FIRESTORM 2007 DIARY OF A DISASTER
POSTED BY BEVERLEE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2007
Having experienced the southern California firestorm of 2007 at close hand, I have written an account of how it affected our family. You may read about it here. You may also read an article I wrote for the San Diego Union back in September 1984 about our evacuation during that brush fire to learn how the two experiences differed.
WHAT IS J.K.ROWLING TRYING TO PROVE?
POSTED BY BEVERLEE Sunday, October 21, 2007
I wish to state categorically that I am unreservedly disenchanted with J.K. Rowling! Why has she announced after the fact, that Professor Dumbledore, a main character in her Harry Potter series, is gay? If she thought this information was pertinent to the plot, why did she not incorporate it into the books as she was writing them? At this late date it is utterly gratuitous information. Unless we examine her motive, which is obviously to boost sales! What else can possibly have prompted her to make this bizarre announcement?
As we shall see, however, this bombshell is nothing new; it is entirely indicative of Rowling’s modus operandi. She did essentially the same thing before the final book was published, titillating readers with the fear that she may kill off Harry Potter. Absurd! Anyone with a modicum of intelligence knew perfectly well she wasn’t going to do that; that it was merely a sales ploy.
One would think that having gained over a billion dollars thus far for her writing efforts she would be satisfied to let the Harry Potter story rest on its own merits. But that is not her nature. Being a Leo, she cannot lightly relinquish the limelight.
The larger reason that I am disappointed—all right, out-and-out angry with Rowling—is that she has obviously not considered the repercussions of her brash but unnecessary revelation. Did she consider her vast readership of children who have been drawn into the Harry Potter magic, who will be asking their parents to explain what it means that Professor Dumbledore is “gay”? Absolutely not!
Before I go any further in my rebuke of J.K. Rowling, I must state unequivocally that my premise here has nothing whatsoever to do with my own feelings about the pros and cons of homosexuality. My only concern is that it should be the prerogative of parents to explain this alternative sexual preference to their children in their own time and in their own way--without having the necessity unexpectedly thrust upon them by the author of children's books!
My real disquiet about her announcement, however, is that Rowling has obviously given no thought whatsoever to how her need to be iconoclastic--or outrageous, in her statements, to incessantly draw the attention to herself that she cannot seem to function without, affects her young readers. This is extremely self-serving on her part.
An even more significant cause for my disquiet about her gratuitious statement is that Professor Dumbledore, in the Harry Potter series, is the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Magic. Does Rowling sincerely believe that it is appropriate to put forth a secondary protagonist who is gay, and who is in close association daily with young boys--most notably Harry Potter, the protagonist in the series? If she does think this is appropriate, in light of the shocking information which has been coming to us over the past few years about Catholic priests’ abuse of their young charges, then I must consider Rowling’s actions not only self-serving, but sick.
To be completely frank, while reading the Harry Potter books, at times I entertained the uncomfortable misgiving that Rowling is by nature sadistic. As a matter of fact, after reading Book V, I did not intend to read any more of the series and had not bought Book VI. Had I not started reading the books to my grandson, at his request, I undoubtedly would not have finished reading the series.
In the final analysis , I must admit that I am exceedingly sorry that J. K. Rowling has not been able to restrain her self-indulgent nature.
OCTOBER SPECIALS
POSTED BY BEVERLEE Sunday, September 30th, 2007
Were you born in the month of October? If so you will be happy to know that I've reduced my prices on several reports as a special birthday gift for you! Check it out here.
