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rayne89
Guest
I think it’s ridiculous that Rowling would announce the character as “gay” when it isn’t even in the book. Why do we need to know the sexual orientation of a fictional character when is in no way even related to the story line? I think it’s Rowling’s way of adding to the agenda of making homosexual behavior acceptable in the eyes of young people.
Blech.
Blech.
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punisherthunder
Guest
**There is too much going on in the books for Dumbledore to have time to be gay.
Rowling said this so her books can be a lesson on tolerance. Sometimes we should all be more tolerant and respectful. If we were, there would not be a lot of hostility.
**
Rowling said this so her books can be a lesson on tolerance. Sometimes we should all be more tolerant and respectful. If we were, there would not be a lot of hostility.
**
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
I hadn’t intended to read the series, but I’ll accept her wish to confirm my decision.
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
If people like the books and characters, they will find reasons to support their ‘liking’ against anyone who expresses any sort of dislike of the books and characters. And provided that they express themselves charitably, why should they not?
I don’t particularly care for her writing myself, particularly after the third book, and the more I see and read the ‘later’ works plus J.K.'s own words on this and other subjects, the less I find myself enjoying the earlier works when viewed in the context of this later knowledge. But that is just my own opinion.
I have read some very excellent ‘defenses’ of various points in the plots and characters. While they haven’t succeeded in having me rethink my equally (I hope) well thought out reasons for **my **position, I can understand why a person who came to the conclusions that s/he did supports the books/characters, even if I don’t agree. I would hope that someone who held a different opinion from mine would extend me the same courtesy of understanding that given MY reasons, they understand why I do NOT support the books/characters as a whole, even if THEY do not agree.
I wish we could recover the halycon days where a ‘disagreement’ of opinion did not turn into personal mudslinging, name-calling, and vitriol throwing, but rather ended with mutual respect, an agreement to disagree, and either an ‘end’ to further ‘argument’ in favor of discussing something else, or merely an ‘end’ to an agreeable discussion, with no need to try to beat poor dead horses. . .
I don’t particularly care for her writing myself, particularly after the third book, and the more I see and read the ‘later’ works plus J.K.'s own words on this and other subjects, the less I find myself enjoying the earlier works when viewed in the context of this later knowledge. But that is just my own opinion.
I have read some very excellent ‘defenses’ of various points in the plots and characters. While they haven’t succeeded in having me rethink my equally (I hope) well thought out reasons for **my **position, I can understand why a person who came to the conclusions that s/he did supports the books/characters, even if I don’t agree. I would hope that someone who held a different opinion from mine would extend me the same courtesy of understanding that given MY reasons, they understand why I do NOT support the books/characters as a whole, even if THEY do not agree.
I wish we could recover the halycon days where a ‘disagreement’ of opinion did not turn into personal mudslinging, name-calling, and vitriol throwing, but rather ended with mutual respect, an agreement to disagree, and either an ‘end’ to further ‘argument’ in favor of discussing something else, or merely an ‘end’ to an agreeable discussion, with no need to try to beat poor dead horses. . .
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Dale_M
Guest
Yes, and apparently one of the pictures was accidentally incorporated into a pro-Osama Bin Laden poster used in a Bangladesh rally.
snopes.com/rumors/bert.htm
(Bert is in the lower right hand corner)
I don’t suppose Dumbledore has consorted with terrorists.
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tee_eff_em
Guest
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
I wouldn’t be so sure…
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tee
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FishMonger
Guest
I saw all the movies, and when the final book came out I decided to read the last two books just to see what they were like. It was supposed to be an exploration into a popular culture phenomenon, and as an educated person I figured I should know what so many millions were reading.
Yeah. So I started reading the next to last book about 4pm and didn’t put it down until 2am. I thought they were great, would recommend them to anyone, and would have absolutely no hesitation in giving them to kids.
I disagree they will disappear. I suspect they will stay with us for a long time as parents who read them as children introduce them to their own children.
I would also expect Rowling to continue the series. On the last page of the last book, she opens that door. I hope she does. I’ll be the first to buy the book.
mlchance, have you read the books?
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coffeelover
Guest
I came to the forum earlier today to start a thread about this, but had to get offline instead. 
But I’m glad to see that someone else has already mentioned this.
Is it just me who’s very upset? Christians have been debating for years whether Harry Potter books were appropriate for Christian children, and so many parents said they were harmless.
