Posted on 07/19/2005 5:34:51 AM PDT by Slip18
Thursday, April 7, 2005
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of “word for the day”. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the “word of the day”; in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.
Subbie Slip has her whip, handcuffs and legcuffs today.
The rest of the stuff is locked up in my drawer. I’m just letting all the new students know that we behave as if we were ladies and gentlemen in here. Those two words “as if” can get you an A if you make the subbie laugh.
Verb/noun:
Pronunciation: tus/el
Etymology: I don’t know.
1) (verb) To struggle, especially roughly or violently: scuffle. Syn: wrestle
2) (Noun) A physical contest or struggle: scuffle
3) A rough argumentor struggle against difficult odds for success.
Good Morning Class. Welcome to School!
My take on that, is generally when they disregard 'the rules' they find themselves in a dire predicament....Hardly a push in that direction, though in all fairness to your point, they generally survive relatively unscathed...
i don't know how i can make my point any plainer, and you obviously disagree, but i see the choice of witches as protagonists as a value judgment in and of itself. It cuts against the stereotype of witches and makes them more acceptable, harmless and even a force for good (how confusing is that?). your cowboy analogy is inapposite as cowboys have no connotation as good or evil in the first place. witches do.
then you and i agree completely, vast.
As in Bug Tussle?
But then, they are generally commended for their "independent thinking" or some other cutesy notion and rewarded points as a result of their disobedience.
i think that's why the Pope finds it problematic bc the damage is subtle. Face it, the majority of people go blithely through life and its attendant popular culture, with their kids trailing along behind, not giving much thought at all to how it is forming their children's values. I think it is a rare few who take the time to form their kids morality and thinking in this regard. The large majority just keep on keeping on, going through each day, not giving much thought to it at all. and the things that they are exposed to are subtlely affecting them.
Hardly. I mean, take Tolkein for instance, while of the belief that Theology should be left to Professionals, He had deep seated Christian beliefs, however, in his masterwork, he has Wizards on both sides.....Not too much different....
I mean, at the point of the target audience, you are asking for them to be attenuated to subtleties, at a time when the generalities of good and evil should be the operative theme.
Kind of a timing thing.
Harry Potter was huge when xsbrownie was in kindergarten. i remember one of her little friends was obsessed with Harry Potter, and when they wrote things for class, i recall Nicole's said something about wishing she were a witch etc. Because i had not read the books and wasn't into it, it struck me as extremely strange and unsettling.
let me make it plain... i think it is better, when dealing with children who are in a period of character and morality formation to have books/movies etc. that say WITCHES/OCCULT BAD, OTHER THINGS=GOOD. i think it should be that plain. i think that having witches as good protagonists muddy the waters unnecessarily. She could have had FAIRIES or ELVES as the good guys and witches as bad guys, but she didn't. why not?
Remember though, we have free will and it is impossible to seduce someone without their permission. Not that I meant to get into this tussle...
A++++ for you, Vastie!
no one is worried about adults being seduced into evil by HP, the question is, does it interfere with the process of character and morality formation in children, by blurring the distinctions between good and evil.
I haven't read nor seen Harry Potter, and I don't intend to put that on my agenda. Having said that, I always wanted to be Glenda, The Good Witch of Oz.
As I said above. I think you are looking at attenuated differences, at a time when generalities are being established....
Kinda like trying to teach a 7 year old to catch a 60 yard post pattern, in stride over his shoulder, rather then trying to first teach him to catch a ball.
oh well then i guess white witches are the good witches and black witches are bad? and so witches, as a class, are a bit of both, depending on the color coding?
i see we will see 4 harry potter characters dressed for halloween at the hobbes household this Oct. Have fun : )
That is why they call it Black Magic, darling.
And following your point, if these children are purchasing the book themselves and reading it themselves with zero parental involvement, there is already a problem in that house. We always read the books together and discuss the stories and characters. I must disagree with the rap music permission since it has no value whatsoever. It's not music, it's not poetry, it's not even good vocabulary. It's crap, pure and simple, which degrades people.
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