tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9421634.post114802063422728415..comments2023-08-21T06:14:28.151-07:00Comments on burndive: hacking my mind: Harry Potterburndivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05133129688998029494noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9421634.post-1148327309530052272006-05-22T12:48:00.000-07:002006-05-22T12:48:00.000-07:00Yeah. Totally. Exactly.Yeah. Totally. Exactly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9421634.post-1148092447937378362006-05-19T19:34:00.000-07:002006-05-19T19:34:00.000-07:00This really was a winner of a topic! I have 26 co...This really was a winner of a topic! I have 26 comments on the original post now. That's almost a record for me! It does show that people have opinions, however, and that we can discuss things reasonably. Your continuation of the conversation over here is really good stuff.Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05653642755796812958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9421634.post-1148080820918257272006-05-19T16:20:00.000-07:002006-05-19T16:20:00.000-07:00That scene is an excellent example of what I'm tal...That scene is an excellent example of what I'm talking about. Dumbledore wants to help Harry, and he knows he's hiding something, but in stead of confronting him on it, he gives Harry the space he needs to decide that Dumbledore is trustworthy enough to be told. It is an act of utmost respect on Dumbledore's part. He has every right to demand that Harry tell him, but he refrains because he values Harry as a person, and as a friend: he meekly condescends to him without violating the reality of their respective positions.<BR/><BR/>Harry is not being portrayed as smarter than Dumbledore: this has nothing to do with intelligence. In fact, it would have been very wise and much grief could have been avoided had Harry shared his secret with Dumbledore (and later Harry feels the weight of this). Dumbledore is being portrayed as loving, respectful to Harry: the perfect person to trust, but because Dumbledore is an authority figure for Harry, he cannot bring himself to trust him.<BR/><BR/>The moral lesson here is not that kids know better than adults, but that too many times kids don't think an adult will understand, or will judge them, or will interfere, or get them in trouble, when in fact the adult is reaching out, prepared to love, support, and offer council. Dumbledore really does know best, but he is not going to force his will upon Harry.<BR/><BR/>As an extension of this thought, how many times do we behave to God exactly how Harry behaves to Dumbledore. It must have hurt him, after all that he had invested into his relationship with Harry, to be spurned this way, but he accepts Harry where he is at, and keeps on loving him. Then when he finally does tell him, there is no thought of "you should have told me earlier: look at all the mess you caused by not doing that." Nothing at all. Just love.burndivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05133129688998029494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9421634.post-1148074163110047902006-05-19T14:29:00.000-07:002006-05-19T14:29:00.000-07:00Yes, you're right, it usually is that way, but I'm...Yes, you're right, it usually is that way, but I'm thinking for example . . . what movie . . . (I think the movies are as relevant to this discussion as the books) . . . the one with the phoenix . . . and Harry his hiding something. I can't recall precisely what. But anyway, Dumbledore asks him to his office and basically asks him if there's something that he wants to tell him or something like that. Harry Potter is keeping a secret that he should tell Dumbledore but he doesn't. In lots of these sorts of things, there are no consequences. They get a pat on the head and say "well, it all turned out okay."<BR/><BR/>Repeatedly, the kids are portrayed as smarter than the adults, that they know better than the adults what to do. I think this sort of thing can undermine parents' authority.<BR/><BR/>I still want to read the books though! I already undermine my parents' authority. Mwahahhaha!Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17292095935238351675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9421634.post-1148067160962982772006-05-19T12:32:00.000-07:002006-05-19T12:32:00.000-07:00I agree that Harry & friends tend to be a bit cava...I agree that Harry & friends tend to be a bit cavalier with the rules, and tend to get away with it quite a bit. There is sort of a "father knows best" thing going on, because he always ends up opening a can of worms, but you're right, it's always okay, (wink wink) in then end.<BR/><BR/>In general, though, and more so in the books as he gets older, I believe he is slowly learning the reasons behind the rules. To respect them, but also to understand that they are not there for their own sake. For children, there are just rules and rule-breaking is bad (and this is as it should be), but part of maturing is understanding why those rules are there in the first place, and making tough moral decisions based on those principles, not just the rules.<BR/><BR/>There is only one perfect book.burndivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05133129688998029494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9421634.post-1148065248772640882006-05-19T12:00:00.000-07:002006-05-19T12:00:00.000-07:00I haven't actually read any of the Harry Potter bo...I haven't actually read any of the <I>Harry Potter</I> books, but it's not because I object to them, it's because I haven't had time. I've got so many other books I want to read too! I do completely enjoy the movies (but I still haven't seen the fourth one, oh my!).<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I do agree completely with you. One of the big differences between Harry Potter world and our world is that in Harry Potter world, people are born with magic abilities. It is something that is natural to them and it's, well, it's pretty much a genetic thing. That's the way things are in the world they live in. They're not trying to grasp some outside (Satanic) force and use it at all. They're doing what was built into them. <BR/><BR/>My only objection to Harry Potter is that I've noticed that he tends to disobey/disrespect adults. It is not a very good example for young children. It can teach that it's okay to do bad things and break the rules, as long as the the end result is good. Within the Christian worldview, that's not really the way things work. The ends do not justify the means. This isn't real an issue for older readers, we can understand these things a bit better than a 10-year-old can.<BR/><BR/>Generally speaking, Harry Potter does teach very good and very postive lessons.Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17292095935238351675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9421634.post-1148045603836489682006-05-19T06:33:00.000-07:002006-05-19T06:33:00.000-07:00It was a great comment, Tim, and well worthy of po...It was a great comment, Tim, and well worthy of posting on your own blog. Thanks for the free publicity, by the way. :) I am tempted to republish my comment re your comment here, but I won't. You'll just have to visit my blog again. ;)Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05653642755796812958noreply@blogger.com