Here’s another quote from the article: “Rowling, finishing a brief “Open Book Tour” of the United States, her first tour here since 2000, also said that she regarded her Potter books as a “prolonged argument for tolerance” and urged her fans to “question authority.””
So there you go. She basically says it herself! I think she knew all along that her books didn’t promote Christian values, and that is what she wanted to present to our children. Are there STILL any Christian parents who will allow their children to read these books, knowing that the author is trying to sway our kids away from our teachings?
For full disclosure, I openly admit that I used to be a Witch (Wiccan) myself for several years. I’m so sorry now for the lifestyle I used to lead, and try so hard to please God now. But even as a Christian, I used to read (and yes, enjoy) Harry Potter books. At first, I didn’t see much harm in them, because the magic world presented in them was so fantastical and bore little resemblance to what being a Witch was really like. I’ve stopped reading them now though because I realize the danger in making Witchcraft look harmless and fun.
I think this is perfect timing on her part, don’t you? Wait until the series is finally over, and you have all the money you want from Christian parents…and then basically admit that your message to your young readers all along was to question authority, promote “tolerance” or {insert whatever other buzzwords are in fashion for leaving behind the traditions of their Church and parents}!
But I’m glad to see that someone else has already mentioned this.Is it just me who’s very upset? Christians have been debating for years whether Harry Potter books were appropriate for Christian children, and so many parents said they were harmless.
Here’s another quote from the article: “Rowling, finishing a brief “Open Book Tour” of the United States, her first tour here since 2000, also said that she regarded her Potter books as a “prolonged argument for tolerance” and urged her fans to “question authority.””
So there you go. She basically says it herself! I think she knew all along that her books didn’t promote Christian values, and that is what she wanted to present to our children. Are there STILL any Christian parents who will allow their children to read these books, knowing that the author is trying to sway our kids away from our teachings?
For full disclosure, I openly admit that I used to be a Witch (Wiccan) myself for several years. I’m so sorry now for the lifestyle I used to lead, and try so hard to please God now. But even as a Christian, I used to read (and yes, enjoy) Harry Potter books. At first, I didn’t see much harm in them, because the magic world presented in them was so fantastical and bore little resemblance to what being a Witch was really like. I’ve stopped reading them now though because I realize the danger in making Witchcraft look harmless and fun.
I think this is perfect timing on her part, don’t you? Wait until the series is finally over, and you have all the money you want from Christian parents…and then basically admit that your message to your young readers all along was to question authority, promote “tolerance” or {insert whatever other buzzwords are in fashion for leaving behind the traditions of their Church and parents}!
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estesbob
Guest
I hopes she writes either a sequel or a prequel of both.
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Cat
Guest
I think she figured out a great publicity stunt to attract more readers, as if she didn’t already have enough readers! Nothing like a controversy to attract those few people in the world (like me) who haven’t bothered to read HP.
Another explanation: it’s possible that in her character development profile of Dumbledore, Ms. Rowling made him gay, but never put this in any of the stories. I have written down extensive character profiles for most of the characters in my novels, even mentioning trivia like favorite foods, tv shows, childhood memories, etc. This is recommended for writers,and it really does help you to write more convincing dialogue and action. It could be that Ms. Rowling knows this fact about her character, and perhaps forgot that she never included it in any of her seven books. Perhaps it was included in at least one of her manuscripts, but got edited out later, and she forgot. I have re-written several of my novels more than a dozen times, and every once in a while, I come across some remnant from an earlier ms. that doesn’t fit in with the new story. Oops.
Another possibility is that perhaps Ms. Rowling is…um…losing touch with reality? Maybe she’s beginning to think of Potter and Company as more real than all of us real people!
My novels involve a fictional “world,” and often when our family gets together, we discuss characters and events in this “world” as though they are real. To anyone eavedropping, we are talking about real people and events. But we DO know that they’re not real!
One of my greatest compliments was from a coach who asked, “Did your girls skate at the rink in your books?” (The rink is total fiction, a creation of my imagination.)
Another explanation: it’s possible that in her character development profile of Dumbledore, Ms. Rowling made him gay, but never put this in any of the stories. I have written down extensive character profiles for most of the characters in my novels, even mentioning trivia like favorite foods, tv shows, childhood memories, etc. This is recommended for writers,and it really does help you to write more convincing dialogue and action. It could be that Ms. Rowling knows this fact about her character, and perhaps forgot that she never included it in any of her seven books. Perhaps it was included in at least one of her manuscripts, but got edited out later, and she forgot. I have re-written several of my novels more than a dozen times, and every once in a while, I come across some remnant from an earlier ms. that doesn’t fit in with the new story. Oops.
