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Was JK Rowling being offensive?
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From what I've read, the book is little more than a socialist treatise brought on, no doubt, as a result of her very middle class upbringing and her reported worth of £600m!
It is very easy to have lofty ideals when you are as rich as Croesus.
That said, she's made her money and bloody luck to her.
As to whether it was offensive - no.
It is very easy to have lofty ideals when you are as rich as Croesus.
That said, she's made her money and bloody luck to her.
As to whether it was offensive - no.
If you put 'Rowling' into the search box on the DM site, the order the stories by newest first, you'll notice a few recent articles about JK Rowlings which have been quite critical. Not saying that the paper has a vendetta against her (a la Jonathan Ross/Russell Brand...but at first glance, it looks as if she is in the DM's sights at the moment.
Let me have a quick look at this latest article. Havent read it yet, and I want to see how this Sikh outrage has manifested itself...
Let me have a quick look at this latest article. Havent read it yet, and I want to see how this Sikh outrage has manifested itself...
Yep...as I thought. The article contains very little of any substance.
There's an unverified 'fluffy' reference to Sikh leaders in India scrutinising the book, and a quote from one man.
Not ever a 'Twitter storm' here.
So, I would tend to agree with the comment earlier that the Mail is stirring faeces again.
Was she being offensive? Yes - definitely offensive to the character she's written about, but because this is a made-up nonsense story, I don't think we should expend too much effort on it.
Imagine if Maeve Binchy had had described a character as being a "hook-nosed Pole of financially dubious provenance".
If one Jewish leader had condemned the description it ain't a story.
If hundreds of Jews had demonstrated, condemning Ms Binchy - then its a story.
There's an unverified 'fluffy' reference to Sikh leaders in India scrutinising the book, and a quote from one man.
Not ever a 'Twitter storm' here.
So, I would tend to agree with the comment earlier that the Mail is stirring faeces again.
Was she being offensive? Yes - definitely offensive to the character she's written about, but because this is a made-up nonsense story, I don't think we should expend too much effort on it.
Imagine if Maeve Binchy had had described a character as being a "hook-nosed Pole of financially dubious provenance".
If one Jewish leader had condemned the description it ain't a story.
If hundreds of Jews had demonstrated, condemning Ms Binchy - then its a story.
I do not think it possible to comment directly on the alleged offence taken from this sentence - not unless you have read the book and seen the context.
Its rather disappointing to note that those who profess to represent the Sikh population are placing their fragile religious sensibilities above free speech- it almost sounds as if they are looking for ideas, comments, writings that offend their religion so that they can complain.
On that note, there are still movements afoot within the UN to strengthen various resolutions to widen the scope for "defamation of religion" - largely, but not solely, at the behest of Islamic societies.
Its rather disappointing to note that those who profess to represent the Sikh population are placing their fragile religious sensibilities above free speech- it almost sounds as if they are looking for ideas, comments, writings that offend their religion so that they can complain.
On that note, there are still movements afoot within the UN to strengthen various resolutions to widen the scope for "defamation of religion" - largely, but not solely, at the behest of Islamic societies.
An alternative POV to the DM's is the Thought for the Day by Lord Singh on the Radio 4 Today programme this morning. You can listen to it here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00z7wmy
Here's the transcript:
Thought for the Day - Lord Singh - 02/10/2012
Duration: 02:41
J K. Rowling in her latest novel, The Casual Vacancy, features a Sikh family in its central plot. At the book launch last Thursday she explained that she had been deeply influenced by Sikhism because of its egalitarian teachings and stress on gender equality. She said that this had prompted her to study the religion in greater depth and was struck by its modernity.
Her generous words were doubly welcome a Sikh community increasingly apprehensive about how it is viewed by others. Sikhs are particularly concerned that in the minds of some, the turban seems to be increasingly associated with extremism, whereas in reality it is worn as a visible reminder of a commitment to live by values such as those mentioned by the author of the Harry Potter series.
Unfortunately for Sikhs, Osama Bin Laden also wore a turban and although he is no longer with us, the image still lingers in the minds of many in the United States and mainland Europe who continue to view any turban with a degree of hostility. Even here, teasing and bullying of turban wearing children in schools and vandalism of gurdwaras seems to be on the increase.
Two months ago a former US army veteran took this irrational dislike of turban wearing people further, when he entered a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and began shooting innocent members of the congregation, killing six worshippers and injuring many others. President Obama, who had lived among Sikhs in his formative years, paid tribute to the contribution of the community to the life of the USA and in a moving gesture, ordered all Union flags to be flown at half mast.
Sikhs have two problems in explaining their religion to others. First, respect for other faiths and other ways of life in Sikh teachings, means that it is wrong for us to indulge in any form of proselytizing or pushing our beliefs on others. The second reason is less excusable, we simply do not do enough to get involved in inter faith groups, religious consultative bodies in schools, and many other areas of life in which we can and should let others know more about us and the values for which we stand. We should’nt expect best selling authors and others to do this for us.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00z7wmy
Here's the transcript:
Thought for the Day - Lord Singh - 02/10/2012
Duration: 02:41
J K. Rowling in her latest novel, The Casual Vacancy, features a Sikh family in its central plot. At the book launch last Thursday she explained that she had been deeply influenced by Sikhism because of its egalitarian teachings and stress on gender equality. She said that this had prompted her to study the religion in greater depth and was struck by its modernity.
Her generous words were doubly welcome a Sikh community increasingly apprehensive about how it is viewed by others. Sikhs are particularly concerned that in the minds of some, the turban seems to be increasingly associated with extremism, whereas in reality it is worn as a visible reminder of a commitment to live by values such as those mentioned by the author of the Harry Potter series.
Unfortunately for Sikhs, Osama Bin Laden also wore a turban and although he is no longer with us, the image still lingers in the minds of many in the United States and mainland Europe who continue to view any turban with a degree of hostility. Even here, teasing and bullying of turban wearing children in schools and vandalism of gurdwaras seems to be on the increase.
Two months ago a former US army veteran took this irrational dislike of turban wearing people further, when he entered a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and began shooting innocent members of the congregation, killing six worshippers and injuring many others. President Obama, who had lived among Sikhs in his formative years, paid tribute to the contribution of the community to the life of the USA and in a moving gesture, ordered all Union flags to be flown at half mast.
Sikhs have two problems in explaining their religion to others. First, respect for other faiths and other ways of life in Sikh teachings, means that it is wrong for us to indulge in any form of proselytizing or pushing our beliefs on others. The second reason is less excusable, we simply do not do enough to get involved in inter faith groups, religious consultative bodies in schools, and many other areas of life in which we can and should let others know more about us and the values for which we stand. We should’nt expect best selling authors and others to do this for us.
// Who do you think put the words into the characters mouth?
Yes, JK Rowlings she created the character, and also wrote the so called offensive words. //
What on earth are you blabbering on about AOG? Are you serious?
There are lots of characters in novels. They're fictional. They don't necessarily represent the author's views. Are you suggesting that because Dickens made Oliver ask for more, it was because Dickens happened to be hungry himself?
Are you one of these people that attacks soap actors in the street because they were nasty in last night's episode?
Yes, JK Rowlings she created the character, and also wrote the so called offensive words. //
What on earth are you blabbering on about AOG? Are you serious?
There are lots of characters in novels. They're fictional. They don't necessarily represent the author's views. Are you suggesting that because Dickens made Oliver ask for more, it was because Dickens happened to be hungry himself?
Are you one of these people that attacks soap actors in the street because they were nasty in last night's episode?
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