First Page Of New Harry Potter Book Takes Swipe At Bush

Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince | 7/16/05

[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.

[null and void]

In other words, you are afraid to answer a simple direct question.

Can't say I'm surprised.

[SamAdams76]

Maybe it was President Putin of Russia the author is alluding to. Or President Chirac of France.

But then again - and most likely - it was about nobody in the real world at all. It's a freakin' book people. It's make believe! In all the previous 5 books in the series (and I've read them), not a single person in the "real" world was ever mentioned in them. The entire series of books exists out of any specific timespace - they are about an alternative universe in which Wizards and Witches exist outside the "Muggle" (non-magic) world. Are we now supposed to look for slams on Dwight Eisenhower in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings?.

Lighten up!

[moog]

staring=starting

[Mad Mammoth]

"I suspect the letter back was written by an assistant of the then cardinal Ratzinger."

That O-Boy, is the core of your attempted denunciation of what then-Cardinal Ratzinger communicated to the lady in question.

Note: "I suspect"

Not "I know", or "I am certain", but "I suspect"

You (and the individual uttering that notable "I suspect") are off in la-la land, because that statement is not based upon fact, but upon opinion.

When I read of the Vatican, specifically the Pope endorsing or at least condoning occult/supernatural writings like Harry Potter, et al, then perhaps we might have something.

But even if we accept your premise that Pope Benedict, either yesterday OR today has said nothing negative about HP, that alone does not negate the fact that the books are based on occult practices and presents those practices as something desirable for children to do.

That is un-Biblical, it is un-Christian, and I stand on God's Word about it.

End of story.

[Katya]

It is exactly her use of "far distant" that makes America an impossible choice.

[Mad Mammoth]

In other words, you are afraid to answer a simple direct question. Can't say I'm surprised.

"BZZZT" - wrong answer.

What this little exchange between us demonstrates is not that I'm afraid to answer a direct question, it demonstrates that you want to play word games, and that it is YOU in fact, that fears to simply come forward with whatever argument it is that is bubbling just beneath the surface of your intellect.

You don't need my answer to a leading question you are attempting to ask, once again I encourage you: come forth with whatever you are attempting to convey, I am certain that everyone on this thread would like to know what's on your mind.

I happily await your next missive.

[null and void]

I note that you are studiously avoiding taking a stand, either way.

You're acting like a fraud.

[Mad Mammoth]

I note that you are studiously avoiding taking a stand, either way. You're acting like a fraud.

Really. IOW, because I haven't answered what appears on the surface to be an irrelevant question you posed in your post #282
How do you feel about transmuting one substance to another?

that makes me a fraud?

Tell you what Sunny Jim, I'll give you the answer you should have had in the first place to your question.

Ready?

Here it is bucko:

Your Question: How do you feel about transmuting one substance to another?

My Answer: I don't feel a damn thing about it. Get to the point if you have something to say. Otherwise, BUZZ OFF.

How's that?

[null and void]

My bad you do take a stand:

That is un-Biblical, it is un-Christian, and I stand on God's Word about it.

Where exactly is this stand on my question?

[Mad Mammoth]

See #328, and either get with the program or quit playing games.

[null and void]

So you have no feelings whatsoever about Alchemy?

Are there other fields of magic that you "don't feel a damn thing about"?

[Mad Mammoth]

So you have no feelings whatsoever about Alchemy?

Are there other fields of magic that you "don't feel a damn thing about"?

Heh.

Now look who's answering questions with questions.

When you manage to cough up whatever mental hairball you were thinking of in your original post #282, maybe we'll have something to talk about.

[WillMalven]

Mad Mammot belongs in Monty Python and the Holy Grail..."She's A Witch! Burn Her! Burn Her!"

No need to think, the Pope says it's so, so it is. Everytime one of these inflexible neanderthals spews forth this kind of vitriol, it makes me question whether or not I should convert to Buddhism. Gives Chritianity a bad name, kind of like, "If you don't worship my way, you're going to Hell."