Another possibility is that perhaps Ms. Rowling is…um…losing touch with reality? Maybe she’s beginning to think of Potter and Company as more real than all of us real people!
My novels involve a fictional “world,” and often when our family gets together, we discuss characters and events in this “world” as though they are real. To anyone eavedropping, we are talking about real people and events. But we DO know that they’re not real!
One of my greatest compliments was from a coach who asked, “Did your girls skate at the rink in your books?” (The rink is total fiction, a creation of my imagination.)
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Potato1
Guest
makes ya wonder 2 things.
Why did she make this an issue for kids? what are her other mesages.
why will some people go against decency just to defend a story. why wont people just say they are dissapointed?
Why did she make this an issue for kids? what are her other mesages.
why will some people go against decency just to defend a story. why wont people just say they are dissapointed?
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ABostonCatholic
Guest
Coffeelover, you reflect my sentiments ENTIRELY.
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estesbob
Guest
Disapointed in what?
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Nevarlander
Guest
Agreed. I don’t even like Harry Potter and don’t see what a lot of the fuss on this issue is about. As I’ve had to explain twice today already: there is nothing in the books about it, so kids aren’t going to pick up on Dumbledore’s sexual preferences - it’s just extra canon, like the appendices to LOTR.
And even if the kids did pick up on it, the pairing Rowling put him in seems to me (who has not read book 7) to be a hateship. Normal people aren’t into hateships, really, and when people hear about it they’ll be all “They were in love… and they fought on opposing sides in a war and hated everything the other stood for. Ohhhhhhhhhh-kaaaaaaaaaaaay.”
I thought “Snape loved Lily” was a bad fan fiction plot point; this is even worse.
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estesbob
Guest
If there had been steamy love scenes between Dumbledore and and Mad Moody I would agree it was a problem but there isnt even a hint of a homosexual theme in the book.
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Urf
Guest
If it were a cry for attention do you really think Rowling would have stopped writing them? She knows that if she were to continue the series that she would have no trouble selling books no matter how bad they were in comparison to the rest of the series.
Also, it’s not like she got up in front of a podium and said “Hey everyone guess what DUMBLDORE IS GAY PAY ATTENTION TO MY BOOKS IM NOT DONE YOU”
Someone asked her a question of whether Dumbledore ever found true love, and she explained that Dumbledore’s true love was a man.
Also, it’s not like she got up in front of a podium and said “Hey everyone guess what DUMBLDORE IS GAY PAY ATTENTION TO MY BOOKS IM NOT DONE YOU”
Someone asked her a question of whether Dumbledore ever found true love, and she explained that Dumbledore’s true love was a man.
yyyyeah…
What on earth is a “homosexual theme”?
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dixieagle
Guest
Then you must not have read about her speaking this week on the extensive Christian parallels in the Harry Potter series, which have always been obvious.
the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/10/17/on-matters-of-faith-jkr-talks-christian-themes-in-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows
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Transformer
Guest
It all comes down to (1) what Rowling herself believes about homosexuality, tolerance, and the questioning of authority, (2) what she intends her books to convey about homosexuality, tolerance, and the questioning of authority, and (3) what Harry Potter actually conveys about homosexuality, tolerance, and the questioning of authority.
Rowling is clearly very smart, as her knowledge of literature, symbolism, and philosophy is very impressive. She’s also very Christian; John Granger has proven beyond any doubt the incredible multi-level Christian symbolism that pervades every part of every book in the series.
As suspicious as I am of any “intellectual” author living in England who preaches about issues relating to same-sex attractions, I see no evidence that she is wrong about true tolerance or homosexuality, and I certainly see no evidence that any of her books advocate homosexual sex as moral, or false tolerance as a virtue. Nothing about this announcement has yet tarnished the impressive traditional Christian nature of Harry Potter.
Rowling is clearly very smart, as her knowledge of literature, symbolism, and philosophy is very impressive. She’s also very Christian; John Granger has proven beyond any doubt the incredible multi-level Christian symbolism that pervades every part of every book in the series.
As suspicious as I am of any “intellectual” author living in England who preaches about issues relating to same-sex attractions, I see no evidence that she is wrong about true tolerance or homosexuality, and I certainly see no evidence that any of her books advocate homosexual sex as moral, or false tolerance as a virtue. Nothing about this announcement has yet tarnished the impressive traditional Christian nature of Harry Potter.
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