What's The Hassle About Harry Potter?

Cornerstone University ^ | December 10, 2001 | Judith Fabisch

[calmseas]

I posted this article under another thread, but thought it good enough that it deserves a wider readership. Thus, here it is. This pretty much sums up my feelings about this subject. Comments?

[calmseas]

Well, I don't get why the photos and images appear fine in "preview" and then disappear once the article is posted. Can anyone answer that for me?

[M. Thatcher]

FYI Cornerstone is an evangelical Christian school.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I agree.... good story of good triumphs over evil!

[calmseas]

FYI Cornerstone is an evangelical Christian school.

And a good school at that. I wouldn't have my daughter anywhere else.

[js1138]

Images have to be hosted somewhere, that is they have to be on a publicly accessable web site. You seem to have copied some HTML without editing it to make sure all the links work.

As for Harry, I agree completely. The books, especially the fourth, are quite readable, except for the terminally humor impaired.

[Pete]

The debate is old and tiresome. It looks like this article was just published. Talk about coming late to the party. On top of that, this author is relying on wornout arguments.

For example, if someone supports Harry Potter because it started their child reading, they have bigger problems to deal with - try getting rid of the video games.

Second, a comparison to Tolkien and CS Lewis illustrates that this author is way behind the curve. Several books have been written on the subject that clearly show that any comparison is shallow, at best.

The suggestion that Harry Potter is "well written" is just silly. There are very few Potter supporters who point to the literary merits of the books as a big selling point.

I could go on. It is getting to the point where shrill Potterites like this author are starting to resemble Seinfeld's George when he says. "Yes, it is important that everyone likes me." These people are not happy just reading the series. They will only be happy when everyone else agrees with them and reads it as well. Methinks thou dost protest too much.

Frankly, I really don't care what other people read. Similarly, I appreciate not being told what I should or should not be reading. Anyway, Potter is old news. Let it go.

[calmseas]

Frankly, I really don't care what other people read. Similarly, I appreciate not being told what I should or should not be reading.

I agree with you here.

[calmseas]

Images have to be hosted somewhere, that is they have to be on a publicly accessable web site. You seem to have copied some HTML without editing it to make sure all the links work.

This is the problem I am having. The html looks fine, and works fine in "preview." Then once it is posted, it no longer works. This is what I can't figure out? I'll look at it again and see if I overlooked something. I had this problem once before, but most of the time the images will post correctly. In this case, I don't know where the problem lies.

[babylonian]

The Potter books and movie(s) stimulates a child's curiosity about witchcraft. PERIOD! When the Bible says to abstain from all appearances of evil, this includes Harry Potter.

[united1000]

Well I read the books just because I thoroughly enjoyed them.  My 6 year old Grandson has read the first two books with his Dad.  He at six loves to play Myst on the computer with his Dad.  His Dad grew up on science fiction and fantasy, just as I did, and turned out to be smart enough to be able to retire at the age of 33. I am sure his love of reading, especially science fiction and fantasy, helped fuel his imagination, which helped fire his interest and success in the business world. All three generations of us are stable and well adjusted.   He at the age of thirteen was writing software games under contract with a local software company.  Actually I had to sign for him because of his age.  Harry Potter's only danger is children who have ignorant parents.

[vigilantes]

Let's stay away from Snow White...got a witch in there too.

[ctdonath2]

Do you advocate abstaining from Lord Of The Rings and The Chronicles Of Narnia?

[Pete]

I agree with you here

I am glad to hear it. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for all our fellow freepers. I have commented on other threads that I, as a parent, had decided that I would not allow my children to read the series. That's all I said. The result was that I was instantly given the "Taliban" label - in some cases by other Christians. Other labels have included "fundie" and "Talibornagain" among other equally offensive monickers. I have never advocated censorship yet there seem to be quite a few who are more than willing to censor me - or worse.

One guy was freaking out talking about armed Christians coming to his door and how he would shoot them. A more common comment was how we could "do without" people like me. All because I had blasphemed the name of "Potter" by not allowing my children to read it. Scary stuff, my friend.

[vigilantes]

You can find "nuts" highly zealous about anything, my friend.

[Pete]

Let's stay away from Snow White...got a witch in there too.

Thank you for this example. It is exactly the kind of shallow comparison I was referring to in my #7 post.

[js1138]

Here's the link I get for your image:

http://www.freerepublic.com/News.nsf/5652b5d52f812577852568d3004fba67/0bab6fcba1ea540385256b1e0056140a/MainIntroText/0.194?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

Doesn't seem likely.

[Arthur McGowan]

I haven't read the books, and have seen the movie. All I can say is: I enjoyed the movie from beginning to end and saw no evil in it.

[babylonian]

I don't advocate anything for anybody except me and mine. But me and mine don't.

[Severa]

6yrs old and he's playing MYST??? *LOL* Wow. That's remarkable. That game is a real challenge to most adults. *s* Can't blame you for being a proud grandpa.