Posted on 07/15/2005 10:25:17 PM PDT by Williams
Well the new Harry Potter book has arrived and I can report the first page of the first chapter contains an obvious jab at our president. The book begins with the British Prime Minister awaiting a phone call from the "President" of an unnamed distant country, and wondering when the "wretched man" would call.
As a fan of the books and for that matter of Rowling's personal story and success, I'm saddened that liberal madness had to invade this children's classic. The first chapter was otherwise perfectly enjoyable.
I'm not saying anything else in the chapter was intentionally connected to current events, but I had to draw the comparison with what has ended up in British headlines at the same time as the book release. In the book, the Prime Minister is dealing with unexplained events, at least some of which could be terrorist like. Indeed, they are the work of sinister forces. Whereas I'm sure in this book series, ultimate help will come from the wizarding world, in reality Britain needs the support of the leader J.K. Rowling refers to as that "wretched man." How sadly misguided.
Yea, just like to kids outside more. Don't see that anymore like when I was a kid with all the video games and internet.
Sounds like an urban legend. Do you have any stats to back it up, or are you simply going on "a friend of a friend said that..?"
Because most children had religious training then and don't have now?
Ridiculous. That was an era of huge secularization in the cities, leading to the moral abyss of the roaring twenties. The Oz books didn't cause rampant turns to the occult because they are fiction.
If a kid turns to satan worship, more is going wrong in his life than a fiction book or two. Mental illness and family breakdown come to mind.
No you haven't read the book, the leader in question is the real prime minister of England, who is waiting for a call from the president who is described as a wretched man. Further, I made it clear I am not saying she based the books on the terrorist attacks. But her reference to a president as a wretched man on the first page is so obvious that I don't know why for the life of me Freepers are so defensive over this. In the context of British antipathy toward Bush, and the obvious connection between Britain and America, the placement of this little jab on the first page is obvious. It has nothing to do with the story, nothing. And she wasn't thinking that her jab in 2005 in a book that never mentions years, would be interpreted as criticism of Bill Clinton. Further, I am not pulling what hair I have out over this I just told everyone she took this shot in a very popular book.
Why do you waste your time reading such ignorant occultic/gnostic propaganda?
In literary language the use of "far" coupled with "distant" seems redundant, no? Unless of course the author means "far" in terms of distance, and "distant" in terms of relationship.....still doesn't ring true that she's talking about America at all.
oh, and btw....have you already finished the book? You seem to know her intent prematurely.
If you really don't like it, why in heaven's name even reply to this thread?
It's worse than that. I read the first chapter. When I saw "wretched" in context, it seemed clear to me that it was describing things from the POV of the Prime Minister (who is also never named), who himself is presented as something of a scheming politician and also someone who is generally having a very bad time of things due to recent political problems. As such, it's not Rowling making a comment on Bush, but rather the Prime Minister within the story making an assessment (based upon his currently foul mood) of whoever the President of the unnamed country might be.
What do you mean I'M obsessed with sex???
YOU'RE the one with the dirty pictures!!!
My daughter finished the book by 10 am this morning. The president is never mentioned again in the book. It was just a not that veiled jab at Bush on the first page. The people who have not read this and are "proving" it's not the American president are being silly.
Sounds like Putin.
The Harry Potter books are not great literature. They are literature for the masses.Like Shakespeare and Dickems
But the promotion of the books by Scholastic is sheer brilliance. Creating the Harry Potter book as a big book such as 'War and Peace' or 'Gone With the Wind".OK The books were being sold by word of mouth before Scholastic got to promoting.
'Treasure Island' fine wine!?Yes it's an fine yarn but pretty much hackwork. RLS quality hack but still hack. And as boy I would have judged that H Rider Haggard won his bet that he could write a better book.
Re-read my post. I think I answered that question. It doesn't matter if it's Harry Potter, Oz, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or what-have-you: I have no problems with good fiction, be it science fiction or otherwise, but when such fiction is presented as a means of enlightenment, and suggests that we are able to harness unseen, supernatural forces (forces which are diametrically opposed to the Word of God), I stand four-square against it.
Because there are a few people who really are stupid enough to think it's worth reading.
Why must some people be so paranoid all the time? I'm in the middle of reading the book right now, and I thought that the beginning of the book between Fudge and the PM was hilarious. And I really didn't see any swipe in there, for all I know she could have been talking about the President of India. Or both the President and the Prime Minister could be made up...
Seriously, it's a popular fiction book that's meant for enjoyment; there's no need to search for perceived slights at every turn.
First of all, calling a great many people stupid is not exactly a Christian thing to do. In fact, that word is not allowed in my house and my children, who will read Harry Potter, have been taught that that it is wrong to call people names.
Second, some of us enjoy the shear fun of reading an absorbing book in the hot summer. Why do you feel it is necessary to dump on that, especially considering that you haven't even experienced the books yourself.
You are acting in an arrogant and angry way. You need our prayers and I hope I can summon enough Christian charity to add mine.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.