One reporter reacts to JKR's revelations

[susanmcgee48176]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "delwynmarch" 
<delwynmarch at ...> wrote:
>
> 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?
> 

Of course not. But if someone presented me with evidence, with 
examples, with reasoned discourse, as has happened so many times in 
my life, I'd say "hmmmm..well, maybe I should rethink 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?
> 
Really. So you think that people who think Asians are inferior can go 
through their life never communicating that to an Asian or Asian 
American or English person with Asian ancestry....?






> > 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.
> 


How am I trying to control your thoughts?



> > 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.

Well, I think you confuse beliefs, which I contend can be changed 
through reflection, analysis, and experience, with the fact of being 
a lesbian or gay male...which for many people is not subject to 
change..



> 
> > 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.
> 

But I never said you were a mindless or heartless robot. You're 
putting words in my mouth. You are the one who is attacking me.
Now you say I'm in favor of a black and white (a racist phrase, by 
the way)..and a morally totalitarian worldview? Huh? Where do you get 
that?



> > 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
>

Del, please indicate specifically through citing one of my posts 
where I have tried to be a "thought police officer."

You think *I* am the one who is attacking people, yet take a look at 
this post...?

Susan