One reporter reacts to JKR's revelations

[delwynmarch]

Susanmcgee wrote:
> But that's just the point, Del..one CAN 
> control what one believes,

Del replies:
I flatly disagree. People believe things for 
a reason. As long as that reason is there, 
the beliefs cannot be modified, ie people 
can't control them. One can work on changing 
the reason behind the beliefs, either in 
oneself or in others, but one cannot simply 
decide what to believe. It wouldn't be *belief* 
if it could be modified at will.

After all, don't YOU *believe* that there's 
nothing wrong with homosexuality, and don't 
you *believe* that people who think 
otherwise are wrong? Could YOU modify those 
beliefs just because someone else told you 
you should?

If not, then why do you expect other people 
to do just that?

> and one can control what one DOES.....

This I agree with, but then I don't think 
anyone on this list disagreed with that 
anyway.

> So, when my son gets people who make 
> slanted eyes at him on the playground 
> and imitate guttural Chinese sounds, 
> I should say, oh well, some people think 
> Chinese people are unintelligible and 
> everyone should learn English and the only 
> Americans are European Americans....never mind?

Here you go again, not listening to us but 
choosing to associate people who believe 
certain things but don't ACTIVELY hurt 
other people, with people who DO hurt 
actively hurt other people. Can you please 
stop making such unfair, unjust and 
unwarranted associations?

> Shall we say, well, the highest incidence 
> of AIDS is now in Africa, that just goes to 
> show that the dark races are uncivilized, 
> ignorant and have less intelligence... and 
> that kind of belief is okay as long as I 
> state that my views are supported by the Bible?
> 
> Nope, I don't buy it.

Who assigned you Thought Police Officer? If 
you want to live in a country where people 
are not allowed to think whatever they want and 
say so, then move out of America. I personally 
don't agree with the above belief, but from 
what I understand American people have the 
RIGHT to hold it and defend it if they so wish.

> I wish for all of you who can't see the 
> immense harm you do by your antiquated 
> attitudes never end up with a child or a 
> grandchild who is gay or lesbian... and 
> realize suddenly what harm ignorant and 
> bigoted thoughts and attitudes do.

And I hope YOUR kids never end up believing 
in a God who doesn't approve of homosexuality.

> I appreciate your responding to me, Carol, 
> but what doesn't seem to be coming across is 
> this isn't an intellectual exercise..this is 
> MY life, and the life of tens of thousands of 
> people like me..of course my feelings are hurt, 
> and I am outraged...

And I am getting seriously annoyed by the way you 
dismiss people's personal beliefs and complexities 
in favour of a black-and-white and morally 
totalitarian worldview. Believe it or not, but 
people who have a problem with homosexuality are 
REAL people too, not mindless and heartless robots.

> I will NOT be silent while people continue to 
> make comments that I know to be wrong, immoral, 
> and bigoted...

Well then, I'm sure you'll understand when some 
other people decry YOUR comments as wrong, 
immoral and/or bigoted.

Let me repeat the bottom line of it all:

WHO ASSIGNED YOU AS THOUGHT POLICE OFFICER???

Del