HARRY POTTER
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The Press, Christchurch, Sat 24 Nov 2001

    In a few words:

	Ten schools are interested in backing the Harry Potter film, by
	encouraging attendance (November 6). But this film is about
	witchcraft and occult practices, sorcery, magic, and spells.
	What are the long-term effects on our children? This is not
	harmless fun. This is serious. Have we lost the art of
	discerning between good and evil?
						Margaret Boyne


The Press, Christchurch, Tue 27 Nov 2001

    Letters to the editor:

	Harry Potter
	
	Sir--A thousand thank-yous to Margaret Boyne (November 24) for
	alerting me to the dangers of indulging my children's
	imagination in the fantasy that is Harry Potter.
	
	It is only through her measured and balanced view of this latest
	phenomenon sweeping the world that I have recognised the fine
	line between education and the occult.
	
	Accordingly, I have withdrawn those age-old favourites, Snow
	White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel,
	and Cinderella from my children's book-cases because all these
	stories have magical spells, evil fairies, and wicked witches in
	them, and I am only just beginning in my crusade.
	
	I look forward to the rest of Christchurch's young parents and
	pre-school teachers joining me in the book-burning ceremony that
	I am planning to hold on Boxing Day, to purge ourselves of the
	blight that is infecting our society.
						Peter Curnow
						November 24, 2001


The Press, Christchurch, Thu 29 Nov 2001

    Letters to the editor:

	Harry Potter
	
	Sir--In reference to the satirical (at least I hope it is
	satirical) letter from P. Curnow (November 27), I find it ironic
	that fundamentalists condemn Harry Potter for being "occult" and
	unsuitable for children yet regard the Bible as viable (indeed,
	mandatory) reading for the young.
	
	They seem blind to the fact that the sacred text dwells in lurid
	detail on such wholesome topics as incest, child abuse, child
	murder, demons, witches, nakedness, drunkenness, sexual
	uncleanliness, and where one has to put one's ejaculate.
	
	One can hardly turn a page in the Old Testament without finding
	the central characters being murdered or mutilated.
	
	Rather than deny kids a read of Harry Potter, perhaps we should
	be limiting their exposure to this schizophrenic fundamentalist
	hypocrisy. I doubt, after all, that Harry would hijack a
	broomstick and crash it into the nearest public building.

						Darren A. Saunders
						November 27, 2001


The Press, Christchurch, Fri 14 Dec 2001

    Letters to the editor:

	Harry Potter

	Sir--J.K. Rowling has achieved a wonderful thing: getting boys
	to read.
	
	Reading is highly important for literacy levels and is an
	immensely satisfaying experience whose greatness cannot be
	overstated. The books are written elegantly with delightful
	charm and sophistication, they have exciting plots, tightly
	wrought emotions and are free from American colloquialisms
	which blight other works. They also promote good against evil.

	As for the accusations of Harry Potter promoting an occult world
	of wickedness and sorcery, and being a dangerous obsession, one
	must not lose sight that it is a childrens' book. More dangerous
	is the dogmatic adherence to the Bible, another fiction book,
	but far less entertaining.
	
	Such criticisms of J.K. Rowling's works constitute an affront
	to the great Albus Dumbledore himself.

						William Fussey
						Oxford, December 11