Why does the Right Wing hate Harry Potter so much?

[ck4829]

Color me crazy, but I don't think the RW'ers hate Harry Potter because it "encourages them to participate in witchcraft" or something like that, but I think they hate Harry because so many kids love reading because of the books.

One of the best weapons against authoritarianism is not the sword, but an education IMHO.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Yes, and it teaches

that good eventually triumphs over evil. They don't want the kiddies to know that, either.

[hughee99]

2. My parents and brother are repukes (though not fundies)

and love Harry Potter. Maybe it's just the fundies who hate Harry?

[CrazyOrangeCat]

3. They hate the imagination more than anything, I suspect.

That, plus they don't want anyone to have fun.

Then there's the education angle, as you say . . .

Heck, guess there's always a reason to hate, for them.

[lolly]

4. Hits too close to home?

An evil, vengeful sociopath who wants to exercise complete control over everyone and wipe out all opponents . . . now, let me think. What does that remind me of? Wait, wait, I'll get it. Just give me a minute . . .

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. All magic is satanic, even if it is used for good.

If it doesn't come from Jesus, it's crap.

[maxsolomon]

6. Gargoyles! Slykicks!

you had to be there....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0MHK8ntKqk

poor kids, poor husband.

[Bigmack]

21. Mentally ill. Why is nobody...

getting some help for that poor person? Why do people continue to let her suffer like that?

[jgraz]

7. They hate it because it competes with their sick, authoritarian superstitions

Write a book called Harry Potter and the Republican Jesus and they'd be all over it.

[brettdale]

8. I know a religious lady

Who goes to Harry Potter book burnings with her church group.

I told her those books are harmless.

She said "kids would put spells on their parents"

I replied "but they wouldn't work"

She said

"You poor misguided fool"

I guess there is no point in having a discussion with people like that.

[we can do it]

13. oh boy

:eyes:

[Bigmack]

22. Does she vote? nt

nt

[brettdale]

27. here in NewZealand she does

She voted for the "christain party of New Zealand" in 2002, because of their leader who she said was a wonderful man. In 2005 he was jailed for raping a five year girl and a seven year old girl. I guess he wasn't so wonderful after all.

[Bigmack]

35. Hey... everybody has minor flaws! nt

nt

[and-justice-for-all]

30. So, why dont they burn other fantasy books?

Salvatore (and lots of other fantasy writers) creates all kinds of stuff that revolves around magic and spells, books like Wiccan magic for teenagers or even all the other "pagan" books out there? But, I dont think the Harry Potter author cares, because those people had to pay to burn those books which helps put it on the best sellers list and fund the next book for the Harry Potter canon! fools.

Did they use magic in Disney's "Return to Witch mountain."? I did not hear of any burnings of that film.

There is no difference between one fantasy or another, its all imaginative just like all the stories in all the holy books..pure fantasy. Should they be more concerned with Sci-Fi, something that tends to write about a future without religion?? Progress is what I thought Jeebus Freaks feared the most...Burning Harry Potter books seems to be a waste of time and resources, thats what religion does best, waste time and resources.

[immoderate]

37. They do.

Harry gets the publicity. No shortage of wackos.

--IMM

[LostInAnomie]

9. The thought of any teenage boy or girl that they...

... can't send dirty email to infuriates them. :grr:

[liberal N proud]

10. As the church lady would say...

Maybe it's ....... Satin?

[lolly]

11. Serious fantasy/reality problems

Fundies are very weak in separating fantasy from reality.

If creative literature can be enjoyed and accepted in a separate box most people recognize as "pretend," then what keeps their religious myths out of the same box?

[pdrichards114]

12. I think they hate the Harry Potter series because....

it tells a story with some of the best thematic qualities of humanity; hope, joy, love and friendship, of which they have none personally.

These stupid, stupid people only like to tear down, never build up. The best literature according to these idiots in years is that "Rapture" series. "Coincidentally" targeted for these buffoons. Anything that doesn't fall under their agenda umbrella is "the work of the devil."

[and-justice-for-all]

33. Yes, you can be a good person and a pagan too....nt

[SmokingJacket]

14. Yes, indeed.

And they hate that Rowling got rich by writing books, not by exploiting the shit out of people.

[murielm99]

15. They hate Harry Potter

because they are told to hate him.

Most of them never read anything. They have not read the books. Most of them would never have heard of Harry Potter if the millionaire television preacher/hucksters and their own so-called religious leaders had not told them about Harry Potter.

