Tolerance and contacting one's inner Umbridge (Was Re: Sex Pref SHIP)

[goodnight_moon5]

No: HPFGUIDX 77987

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Lynda Pringle <bookhound1 at y...> 
wrote:
>  I hate
> the fact that the people who write the fanfic (mostly
> women) feel compelled to couple up the HP characters,
> as if the meaning of life can only be found through a
> romantic relationship.  


Lynda,  I think you've made an excellent point.  And, tho I am part 
of a "couple", the idea that everyone MUST be mated is not only 
overly romantic abd unrealistic, but a little insulting!  In US 
culture, finding a partner seems to be the major focus of society.  
To me, that sells people short.  Isn't it possible to live a 
beautiful, healthy, productive life and *not* have a romantic 
relationship?  I think marriage is wonderful, but *everyone* pairing 
up happily-ever-after is VERY unrealistic.  If JKR intends the 
relationships in the books to be realistic, we won't see romantic 
pairings for everyone, IMHO, and *forcing* characters into 
a "couple", just for the sake of romance, seems to deny them an 
individuality.

Lauri