JK Rowling denied top US honour

[PxDn Ninja]

I have to agree with the people here saying Rowling doesn't really deserve the award. I'm all for books that get children reading, but that in and of itself isn't enough to grant the PMF award.

Of course, I also hate the Harry Potter series, but putting that dislike aside, it is just a series of books. Unless they truly do things to change the world, no award from the government is really warranted. Perhaps she could win some authors guild (if such a thing exists) aware.

However as she apparently came up for consideration with this reward, the reason she was not given it is ridiculous.

 

[Disaster Button]

Honestly at least she can write, I don't see Stephanie Meyer being slated for incouraging vampires stupidity.

Not that she'd ever be up for an award anyway
She's awful.
oh snap

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

She's a Witch!

She turned me into a newt!

 

[Lyndraco]

I'm not going to comment on whether she deserved the award or not, since that's my opinion, but I was under the impression that it was not illegal to practice whatever practices/religious beliefs you want in America (barring those that incite you to rape, pillage, and/or murder). Would there be as much of an uproar if she were 'promoting' some other practice?

As to the Salem witches, I read an awesome article that clearly showed that it was all political--there were no actual witches (according to this article), the girls were playing on the contempt at the time to get to the people they didn't like. Someone actually mapped out all the people who made the accusations and the accused using GIS and found definite social/political correlations. Just a fun little fact

 

[PirateKing]

I just saw an interview with Latimer on the Colbert Report. He said that some of the most used words in Bush's speeches were "freedom," "democracy," and "bold." Everything was a "bold" decision to Bush. Maybe he didn't think giving an award to someone who deserved it was bold enough.
I kinda thought we were past the "Harry Potter turns people into wizards" argument about eight years ago. To learn that a fantasy author was denied an award because her books have magic and sorcery in them is ridiculous. Come on. I thought Bush would like Harry Potter. He could laugh at all the funny names and we'd get some great Bushisms from hearing him try to pronounce them.

 

[thiosk]

Shes not a witch?

WELL LETS BURN HER ANYWAY!

 

[RollForInitiative]

No offense to Rowling, but I find the note about Senator Edward Kennedy to be a significantly more mind blowing example of discrimination.

 

[Woodsey]

Witchcraft - riiight.

I'd go for witchcraft over the homophobia, racism and general ignorance that a lot of people in that country seem to demonstrate.

Note that this files under general ignorance.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

She's a Witch!

She turned me into a newt!

i must say you've gotten much better

She wrote some books that got kids reading, whoopdee doo.

actually that's is a VERY good thing and something to celebrate. everyone complains that "oh our kids aren't reading" and frankly getting them to read is a VERY important thing.


as for the topic on hand, she promoted witchcraft? well since her spells were all done in latin, that would explain why Bush suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus cause he must have thought it was a bill about witchcraft

 

[Cliff_m85]

Oh. Wow. This shows just how stupid we are...

No, the popularity of Twilight shows how stupid America is.

This just shows how stupid politicians are.

 

[slackbheep]

Does she deserve an award?\
NO!
It the reason she didn't receive it hilarious?
YES!

 

[KSarty]

No offense to Rowling, but I find the note about Senator Edward Kennedy to be a significantly more mind blowing example of discrimination.

First, its not whether or not she deserved a medal, but whether or not she deserved the Medal of FREEDOM. Did she liberate the children by getting them to read her books?

Second, this is all heresay. All we have to go on is this guy's word, and he is currently trying to make money off these "facts" through his book. Not exactly a reliable source IMO.

Third, Ted Kennedy was a worthless pile of excrement. He certainly didn't deserve any awards.

 

[Kellerb]

oh for craps sake. when will people stop being superstitious twats!?

 

[The Hairminator]

This made me LOL.
BURN THE WITCHES!

 

[RollForInitiative]

First, its not whether or not she deserved a medal, but whether or not she deserved the Medal of FREEDOM. Did she liberate the children by getting them to read her books?

Second, this is all heresay. All we have to go on is this guy's word, and he is currently trying to make money off these "facts" through his book. Not exactly a reliable source IMO.

Third, Ted Kennedy was a worthless pile of excrement. He certainly didn't deserve any awards.

Personally, I don't support either as far as the medal is concerned. I just find "he's too liberal" to be a more noteworthy reason than "she promotes witchcraft." I'm used to the latter example's kind of inbred thinking here in the South. The former is more surprising to me.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

well since her spells were all done in latin, that would explain why Bush suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus cause he must have thought it was a bill about witchcraft

How many people laughed nervously about that because it's just too close to being believable?

No, the popularity of any media that targets young people shows how gullible people left without trustworthy allies are.

Fixed that for you.

 

[twistedmic]

oh for craps sake. when will people stop being superstitious twats!?

Probably two days after the world-wide acceptance of all religions, world peace and those flying cars that turn it to briefcases we saw on the Jetsons.

 

[Nmil-ek]

JK Rowling can teach witchcraft? Shit why have I been wasting my time with boxing then, think she knows magic missile?

 

[Jonatron]

However the kids that read them would have read something else if the series wasn't made, does that make sense? If you are going to read, you are going to read.

Not neccesarily. Harry Potter was heavily hyped and generally everyone was made aware of it. When series get that famous, people who do not normally read often find themselves reading them.
An example? Twilight!