One reporter reacts to JKR's revelations

[susanmcgee48176]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Katie" <anigrrrl2 at ...> wrote:
>
> --- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Carol" <justcarol67@> 
> wrote:
> >
> > Del wrote:
> > > <snip> I do hear you, but you don't seem to hear me. I've been
> > trying to explain that calling those people who have a problem 
with
> > homosexuality "bigots" simply because one doesn't agree with them 
> is a sign of bigotry and intolerance in oneself. Do you hear me 
when 
> I say that?
> > 
> > Carol responds:
> > I agree that the unwillingness to hear views that we consider
> > offensive is a form of intolerance, as is labeling our own views 
as
> > "tolerant" and then having no tolerance for those who don't share
> > them. Maybe we should just ban the b-word ("bigot")? Then maybe we
> > could express our ideas without labeling those whose views we 
> disagree with as bigoted or intolerant.
> 
> 
> ***Katie: But I, to whom Del was initially resonding, haven't 
called 
> anyone a bigot. I *specifically* have been referring to thoughts 
and 
> beliefs, *not* people. I have been trying very hard to keep the 
tone 
> of the conversations civil, and I feel like I'm being yelled at in 
> return. I understand it is very difficult to convey tone in this 
> format, but I do feel like some posts are very aggressive. 
> 
> 
> Let's do ban the word "bigot" and let's stop namecalling 
altogether. 
> We should be able to disagree without attacking each other 
> personally. Katie
>

Perhaps then we could ban the word homosexual? Which I have said 
again and again is offensive.

When my son is called names at school because he's Asian, I hear 
parents say "I'm not a bigot" all the time, while explaining that 
it's overreacting for my son to get upset because their children 
didn't intend to hurt their feelings. Well, intent is nice, but it's 
the effect on MY children that I find important.

Bigotry is real. Oppression is real. Assaults on lesbians and gays 
are real. If you read my posts carefully, I said holding and 
expressing those viewpoints contribute to an atmosphere that allows 
and condones such actions. In most places in the U.S., you can use 
hate speech against lesbians and gays all the want -- in some places 
it is a crime when directed against racial minorities....

As to being "gay" being the new cool thing? Oh SURE most people 
CHOOSE to be discriminated against, denied the right to discuss their 
identity while in the U.S. armed forces, thrown out of the family, 
fired from jobs, and called names. 

If it's the new cool thing -- why is "that's so gay" the latest 
derogatory comment in the schoolyards.

As for JKR pandering to the gay lobby -- this is another right wing 
mantra. There is NO SUCH THING as the HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA...yes, now I 
AM shouting...I know U.S. Republicans who are gay, I know probation 
officers who are very conservative, there's no one agenda. Being a 
lesbian is only one part of my very complex identity.....for example, 
oftentimes I'm more interested in discussing Harry Potter or other 
fantasy than in discussing sexual orientation. We are diverse, we are 
varied, we have different political views based on family background, 
race, age, class, nationality, ethnicity, etc. etc. etc. Trying to 
put us all in one package is discriminatory and bigoted. (By the way, 
Joe, what do you Blacks thing about ..whatever). Joe doesn't 
represent all Black people or all African American people...Joe's 
just one guy...

JKR doesn't have to pander to ANYone at this point. She said clearly, 
she always thought of DD as gay, and she said he was in love with GG.
I would have been happier if she had included a couple of same gender 
adolescent couples, and I am still puzzled as to why she didn't.

However, as I keep saying, the books that delight me don't have to 
match my political views in every circumstance, and frankly, when 
you're a lesbian, you're used to 90% of the stuff you see not 
reflecting your life in one way. It's unfair and unjust, but so it 
goes...

Folks, if you persist in insisting it's just fine (because it's part 
of your religion, or whatever) to say that homosexuality is wrong or 
immoral, I'm going to say that you're voicing bigotry. It's nice to 
say, gosh, let's just agree to disagree, but this is my life, my 
civil rights, my children's lives....it's not an intellectual 
conversation.

After all, the DeathEaters had the right to believe that being a 
mudblood made you inferior, right? And they could say it all they 
liked as long as they didn't DO anything about it, right? That IS the 
argument? And if they believe that, I'm supposed to be tolerant of 
their beliefs?

If someone voices a comment about a racial minority, for example, if 
they said it was wrong for Harry and Cho to kiss, would that be okay?
Is anyone hearing me say that slavery and oppression have Biblical 
supports, and lots of people said they were following their religious 
teachings by keeping slaves?

Susan