The Validity of Various Topics (was:Re: Sportsmanship in Harry Potter)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 151839

> >>Geoff:
> <snip>
> A little while ago, I commented on another thread that I was      
> getting a trifle annoyed with the polarised stands being adopted   
> by some members of the group. On the one hand, we seem to have a  
> few contributors who are out to "get" Harry for everything and    
> refuse to see anything admirable or constructive in his behaviour 
> and on the other, those who cannot see him ever stepping out of    
> line. I sometime wonder why the first group don't go off and start 
> the IHHPFGU group (I hate Harry potter for Grown-ups). I think the 
> working majority of us hopefully lie between the two.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Since I have a sneaking suspicion you'd put me in that former 
catagory, I'd like to defend my membership on this list.  I *do* 
actually like Harry.  It is possible (believe it or not <g>) to like 
the boy and still have problems with how he sees things or even with 
how he's treated.

I think it's possible to like the books and see various ethical and 
philosophical issues raised within the books that, yes, can lead to 
some rather polarized positions.  In fact, I tend to like books that 
raise such issues.

I personally think JKR is playing a bit of a sly game with Slytherin 
and that they will be shown to not be the source of all that's wrong 
in the WW.  In fact, I'd go further and say that the scapegoating of 
Slytherin is a key to what is actually wrong in the WW.  So, in 
putting forth such arguments I feel that I'm actually backing the 
author.  Others, of course, disagree.  And that's perfectly fine, 
IMO.

I do see some ways that JKR's philosophy is not my own.  I'm rather 
afraid that she approves of the twins, for example.  But I don't 
think that means that I can't share my views on the matter.  That's 
what good books do.  They get you thinking.  And adults should be 
able to share their various and even conflicting thoughts with each 
other.  Without suggestions being made that they leave the club-
house.  

Betsy Hp 

P.S. I'm not sure this was your point at all Geoff, so please don't 
take this as a personal attack.  But this view has been raised 
before, so I thought I'd take the time to respond to it.  Seriously, 
I don't hate the books, and I don't hate Harry Potter.