.
- Rebecca, Atlanta, GA

Right on, Brian! Well said. The UL is misguided once again. Tsk-tsk-tsk. I wish the UL would once again include the names of their editorial authors.
- Ed Holdgate, Sandown, NH

Sorry, Union Leader, you're wrong on this. Emphasize the feelings of "marginalized" teens by encouraging them to create icons to injure? There's a difference between "learning about" cultures and practices and imitating them. Shall we teach kiddos about suicide bombers (who probably also feel "marginalized" before deciding to atomize themselves) by dressing them up in mock bomber vests? And because you can find a voodoo guru who also attended mass daily (for which you must travel back to New Orleans of the 1800s), it must be a harmless practice? Please! I had to check my calendar to make sure today was February 14 instead of April 1.
- Brian, Concord, NH