Defending Harry Potter

WorldNetDaily ^ | 6/21/03 | Joel Miller

[Corin Stormhands]

Heard of one party where a girl came as Moaning Myrtle and wore a toilet seat around her head...

[strela]

And if your kids are really tempted to join a coven, then it's not a giant leap to say that you've failed miserably as a parent.

Ouch. One major clunker there in an otherwise fine article.

Having been involved in a situation in my own family where a child who was raised with love and respect in a Christian home committed suicide in a horrible way, I don't buy for a second the notion that its always the parent's fault when a "seed goes bad."

Sidebar: I do NOT recommend being the first person to find a suicide. I will remember what I saw, straight from one of Poe's works, in my mind until the day I die; there's no possible way to prepare for it. My hat goes off to EMS workers and police officers for that reason; they have to see that sort of horror all the time.

Sentient human beings make their own choices, sometimes good, sometimes bad. And sometimes, (expletive deleted) happens.

Now, having gotten that out of the way, I suspect that most of the anti-Potter grumbling we're hearing from certain individuals and groups is based on plain ol' jealousy and a desperate hunger for the same sort of positive publicity that a fictional character is receiving. While criticism of content, message, mechanics, etc. of Rowling's work are perfectly valid and even welcomed, the unending sour grapes carping we hear grows tiresome. Don't like it? Then don't read it.

[HELLRAISER II]

Whether thier Chrisitians or Witches, Liberal or Conservative. Their all going to find something to Bi+ch about, it's just a damn story people!

[Xenalyte]

Speaking of which, how many copies of Armageddon have sold?

Woulda been a much better movie without that stupid Liv Tyler romance subplot.

[HELLRAISER II]

I concur, I saw NASCAR racing in the same arena on a commercial. Since I saw it on T.V. that makes it true, right?

[Xenalyte]

Do you really have to ask? ;)

[strela]

Maybe, but there is a sports car in the chariot race in Ben Hur.

Look closely and you'll see palm trees in the background of what is supposed to be Southampton during the opening of Titanic.

[50sDad]

Doesn't say a "whale" (whose gullet is the size of a softball, and is designed for eating plankton.) It says "a great fish." (Also, the "apple" is never mentioned as the "Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.) ;)

[Corin Stormhands]

Well, don't know about the NASCAR, but the car in the chariot race actually is a movie mistake.

[Richard Kimball]

Does that mean my mail-order wand won't work? Danged. 10 1/2 inches, willow, dragon's heart-string. I knew I should have held out for the unicorn hair.

Seriously, the article is very accurate in its depiction of Harry Potter. So are you. I've read stuff by real witches and this isn't it.

Harry Potter is also a brilliant series. It's popularity isn't the result of hype. I devour the books because I enjoy reading them. I don't care how popular they are, but their popularity isn't just because of the hype. I think these books will stand with the Lord of the Rings series as classics. Rowling better keep herself healthy. I want to know how the series ends, and at the rate she's working, that may take another six or seven years. I also want her to stay away from George Lucas. Note to Ms. Rowling, at the first mention of Ewoks, we revolt!

[nina0113]

The sixth book is gonna have to tie up some loose ends from this one.

Which pretty well guarantees that the 6th one will sell too...;-)

And she needs to get cracking on writing it.

[humblegunner]

Perhaps instead of railing, my fellow Christians should start reading.

My vote for quote of the day.
I have completely enjoyed all the Potter books, and am currently enthralled
by the latest.. the only ill effect suffered so far has been a slight
case of not enough sleep due to reading too long.

[Richard Kimball]

the only ill effect suffered so far has been a slight case of not enough sleep due to reading too long.

I resemble that remark.

[Cicero]

I agree with this concerning Harry Potter, but I don't think the anti-Christian tone of the opening is at all admirable. It almost sounds like something from the New York Times crowd with their constant talk about the threat of right-wing Christian fundamentalists to enlightened progressives.

No doubt the wiccan movement is pretty silly, but it's also dangerous, because it's a part of the culture of death. There's nothing funny about 40 million aborted American babies or the slaughter of third-world populations, and the wiccans are part of the network of people who are responsible. Feminism is deeply implicated, and so is goddess-worship, whether or not the worshippers entirely believe in their silly religion.

I don't agree with the Christians who attack Harry Potter, but I can understand their attitudes. It doesn't help to mount a bigoted attack on them.

[Ingtar]

The sixth book is gonna have to tie up some loose ends from this one. Which pretty well guarantees that the 6th one will sell too...;-) And she needs to get cracking on writing it.

Rumor has it that she has all but written the final two books of the series. She had to get all the action that she wanted divided among the three remaining books.

[js1138]

Rowling and the publisher know how it ends. The last chapter of the last book has been written for a number of years, and the publisher has an outline of the whole series. So the next two books will get written, even if by a ghost. ;^)

[najida]

Thanks for the ping....

Don't understand WHAT the fuss is all about...

Geez, fun books,
Better costumes...

And I do wish folks could keep their religions straight.

[FeliciaCat]

"Any chance I could get that on a bumper sticker?"

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!

[humblegunner]

I resemble that remark.

Harry Potter stole my weekend, he did.
Evil little rotter... ;-)

[BlueLancer]

"I don't agree with the Christians who attack Harry Potter, but I can understand their attitudes. It doesn't help to mount a bigoted attack on them."

Then I would appreciate the same understanding from them. I don't appreciate being told that I am going to hell because I read the "Harry Potter" series, "The Lord of the Ring", or play "Dungeons and Dragons" or "Chivalry and Sorcery". I have done the last three for 30+ years and I have yet to have had the urge to sacrifice children or cast magic of any sort. It's entertainment ... as old as "Morte de Arthur", "Beowulf", and Mozart's "The Magic Flute".