Keep your faith to yourself. If you don't like the book, don't read it.

To Williams, grow up, you sound like a Dumocrat, seeing plots within plots. Grow up. I detest Alec Baldwin and all he stands for, bet I still watch his movies because he's a good compelling actor. A good read is a good read, quit trying to find the politics in everything, life is much more pleasant that way.

Or maybe you believe that evil will triumph over good. I don't.

[null and void]

I'm trying to understand why you haven't "any damn" feelings about some fields of magic, yet strong feelings about other fictional magic.

At least I assume you have a strong hatred of witchcraft.

Do you?

[Twinkie]

I haven't read the Potter books, but I have been wondering whether or not a single "muggle" (ordinary human being) in those books wasn't depicted as terribly flawed or deservedly lacking in the "wizardy wiles" so plentiful among the "favored few" elite wizards. What little I did hear about the aunt and uncle and cousin of Harry (who were muggles), they apparently deserved any violence or humiliation Harry wanted to dish out at them with his wizard powers. They were BAD. Were ANY muggles depicted as good? Just curious.

[billbears]

I don't know why you're all so afraid to recognize she did this for a reason

Hey I'm not afraid of that. If she recognized it, it's good to see you're raising quite the partisan. A young child able to notice partisan politics in fantasy novels. You must be proud. No one else seemed to recognize it. I'm wondering why you bothered pointing it out to all of us. I'm sure the US President thinks Chirac is a 'wretched man', Putin thinks Blair is a 'wretched man', and the Chinese leader thinks Bush is a 'wretched man'. As much grief as this poor series of books has gotten, why not start proofreading line by line to find partisan politics in it. But let's say it was intentional. You do realize as a citizen of another nation she is going to hold views of our leadership different from yours don't you? How dare she!!

Calling him "the wretched man" with ZERO explanation or involvement in the plot is another

So the only people in your world that are allowed to be called 'wretched' or any other way referred negatively to, especially if we've trained our children to read between the lines looking for imagined slurs against US leadership (as you've said she noticed it), must play an integral part in the plot? And be people that you yourself would consider 'wretched'? OK. That's fair....

Of course she veiled it but please it's obvious

No, you have presupposed that any reference to a president from a 'far away nation' that is referred to as 'wretched' must be the president of this nation. Does the PM have a reason to talk to any other presidents besides the one currently as our leader? Who's to say she's not making a statement about the EU and Blair's opinion towards certain leaders involved in that? I'm sure the formation and almost concurrent possible dissolution of that organization by failed votes has caused him to call more than a few European leaders 'wretched'. But to be on the safe side, let's boycott it? 'Conservatives' are so busy boycotting numerous other things so we may as well just add this to the list right?

[Mad Mammoth]

You can find all of the answers you need in one of my previous posts (#275), you just have to read it carefully (reposted here for your convenience):

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.

There you go. Any further questions on your part should be directed to the Author of the Ten Commandments, specifically the Old Testament where the penalties for sorcery, witchcraft and dabbling in the occult are clearly spelled out.

But hey, "do as thou wilt", right? ;)

[null and void]

My copy of the Old Testament has Joseph interpreting dreams. That was the province of seers and fortune tellers in that day.

Moses changes the waters of the Nile to Blood, the province of Alchemists.

In the new Testament, the first miracle Jesus Christ performs is changing water into wine, clearly Alchemy, clearly magic.

editor-surveyor said "Lord has declared all magic evil." in his post #310. Do you agree with his interpretation of The Bible?

[pa mom]

Oz or Harry Potter?

[Politicalmom]

One of the main characters has Muggle parents. They are very nice, and are both obviously intelligent, as they are dentists and raised an extremely intelligent child.

Many of the other children have Muggle parents. They are all portrayed as nice people. Some of the magical people are horrid, too.