Something I'd like to see in the Books (hem hem)

[junediamanti]

No: HPFGUIDX 83078

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "samnanya" <yswahl at s...> wrote:
> > samnanya
> ===============
> Hem hem! Hem hem!
> I mean {snicker} Hear hear! Hear hear!
> What a GREAT read the HP series would be if she did that!
> I can't think of a single child that wouldn't relish the
> opportunity to learn all about wizard rules and regulations
> at great length and full formality. Damn .... JKR should
> make sure that Harry is put on Ritalin and take a course
> on anger management for his own good!
> 
> Have JKR toss in a rule book for wand spells and the ethics
> of using them! Turn HP into Moby Dick with a 150 description
> of the whales and whaling and put everyone under the age of
> 12 into a total coma (but dont use an improperly applied or
> unapproved stunning spell). 

Actually, I don't believe literature has to be easy for me to read 
it.  I like the HP books but do not believe they are the last word 
in literature.

Have those in power plaster
> the walls with idiotic self serving but politically correct 
> pronouncements! (Oops, Umbridge has already done that.)

And that was not what I was saying either.
> 
> Wand happy? Just reread the chapter on Umbridge's first
> DADA class to see what that would turn into.... and with 
> Harry on Ritalin, few would dare to fight back. Read
> Hermione's righteous blibbering  about the mistreatment
> of elves (wonder what she will say when Kreacher is stuffed
> and mounted on the wall at 12 Grimmaud Place after Harry
> toasts the little sucker for betraying Sirius) if you want
> to feel righteous indignation. Of course the elves
> ignore her.

Actually, I feel Hermione is still right to take issue at the 
treatment of house elves.  Dumbledore agreed with me!  Just what is 
your problem with someone having a social conscience anyway?  Not 
everyone buys into political laisser faire...
> 
> The ethical training in the books is carefully woven into
> the story, warts and all...... 

No - it isn't.  

Let JKR continue to do the
> job that she has done so well so far, keeping us awake and
> entertained while doing so.

Fine by me - I've never indicated otherwise.  None of that precludes 
some of us thinking about the possibilities posed by these books.  
That's why we're here.
> 
> Samnanya
> Who is going out and scribbling graffiti on politically
> correct posters (both paper and people) .....

Thanks - that's a nice attitude.  I wasn't being politically correct 
and never have been.  I pointed out what I consider to be an 
interesting ethical point - you don't have to agree but I find the 
remark you make above about graffiti-ing rather annoying and 
combative.
> 
> And, for the record, is still pissed that his daughter must
> use a useless and dysfunctionally blunt compass to draw
> curves in her Geometry class because some troglodyte
> teacher at her school is afraid that someone might get
> their eye put out if God {oops, cant mention her} forbid
> students are taught to use a compass that actually works.
> 
> Hem hem! Hem hem!

Well - do you expect me to care?  After all, you've already debunked 
the concept of caring about others.

Perhaps they have to do this because many parents these days tend 
towards litigation if their little darlings get hurt in anyway while 
in school.  Are you prepared to sign a waiver to that effect?

I wasn't attempting political correctness and I'm sorry you see it 
that way.  I also stated clearly in my post that I did NOT want to 
see a major digression in any book while the author set some moral 
agenda.  I don't even feel it needs to be done, but I would be 
interested to see the subject covered "en passant".

However, I feel it is a valid point to post what I feel is a gap in 
the books.  Probably other members of this group have other feelings 
about things they think could be mentioned and while I might not 
always agree with them I am certainly not going to start making 
loaded accusations of PC at them.

I think there is a considerable difference between the Umbridge 
attitude and a very real concern that people in the wizarding world 
DO have considerable power - which can be used for the general bad, 
or good.  More particularly, I questioned a more subtle issue of 
cause and effect - namely - did anyone in the WW consider the effect 
of spells, was it taught and if so how?  

Questions which are not deserving of such derision.

June