Comments on: Harry Potter: ‘A prolonged plea for an end to bigotry’ http://counsellingresource.com/features/2007/10/25/harry-potter-gay-tolerance/ Looking at life through the prism of psychology, philosophy, mental health and more. Originally created by counsellor, psychotherapist and philosopher Dr Greg Mulhauser, this blog is now the work of an international team of contributors. Fri, 25 May 2012 16:17:12 +0000 hourly 1 By: Sarah Luczaj http://counsellingresource.com/features/2007/10/25/harry-potter-gay-tolerance/comment-page-1/#comment-41943 Sarah Luczaj Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:09:51 +0000 http://counsellingresource.com/features/2007/10/25/harry-potter-gay-tolerance/#comment-41943 I'm sorry if you feel I made light of your concerns in a flippant and dismissive way. My comment re. grey beards and flying was to illustrate the point that, in my opinion, children are not going to acquire a particular sexual orientation from reading a book or watching a film. It was not intended to dismiss parents' concerns as silly. Every individual parent will have different concerns springing from different experiences,which are all legitimately theirs. I believe that society as a whole, however, this complex interrelation of individuals, politics,institutions and mass culture, feeds on and helps to create such fears and is, certainly in the country in which I live, pretty prejudiced. My opposition to this state of affairs is, indeed, a question of values, not sexuality. I’m sorry if you feel I made light of your concerns in a flippant and dismissive way. My comment re. grey beards and flying was to illustrate the point that, in my opinion, children are not going to acquire a particular sexual orientation from reading a book or watching a film. It was not intended to dismiss parents’ concerns as silly. Every individual parent will have different concerns springing from different experiences,which are all legitimately theirs.

I believe that society as a whole, however, this complex interrelation of individuals, politics,institutions and mass culture, feeds on and helps to create such fears and is, certainly in the country in which I live, pretty prejudiced. My opposition to this state of affairs is, indeed, a question of values, not sexuality.

]]> By: R. Thomas Dell http://counsellingresource.com/features/2007/10/25/harry-potter-gay-tolerance/comment-page-1/#comment-41920 R. Thomas Dell Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:18:12 +0000 http://counsellingresource.com/features/2007/10/25/harry-potter-gay-tolerance/#comment-41920 Yes, I believe it is relevant. I have noticed that sporting a grey beard or the fantasy of flying is totally irrelevant to parental concerns being discussed on this forum. Could you please not make light of the sexual development concerns of parents, even if you believe there concerns are bigoted or unrealistic -- Although you obviously feel this is a civics issue in bigotry, this only serves to dismiss or belittle some parents' concerns or fears for there child's sexual development. Perhaps this issue is more about the values that we hold, rather than sexuality. It seems to me that this issue has all the hallmarks of the cultural war of values, rather than speaking only about sexuality. We must show respect for all those concerned about this issue in society and simply not dismiss it as bigotry. Yes, I believe it is relevant. I have noticed that sporting a grey beard or the fantasy of flying is totally irrelevant to parental concerns being discussed on this forum.
Could you please not make light of the sexual development concerns of parents, even if you believe there concerns are bigoted or unrealistic —
Although you obviously feel this is a civics issue in bigotry, this only serves to dismiss or belittle some parents’ concerns or fears for there child’s sexual development.
Perhaps this issue is more about the values that we hold, rather than sexuality.
It seems to me that this issue has all the hallmarks of the cultural war of values, rather than speaking only about sexuality. We must show respect for all those concerned about this issue in society and simply not dismiss it as bigotry.

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