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Harry Potter and the Decline of the West (Spengler)
Asia Times ^ | Jul 20, 2005 | By Spengler

Posted on 07/18/2005 9:57:30 PM PDT by Eurotwit

click here to read article


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To: garyhope

My wife and daughter were up at midnight to get this new one and the last one, in costume yet. Its a party, nearly all kids, not adults.


21 posted on 07/18/2005 11:12:59 PM PDT by buwaya
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To: Eurotwit
Another little thought:

Lily: How much did this ship cost?

Picard: The economics of the 24th century are a little different. You see, money no longer exists.

Lily: No money? You mean you don't get paid?

Picard: The aquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force of our existance. We seek to better ourselves.

Star Trek is pure Marxism.

22 posted on 07/18/2005 11:16:56 PM PDT by stinkerpot65
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To: Eurotwit
"Use the Force," Obi-Wan tells the young Luke Skywalker, while the master wizard Dumbledore instructs Harry to draw from his inner well of familial emotions.

So what's the poor schmoe who grew up in a dysfunctional family supposed to do with this "inner well of familial emotions"? Become a sociopath?

23 posted on 07/18/2005 11:26:00 PM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
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To: Oztrich Boy
Burn on me.
24 posted on 07/18/2005 11:27:07 PM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: Oztrich Boy

"Actually that would be Mr Darcy. Lizzie's problem is prejudice."

How did I know you would be wrong about that? Lucky guess, or just picking up on a pattern?

"In Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, the issue of pride is a central one. Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are disliked at separate points for their pride--Darcy is described towards the beginning as the "proudest, most disagreeable man in the world (p.7)." At one point Miss Bingley says to Darcy, about Elizabeth, to "endeavor to check that little something, bordering on conceit and impertinence, which your lady possesses." She is referred to as having an "abomidable sort of conceited independance" (p.26); her manners are described by the others as "very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence"


25 posted on 07/18/2005 11:28:44 PM PDT by dsc
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To: Eurotwit

I think this is the best article yet on the subject, and I think it lamentable that pride or lack of education seems to prevent some from giving it fair consideration.


26 posted on 07/18/2005 11:29:49 PM PDT by dsc
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To: Eurotwit

It's interesting that everyone reacts by attacking Spengler.


27 posted on 07/18/2005 11:30:22 PM PDT by A.J.Armitage (http://calvinist-libertarians.blogspot.com/)
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To: buwaya

"My wife and daughter were up at midnight to get this new one and the last one, in costume yet. Its a party, nearly all kids, not adults."

Kind of reminds me of the furor over Rocky Horror Picture Show.


28 posted on 07/18/2005 11:31:46 PM PDT by dsc
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To: spinestein

And, it is fantasy. Anyhow the KIDS ARE READING. GET OVER IT.


29 posted on 07/18/2005 11:33:46 PM PDT by television is just wrong (http://hehttp://print.google.com/print/doc?articleidisblogs.blogspot.com/ (visit blogs, visit ads).)
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To: tallhappy
"decline of the west" Spengler.

Yeah, the guy who's been dead since 1934 or so...

"nom de plume" -- Google it.

Oh, so this pretentious, fatuous and incompetent writer was asking to be compared to the pretentious, fatuous and incompetent philosopher... now I get it. But wait, didn't I do that already?

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

30 posted on 07/18/2005 11:35:03 PM PDT by Criminal Number 18F (Some times you just have to pick up the clue-by-four and start swinging)
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To: Criminal Number 18F

"But wait, didn't I do that already?"

Not by a parsec.


31 posted on 07/18/2005 11:35:41 PM PDT by dsc
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To: Eurotwit

Decline of the West? Is he talking about Hawaii or Japan?


32 posted on 07/18/2005 11:36:18 PM PDT by Porterville (Don't make me go Bushi on your a$$)
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To: Eurotwit
"I think, is their appeal to complacency and narcissism. "Use the Force," Obi-Wan tells the young Luke Skywalker, while the master wizard Dumbledore instructs Harry to draw from his inner well of familial emotions.

One can say the same about the Old Testament.

33 posted on 07/18/2005 11:41:17 PM PDT by Windsong (FighterPilot)
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To: dsc

From one point of view, a major problem is that the Harry Potter rage promises what can't be delivered to his audience. Harry's got the magic powers and can bring about "good" things with them. Well, okay, we hear you Harry. But his audience, they can't do boo; they can only lose themselves in games of pretend. Like when the Lord challenged the sorcerers to "do something good or evil."


34 posted on 07/18/2005 11:41:25 PM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
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To: stinkerpot65
Codswallop!

What, you never read books about King Arthur, when you were a kid? It's the same kind of story as Harry Potter is, as are many beloved fairy tales.

35 posted on 07/18/2005 11:42:24 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: dsc
In Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, the issue of pride is a central one

Well one of the themes is how pride and prejudice may be mistaken for the other by casual observers.

And you are quoting not the views of the author, but those of her characters, which is not the same thing.

In particular, you citing as authoriry Miss Bingley, who is not presented by Austen as the most astute of observers, is exceedingly riaky.

36 posted on 07/18/2005 11:43:24 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Fear leads to hate, hate leads to the dark side)
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To: Free Vulcan

Not everyone thinks that Tolkien is all that great/readable.


37 posted on 07/18/2005 11:44:19 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: Windsong
One can say the same about the Old Testament.

But only if one wants to looks stupid.

38 posted on 07/18/2005 11:48:24 PM PDT by A.J.Armitage (http://calvinist-libertarians.blogspot.com/)
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To: A.J.Armitage; dsc

[I think this is the best article yet on the subject, and I think it lamentable that pride or lack of education seems to prevent some from giving it fair consideration.]

[It's interesting that everyone reacts by attacking Spengler.]



The central theme of this article by Spengler is the decline of our civilization as evidenced by the narcissistic characters in the fiction we read. This topic has been flogged to death for as long as there has been civilization to discuss it, but usually not in such a tiresome and ponderous manner.

Such snobbishness invites criticism in return, and in this instance the criticism is deserved.


39 posted on 07/18/2005 11:53:15 PM PDT by spinestein (The facts fairly and honestly presented, truth will take care of itself.)
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To: Criminal Number 18F
See my 24.
40 posted on 07/18/2005 11:58:51 PM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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