"Harry Potter"

Ayn rand Institute ^ | 11/13/02

[RJCogburn]

The movie adventures of child-wizard Harry Potter will continue on November 15. Far from being an agent of the occult, as his critics contend, Harry Potter is the kind of hero children should be encouraged to read about and emulate, said the executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute.

"It is true that Harry lives in a magical, fantastical world, but what's important is that he is a hero who wins through intelligence, effort and courage," said Dr. Yaron Brook. "Throughout the series, Harry has developed his talents through hard work and has learned to think for himself, to be honest and to be self-confident. He has friends who share his values and he earns the respect of his teachers. Aren't these the character traits all parents want their children to possess? I know they're qualities I actively try to instill in my two boys."

Dr. Brook said that the critics' focus on the supernatural aspects of the Harry Potter stories is completely non-essential. What is fundamental is the abstract meaning being conveyed during the course of Harry's magical adventures. "The books are, in short, fuel for a child's maturing mind. As vitamins and minerals are essential to a child's healthy physical development, so literature with this view of the world is essential to a child's healthy mental development."

[Redleg Duke]

So, how go things on the DU anyway?

[HiTech RedNeck]

Yes, but so many kids have no firm Christian groundings. Today, 115 kids went to see the movie as part of their public school field trip.

If any who were Christian did go, I wonder if they will be allowed to voice their disgust aloud in class? (I'm not holding my breath that the one sided gummintregimentation kook "teachers" will let Potter be portrayed as anything but positive.)

[Redleg Duke]

Flori-Duh, eh?

[Jael]

"I've seen the first two movies and they do not suggest that non witches are stupid."


This is what they call non-magic folk like them, "it’s your bad luck you grew up in a family o’ the biggest muggles I ever laid eyes on". So says one of the characters in the books.

A ‘muggle’ is a person who does not practise the ‘dark arts’ i.e. magic. In the Harry Potter books, the main ‘muggles’ are ‘The Dursleys’ who are very cruel to Harry and are continually ‘putting him down’. Throughout these books the ‘muggles’ are portrayed to be, what the word ‘muggle’ derives from - mugs or fools. ‘Muggles’ are depicted as bringing upon themselves an unnecessary dependency on others and on self to get things done. Life for a ‘muggle’ is burdensome. According to JK Rowling this is where she got the word from.

It teaches that evil forces are conquered by ‘good’ witchcraft and counter curses.

http://www.fimc.org.uk/alert/2001novdec/Hpotter.htm

[JenB]

See, I don't see these books as making witchcraft seem attractive. Magic is not real. 'Real' witchcraft is nothing at all like Harry Potter. What these books make attractive is imagination.

Do you know why the Potter books struck a cord? Not because they were about magic, but because at long last someone gave kids books that weren't about pimples and 3rd grade bullies and how life sucks. Let kids be kids; let them read about dragons and Elves and even magic! They'll find out - most likely they already know - that it's not real, but why deprive them of phantasie?

[ET(end tyranny)]

I like a hero who is honest, loyal and courageous. It was sad though to realize that Richard Harris is no longer with us. He was very good in this movie.

I agree. Very good movie. Great special effects, and good story line. So often lacking in 'appropriate' movies! lol But, like you I watched and was saddened by the death of Mr. Harris and wondered who they will replace him with.

Well worth the money and already looking forward to the next. My 11 year old has read all the books at least 4 times and seen both movies. He knows the difference between fact and fiction. Guess I raised him right!

I'd much rather he read these books and see these movies than watch regular tv on non-cable stations. Glad he's into Nick at Nite, Croc Hunter, History Channel, and Discovery.

[Denver Ditdat]

I actually know a few.

I know a man who claims to have been a Navy SEAL. He was never a member of a UDT or SEAL team, nor did he attend BUDS. He is not, nor has he ever been, a SEAL. The mere fact that his mouth forms the words proclaiming him a SEAL does not make it so.

So, too, the "witches" and "warlocks" you may happen to know.

[JenB]

Let's not be deceitful here. In context, a muggle is nothing except a non-wizard. There are several Muggle familes in the books. Not all of them are portrayed as stupid. Harry's relatives are, for reasons of narrative convention. The hero must always have evil step-sisters or adoptive parents, right? It's part of the whole hero with a thousand faces idea.

In fact several wizards are portrayed as fascinated by Muggles and their inventiveness, which is praised on several occasions.

[Jael]

Frogs into princes are not real spells.

If you want to talk to some real witches, and ask them if they are real or not, go here.

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/67989

[Jael]

Go ask them. Some are chatting right now. And a warlock is not a male witch. It's someone who has betrayed the coven.

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Chat/37643

[Jael]

Yes.

[HairOfTheDog]

What is a real witch? What is a real spell? - Can they do magic?

[Jael]

Go and ask them. http://www.network54.com/Hide/Chat/37643

[lizma]

Virtually all the kids who did not see the movie did so because of their religious beliefs.

Kudos to the parents who have stuck up for their beliefs.

But out of curiosity, how many kids didn't go? I'm sorta surprised that there would be a big backlash in Ohio. South Carolina maybe.

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't want to ask them, I am asking you. You said you know witches. What magic can they do?

[Jael]

A few witches are waiting to talk to you. Head on over. http://www.network54.com/Hide/Chat/37643

[Jael]

Come on. They are waiting. One is a well known occult writer. Tarostar. http://www.network54.com/Hide/Chat/37643

[HiTech RedNeck]

Go ask them.

I wouldn't suggest this be done carelessly. Demons lurk all over this world.

[keats5]

"I repeat, children who have firm Christian groundings will not be threatened by Harry Potter. They may not enjoy the books, either, but they will not need to fear them."

Don't get me wrong. I love fantasy literature. But if you think about many of the classics, the witches are clearly evil. The main characer is the good guy, battling a thinly veiled demonic bad guy.

Sometimes a "good witch" or wizard turn up, but they are often downplayed as a secondary character. As a chiild I remember the Sword and the Stone. More kids emulated Ward than Merlin, whom my husband contends represents more of a prophet or an angel.

The same thing occurs in Oz, where the good witch is a secondary character, and the wizard turns out to be a sham.

I would understand Christains taking offense to these "good witches" as well. Bbut at any rate, they didn't seem to inspire the fascination with the occult like the Potter books do with succeptible kids.

[CharacterCounts]

Okay, Princes into frogs are not real spells.

However, you said that you know a few real witches.

1. Give me an example of a real spell.

2. Have you ever actually seen one of these witches you know, cast a real spell? I'm, not talking about mouthing incantations. I'm talking about results. It's a simple question and a simple yes or no will suffice.

BTW, princes into frogs represent most of the kind of "spells" taking place in Potter.