Are people really complaining about the Golden Compass now? Really? You know, when all the bullshit about Harry Potter started, I thought, eh, it'll blow over, how popular can this get? Well...anyway, I'm right a lot more than I'm wrong. Really. Anyway, it obviously didn't blow over.
We had protests, people trying to get the books pulled froim library shelves, churches organizing book burnings, and...Dumbledore is gay? Really? Oh, well, that changes everything...How did we not see that coming? You know, there were so many hints that alluded to the grandfatherly professor engaging in "the love which shall not be named." I respect J.K. Rowling.I really do. She's a great example of imagination and skill overcoming station. I admire that. She does a ton of charity work, donates a lot of money, and seems like a nice enough gal. But...I don't agree with her statement about D.D. being gay. Oh, don't get me wrong...I have no problem with him being gay. As far as I'm concerned it changes nothing in the books, changes nothing about the way I feel about the character, and doesn't particularly bother me on any way, shape or form. All that aside, do you get the feeling she might have let this one go as sort of an, I don't know, piss off to her detractors? You know, the books are done, the movies are pretty much guaranteed to make a ton of money...She doesn't need to pussyfoot around anymore...And it feels like she sort of just went "!@#$ It! Yeah, Dumbledore was gay, Snape was a necrophiliac, and Ron and Hermione had their kids out of wedlock! Take that!" I do like that the gay community might get some kind of satisfaction from this, but is Dumbledore really the one you want as your big hero? I mean, he's an old single guy, for god's sake. If Snape was gay now...
So anyway, back to the Golden Compass. What I like is that the people frantically yelling "It's against Catholocism! It sways kids from Religion!" Ummm. maybe? But have you actually read the book? The book is about as much for kids as Orwell's Animal Farm. Not really the designated audience if you ask me. And by the way, if you have a problem with your kids reading these books, don't let them! Jesus, it's not hard to figure out whether you're going to allow these from the outset. On the back cover, it describes peoples daemons...If that's enough to set you off, is it really gonna get any better?
If you don't like it, don't read it. Also, I want someone to answer me this. My grandmother, without ever setting eyes on any of the movies or books, absolutely thinks I'm going to burn in hell for letting my kids experience Harry Potter. Fine, whatever, not exactly like Heavens reserving me a spot to begin with. But this is the same woman that absolutely adores The Wizard Of Oz. I remember watching it at her house when I was a a pup, and she shows it to my kids when they're at her house. Now, what is the difference? Is it some mathematical equation of 1 good witch> a school of good witches? Oh well.
