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2007-07-21 Home Front: Culture Wars

Harry Potter and the Global War on Terror

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Posted by Mike 2007-07-21 08:57|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top
File under: Global Jihad

#1 I have read that series and I agree that there are many parallels between the Death Eaters and the Nazis. One thing especially stands out - while the element of magic is fantasy, the moral choices which the main characters make are consistently realistic and positive.

Posted by Grumenk Philalzabod0723 2007-07-21 12:32|| 2007-07-21 12:32|| Front Page Top

#2 saw Order of the Phoenix last weekend. Dark, like the book, and excellent. Read all the books - Getting my new Potter book via Amazon today, so I may not be on the Burg much this weekend :-)

Pinkerton can be a real tool sometimes, but he's on the mark here

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-07-21 12:51|| 2007-07-21 12:51|| Front Page Top

#3 Kids can enjoy all the magic and special effects, even as older audiences -- including the youngsters who have been growing up in the real world, alongside Harry in his reel world -- can appreciate the larger meanings and historical parallels.

Um, no. If this were true, the Potter series would be a lot less popular (with adults). Far too many adults seem determined not to see any historical parallels with the Nazis, unless they're looking at George Bush.

Posted by Angie Schultz 2007-07-21 13:24|| 2007-07-21 13:24|| Front Page Top

#4
"If your determination to shut your eyes will carry you as far as this, Cornelius," said Dumbledore, "we have reached a parting of the ways. You must act as you see fit. And I - I shall act as I see fit."

Dumbledore's voice carried no hint of a threat; it sounded like a mere statement, but Fudge bristled as though Dumbledore were advancing on him with a wand.

"Now see here, Dumbledore," he said, waving a threatening finger. "I've given you free rein, always. I've had a lot of repect for you. I might not have always agreed with your decisions, but I've kept quiet. There aren't many who'd have let you hire werewolves, or keep Hagrid, or decide what to teach your students without reference to the Ministry. But if you're going to work against me --"

"The only one against whom I intend to work," said Dumbledore, "is Lord Voldemort. If you are against him, then we remain, Cornelius, on the same side."

Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling, Scholastic Press, 2000. (Page 709)

Note: I went back to read this passage in the awful days following September 11

Posted by Seafarious">Seafarious 2007-07-21 13:29|| 2007-07-21 13:29|| Front Page Top

#5 Agreed, Frank.

Just got my copy a few minutes ago, but can't get started on it until tomorrow unfortunately. So please don't give away the ending!

Posted by lotp 2007-07-21 14:03|| 2007-07-21 14:03|| Front Page Top

#6 I wouldn't dare!

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-07-21 15:10|| 2007-07-21 15:10|| Front Page Top

#7 De ship sinks.

Posted by Himmler the WonderTyper 2007-07-21 18:18|| 2007-07-21 18:18|| Front Page Top

#8 No wait, thatn was a differnt moviei

Posted by Himmler the WonderTyper 2007-07-21 18:18|| 2007-07-21 18:18|| Front Page Top

#9 I almost seems childish to me that adult writers, no matter how exceptional they write, need to go back to WW2 for material for the broad picture of good vs. evil.
These are the times. Now. The WW2 era was just a dress rehearsal. Oh, the big bombs were invented then, but now when we know the awful power of nuclear weapons, and still evil marches toward world domination in the face of such power. Not an evil which believed in simple superiority, but todays evil embraces death before life, death as a means to glory and victory, death as the goal.
Today, either evil wins, and all good men die, or good wins and all evil men die.

Posted by wxjames 2007-07-21 19:35|| 2007-07-21 19:35|| Front Page Top

#10 the books are about universal good vs evil. It's not just a WW2 metaphor. If your kids read it, they may get a another excellent good vs evil reference? Wow! that would be terrible, wouldn't it? It doesn't make readers cultists, like the Quran, it's FICTION with a good lesson, unlike the Quran

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-07-21 20:15|| 2007-07-21 20:15|| Front Page Top

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