Fantasy and Reality
When I first read the 5th Harry Potter book (Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix) I noticed a similarity between the reaction of Ministry of Magic and the Magical Media's reaction to Harry Potter's claim that Voldemort had returned and much of our elite media's reaction to the war on terror. I do not know what R K Rawlings' politics are and this could be a coincidence that runs completely contrary to what she believes. From this American Thinkier article it becomes clear that others made the same observation.
(Spoiler Alert) In the 4th book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter saw Voldemort return to full life and returned to report it to the authorities but the authorities found the idea of Voldemort returning to power was so terrifying that the magical government and media refused to even acknowledge the possibility. They did everything they could to undermine Harry and prove he was a liar and troublemaker while Voldemort, unacknowledged, gathered strength, much as the left wants to make it out the GWB and America are the true terrorists while the Islamic Jihadic groups plan to kill and destroy on their way to establishing a worldwide Umma or perhaps Caliphate (and just by mere coincidence - kill their apologists on the left). When Voldemort did strike at the Ministry of Magic, it was the so-called "troublemakers" who were ready and responded to his movement and afterwards those who refused to acknowledge the return of Voldemort lost their political power to those who were prepared to fight him. I could go point by point in the book but am not inclined to do so; I just could not believe how much the Daily Prophet describing Harry Potter sounded like the MSM describing those who were willing to fight the terrorists.
Here is a direct quote from the article.
I don’t pretend to know what J.K. Rowling was thinking when she wrote Order of the Phoenix, but I can’t help but see in this post-9/11 book a perfect analogy to the situation the West faces today, in the real world, in its War against Islamofascism. Some of us, like Harry, know that we have seen evil, acknowledge its existence, and are prepared to fight it. But just as Harry must deal with a government Ministry bound and determined to explain away or ignore the evil in its midst, we too face an anti-War movement that endlessly ignores, explains away, and excuses the most vile acts of terror and human degradation. I have to believe, however, that there are at least some young people who experienced the Twin Towers falling as the formative event of their youth, and who will find guidance and inspiration in Harry’s struggle to wage overcome both evil itself and a cultural indifference to that same evil.
The author, who writes under a nickname for some reason, also points out that many blockbusters of the last few years have pointed to the same lessons. She points to the Lord of the Rings and I can think specifically of Wormtongue's (such a suitable name) work to keep the people of Rohan from facing the danger of Saruman's plans to conquer them and again I see a similarity to the MSM and as Aragorn shouted toward the end, in spite of the actor's claim to the contrary, it is time for the Men of the West to arise and many have.
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Star Wars series, and even the Dragonlance Chronicles (which unfortunately will probably never be made into movies) shows that evil must be confronted and fought against, sometimes violently, instead of excused and explained. I noticed in the 6th Harry Potter Book (The Half-Blood Prince) that Voldemort's evil is explained but it is not excused. What Voldemort's father did do him was despicable but Voldemort's reaction to it is a million times worse. Tom Riddle had a choice later and chose to become the evil Voldemort and most who follow evil have chosen to do so. They must be fought against.
(Spoiler Alert) In the 4th book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter saw Voldemort return to full life and returned to report it to the authorities but the authorities found the idea of Voldemort returning to power was so terrifying that the magical government and media refused to even acknowledge the possibility. They did everything they could to undermine Harry and prove he was a liar and troublemaker while Voldemort, unacknowledged, gathered strength, much as the left wants to make it out the GWB and America are the true terrorists while the Islamic Jihadic groups plan to kill and destroy on their way to establishing a worldwide Umma or perhaps Caliphate (and just by mere coincidence - kill their apologists on the left). When Voldemort did strike at the Ministry of Magic, it was the so-called "troublemakers" who were ready and responded to his movement and afterwards those who refused to acknowledge the return of Voldemort lost their political power to those who were prepared to fight him. I could go point by point in the book but am not inclined to do so; I just could not believe how much the Daily Prophet describing Harry Potter sounded like the MSM describing those who were willing to fight the terrorists.
Here is a direct quote from the article.
I don’t pretend to know what J.K. Rowling was thinking when she wrote Order of the Phoenix, but I can’t help but see in this post-9/11 book a perfect analogy to the situation the West faces today, in the real world, in its War against Islamofascism. Some of us, like Harry, know that we have seen evil, acknowledge its existence, and are prepared to fight it. But just as Harry must deal with a government Ministry bound and determined to explain away or ignore the evil in its midst, we too face an anti-War movement that endlessly ignores, explains away, and excuses the most vile acts of terror and human degradation. I have to believe, however, that there are at least some young people who experienced the Twin Towers falling as the formative event of their youth, and who will find guidance and inspiration in Harry’s struggle to wage overcome both evil itself and a cultural indifference to that same evil.
The author, who writes under a nickname for some reason, also points out that many blockbusters of the last few years have pointed to the same lessons. She points to the Lord of the Rings and I can think specifically of Wormtongue's (such a suitable name) work to keep the people of Rohan from facing the danger of Saruman's plans to conquer them and again I see a similarity to the MSM and as Aragorn shouted toward the end, in spite of the actor's claim to the contrary, it is time for the Men of the West to arise and many have.
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Star Wars series, and even the Dragonlance Chronicles (which unfortunately will probably never be made into movies) shows that evil must be confronted and fought against, sometimes violently, instead of excused and explained. I noticed in the 6th Harry Potter Book (The Half-Blood Prince) that Voldemort's evil is explained but it is not excused. What Voldemort's father did do him was despicable but Voldemort's reaction to it is a million times worse. Tom Riddle had a choice later and chose to become the evil Voldemort and most who follow evil have chosen to do so. They must be fought against.
posted by shoprat at 5:55 PM
3 Comments:
Sounds like a lot of parallels ... one day i'll actually have to read it ... actually that would be some day ... time just doesn't exist lately... :-(
Sad that we must now use fantasy book comparisions to justify our involvement in a war that 2/3 of the country is against.
I know, we are all just blind and can't see the truth.
The only truth I see is more kids dying and the situation slipping through W's fingers faster than water.
31% popularity. Only 2% less and W will be tied w/Nixon, another fine Republican...
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's job approval rating has hit a new low, with 29 percent of the U.S. public saying he is doing an "excellent or pretty good job," down from 35 percent in April, according to a Harris Interactive poll in The Wall Street Journal Online.
Looks like he lost another 2%...
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