[xultar]

16. If kids like reading then they'll start learning shit and question the GOP.

[aquart]

17. The books chart the re-emergence of a racist rightwing group.

Which controls by fear.

The racist rightwing group has death squads. It practices false imprisonment and torture. Harry stands up and fights against it. For all we know, in the seventh book he may well die fighting it.

In the meantime, he studies his ass off learning ways to thwart them.

Now why would rightwingers hate Harry?

[SanCristobal]

18. I knew a woman who seriously believes...

...that Harry Potter has subliminal black magic spells to turn kids towards Satanism. It's pretty hysterical, until you realize she votes.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

24. She is an idiot

If she had taken Latin in school, like I did, she'd know that those word spells are accurate in Latin. But of course, harmless fantasy. Does she hate The Wizard of Oz too? Does she think that Judy Garland was possessed by Demons? Or maybe the Cowardly Lion, Bert Lahr?
Does she believe that flying monkeys carry people off?

[and-justice-for-all]

32. I dont see a difference between...

..Harry Potter and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe...

They all used spells and magic, had creatures that could talk and they used enchanted weapons...

People are so stupid...

[Bronyraurus]

19. No, it's just the religious ones

The religious ones don't want any competition for their beliefs. Of course, to imagine that Harry Potter's brand of wizardry is any competition is the definition of stupidity in itself.

[flashlighter]

20. Because they haven't seen this yet?

[AnnieBW]

23. I always tell them

That if "Harry Potter" is real, then I want a goddamn house elf! Preferably Legolas, not one of those scuzzy things with long ears. :evilgrin: I'm still wondering if I missed the part about Apparations in my Wiccan training. :D

[Kerrytravelers]

25. My disgusting fucking-whore-bitch sister-in-law funder fruitcake hates Harry.

But loves Disney.

When I asked her if she reads her kids Disney stories with witches, she said "of course."

When I asked her to explain the difference between the bad witches in the Disney stories and the goodness of Harry Potter, she had no answer.

When I asked her if she'd actually read any of the harry Potter books, she replied "of course not, I'm a Christian."

I just laughed and said "If you say so."


This woman was married to my husband's late brother. We both hate her. Thankfully, we never have to see her. She lives in Texas, we're in California.

[and-justice-for-all]

31. tell her Jesus worked Magic, not miracles...nt

[barb162]

36. she sounds like she's incredibly self- unaware

[Kerrytravelers]

40. She is very controlling.

It's very sad to watch her with the kids. Not abusive, but very very cold and controlling. It breaks our hearts.

[barb162]

41. Oh, that is sad.

She is also STUPID

[Jennicut]

26. Because they hate Paganism and Wiccans

and really any other religion that is not ultra conservative Christianity. They also hate a story that takes an outscast (Harry) and has him triumph not just over evil (Voldemort) but the common idiots that outcasted him in the first place (his extended family). I love Harry Potter because I love all fantasy books/movies that are smart and really use imagination. My 2 1/2 year old daughter likes Harry Potter too but I won't really let her watch much of it (too scary in parts). She loves to pretend to do magic and likes watching Mickey Mouse do magic as well. Does that mean she will end up worshipping Satan? That is so ridiculous! My husband is an organist at a Lutheran church and we are a religious family but I want to teach her that Jesus was a loving and giving man. Some of these fundies's views of Jesus is so out of wack with who the man really was. They abuse his name for their own selfish reasons and scapegoat others to make themselves look better. Unfortunately, its been going on for thousands of years. This is nothing new. Accept by 2006 you would think people would know better.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

28. I am an ACLU card carrying dirty dog liberal Christian who loves Harry Potter.

I also vacation in Paris, on occasion enjoy watching psychic John Edward, love Patsy Cline music, and have been known to eat McDonald's french fries. And from time to time, I will even intentionally watch Imus in the Morning.

I guess I'm a mess. But I live in the Keys, so we're allowed to be a little strange. :)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

29. To the wacko fundie Dementor Harry-haters I say:

EXPECTO PATRONUM!

[barb162]

34. I think it's not the right wing but some uneducated religious types.

I live in a right wing area and when the new Potter books come out the kids and parents are lined up for blocks around the book stores at midnight.

[Cheap_Trick]

38. because they're dull, unimaginative fucktards

[AZBlue]

39. Reminds children that religion wasn't always a male-dominated corporation.

That would be horrible!