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10/15/2009
Dumbledore would be proud
Confession: This writer has never read even one of the Harry Potter Books or seen any of films. I know, I know -- flog me with a Flobberworm.
But after reading about the following kindhearted gesture of literary/liberty camaraderie, I think it might just be time for me to shake off my embarrassing Muggle-iness and embrace the Harry dude as firmly as I embrace my husband's decidedly non-hairy back:
The Harry Potter Alliance, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that is “dedicated to bringing the themes of Harry Potter into the real world” announced today a grassroots effort to help defeat a Nov. 3 ballot initiative in Maine that seeks to repeal a recent state law legalizing same sex marriage.
The alliance announced an Oct. 24 concert series in Portland featuring Harry and the Potters and Draco and the Malfoys—two indie rock bands that sing songs from the perspective of Harry Potter characters.
The bands and concert attendees will then spend the day canvassing voters to vote against Proposition 1 in conjunction with Maine Equality, a gay rights group. Then, the bands will play a second concert, which will be live-streamed to fans who are also being asked to take part in a phone bank that day.
*MORE: Harry Potter Alliance Asks Maine Muggles to Oppose Gay Marriage Repeal [WSJ]
(H/t: Scott Hutcheson)
Bad news for Maine's "yes on 1" side, who are already far too busy chastising pro-acceptance children's books to possibly invest anymore time towards J.K Rowling's canon. When it comes to tome-centric trashings, their library card is more than full.
But don't worry, "yes on 1": We would never be so bold as to use any one certain book that's filled with fanciful tales against you and your families.
Your thoughts
I must say that I just love every time you refer to your husband using that term. Gives me the warm tingles of joy and hope (from all the way down here in SC). I also love that closing line. I'll have to appropriate it, if you don't mind.
Posted by: JT | Oct 15, 2009 8:46:52 PM
Just when I thought Harry potter couldn't get any cooler...
Posted by: Callie | Oct 15, 2009 9:20:44 PM
Actually, the right has invested plenty of time against Rowling's canon. The Harry Potter series were the most challenged books in 2000-2007, according to the American Library Association, ahead of And Tango Makes Three, King and King, and Heather Has Two Mommies. Apparently, they're worried that the books will turn all our kids into satanists, or something like that.
The underlying theme of social justice in the HP books probably don't make them beloved of the right, either.
http://staging.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlists/TOP_100_in_2000_2007.pdf
Posted by: Dana | Oct 15, 2009 10:23:39 PM
Was going to say the same thing as Dana. I remember a conversation a relative had with my brother in law about my nephew reading HP, the relatve was concerned that the books would encourage belief in the supernatural. My brother in law pointed out that the books were fiction and my nephew could tell the difference between fact and fiction.
Posted by: Bob Miller | Oct 15, 2009 11:05:39 PM
A late night talk show here in Dublin invited an American pro-Christian anti-Potter 'debater' to 'discuss' why he felt that the Harry Potter books were bad. After a rousing (i.e. 'insane') rant declaring it Satanism, and promoting sorcery and down-right *EEEEEVIL*! ... they took callers.
Irish parents then came on the phones to try to calm the poor lunatic down, reassuring him that yes, Irish children DO know the difference between fictional characters and right and wrong. And suggested to him that he might want to consider expanding his children's 'firmly bible-led education' into something, ya know, REAL...? Oh, and they could recommend a good mental hospital that he might want to attend.
BTW, I had to mention the nationality of the initial speaker, because the responders did seem to be more polite than they would have been towards one of their own. I think 'fecking bloody eejit' and 'feck off, you interfering a**hole' would have been the politest terms used if the speaker had been Irish.
Posted by: Helen in Ireland | Oct 16, 2009 10:03:06 AM
AAAHH! The pro-gays are allied with the pro-witches!
I hope the right does latch onto this, because their lunacy will be even more obvious than it already is.
Remember the lady in - where was it, Georgia? Who sued to get the books out of the school libraries. She had NEVER READ THEM. *head desk*
Posted by: Bonnie_Half-Elven | Oct 16, 2009 1:10:17 PM
C. S. Lewis would probably disagree with the hatred of Potter. In one of his essays, he argued that outright fantasy is probably safer for children than the more subtle fantasy of "realistic" stories in which everything works out right for the protagonist.
Killing dragons is not a realistic goal, and kids know that. Becoming the star of the football field is theoretically attainable, and feeding on that sort of fantasy literature is more likely to do a kid damage.
But then, I've often felt that fundamanetalists have stunted imaginations.
(Disclamer: I've read Lewis and Tolkein, but not Rowling.)
TRiG.
Posted by: Timothy (TRiG) | Oct 16, 2009 1:36:52 PM
