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.
I think the main point about the first page is, so what if she is making a crack at Bush? Why should we care? Will it really change anyone's mind? The only people who will notice are those who view everything through a political lens, right or left.
Most people are oblivious to politics. Not endorsing that, but it's a fact.
I don't think she is as anti-President Bush as you think. After all, note that Rowling depicts the newspapers in the wizarding world somewhat poorly; remember Rita Skeeter Goblet of Fire (what a tattletale and then some!), Luna Lovegood from Order of the Phoenix (note how Luna is quite a bit embarassed by her father's scandal sheet newspaper at times), and how everyone more or less puts down The Daily Prophet in the latest novel.
Good points. I also found how Harry was villianized in the Daily Prophet in the 5th book to be a parallel of how Bush is villianized in our media. May not have been her intention, but it was a striken similarity.
Well, the reason we would care is that this is a conservative discussion forum, and we often discuss liberals injecting their views into popular culture. I must say, on this topic many Freepers seem to be in a defensive coma. If we are not going to react to liberal opinion, that would mean scrapping at least 50% of this site's natural function. People seem also to assume that this observation about her book is the same as calling for a boycott or maybe burning her as a witch. It is what it is, an observation that she took a totally extraneous little jibe at the president on the first page of her book. And by the way, most of you haven't read it.
maybe willyboy IS Rowling.
We don't know that. We DO know that Harry will vote AGAINST the likes of both Fudge and his similarly symbolism over style focused successor, Percy Weasly, and Doris Umbridge. They are best fit either Democrats or hard core RINOs. The new Minister strikes me as a McCain sort or politician, pretending to be hard line, but acting squishy. Umbridge is a Hillary fellow traveler.
Actually I started the book last night. I've read them all with my kids.
I don't see the slur and if I did, it wouldn't bother me.
For what it's worth, Rowling on the first chapter:
The Opening Chapter of Book Six
I have come close to using a chapter very like this in 'Philosopher's Stone' (it was one of the discarded first chapters), 'Prisoner of Azkaban' and 'Order of the Phoenix' but here, finally, it works, so it's staying. And that's all I'm going to say, but when you read it, just know that it's been about thirteen years in the brewing.
http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=6
You know, that makes sense. She goes back in that first chapter and explains the meeting of Fudge and the PM--seems like it could have been planned or used a lot earlier.
You seem to have a strong interest in Harry Potter and Christianity. You may be interested in what Christian defenders of the Potter books are saying.
John Granger is perhaps the most prominent Christian Rowling apologist:
http://www.ev90481.dial.pipex.com/harry_potter_granger.htm
Rowling was classically educated in medieval (Christian) literature, and her books use many of the same devices and symbols to point toward God. Granger makes a case for this in his book "Looking for God in Harry Potter":
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=1414300913&itm=1
Here's an extract:
http://www.touchstonemag.com/docs/issues/16.9docs/16-9pg34.html
Here's Granger's website, where many more resources can be found on the subject:
http://www.hogwartsprofessor.com/home.php
When Wizards of the Coast (publishers of "Dungeons and Dragons" approached Rowling about making a roleplaying game based on her novels, she turned them down upon learning that they wanted to use the D&D rules for the game's foundations, because that might lead kids into the occult. I know people who were at that meeting, and she really did turn them down flat on those grounds.
There seemed nothing tongue in cheek about your post.
That's a radical interpretation of the text.
If it's there it's a jibe about a president not your personal president.
However. I thinl it's more likely to be a Rowling snark at how British PMs, in their hearts, see other nation's leaders, in general.
Even on your interpretation of the line, you are reacting rather liberally to a pretty niggardly diss.
I don't know why people are working so hard to "prove" she didn't mean president Bush. She did.
Hmm that explains a lot. Why are so many posters on this forum defending Rowling even if she meant to criticize President Bush? I know why, you are such fans you want to say nothing ill of Rowling. I can assure you my household is also Potter obsessed. BTW Rowling will be interviewd on MSNBC at 7 edt this evening. But, I am not afraid to be annoyed at her for this dig on the first page.
I'm not even such a fan. We've read the books, but that's about it.
I just don't think the slur's a big deal.
T for troll.
I love it! Never knew Rowling was a Freeper!
It`s amazing this J.K. Rowling makes so much money on these Harry Potter books considering she ripped off the idea verbatim from a video game. I guess some companies just don`t believe in suing.
http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?name=Spellcasting+201
No, noöne thinks you are a nerd
George W. Bush was not the president of the United States in 1996, the year in which the events of the book take place. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?
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