MBVD: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix--or An Illustration of the Dems Disbelieving Nanny State

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix--or An Illustration of the Dems Disbelieving Nanny State

Most of you know by now I'm a voracious reader and if you check out my "Library Thingy" with any regularity, you know I have all the Harry Potter books and have read them all numerous times.

I also collect the movies as they come out.

Such was the case last night when I decided to pick up the fifth installment, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix". For those not familiar with the series, it's this installment where things begin going "dark and dangerous"--the stakes are higher, the kids are more serious, you can tell war is brewing as Voldemort was revived at the end of the fourth installment, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".

Briefly, "Phoenix" starts with a dementor attack on Harry and Dudley right around the corner from Uncle Vernon's house. Harry conjures a Patronum to protect the two of them and gets Dudley home. However, he's expelled from Hogwarts for using magic in front of muggles and being underage while doing so. Dumbledore convinces the Ministry to give Harry a hearing as to the circumstances and reinstate Harry into Hogwarts. Mr. Weasley accompanies Harry to the Ministry for his hearing. While they are in the elevator, one of the "good guys" whispers to Mr. Weasley the time for the hearing has been changed--instead of the two having 3 hours to prepare, they have 5 minutes to appear--and it's a full court hearing, not just a simple slap on the wrist as the "crime" warrants. Dumbledore appears as Harry's defense, again not having been notified of the change, but just happening to be at the Ministry.

Harry is pretty much railroaded and not allowed to explain the circumstances for his use of magic until Dumbledore intercedes; he is finally exonerated.

Throughout the summer, Harry is vilified in the wizarding equivalent of the MSM, the "Daily Prophet", as being a liar for stating Voldemort is back and is rebuilding his army. The Ministry in general, and Cornelius Fudge in particular, don't want to believe the dark times are imminent so they feel by ignoring what Harry has told them, even with the proof he's provided, it will go away. In order to do that, they have to make Harry out to be a total whack job.

Is this starting to sound familiar boys and girls?

No one wants to believe Voldemort is back; no one wants to believe the disappearing witches and wizards are due to Voldemort, as before--it's much easier to continue the disinformation they were all murdered by "mass murderer" Sirius Black.

Enter the Order of the Phoenix--originally started by the parents of the current Hogwarts students and revived by the surviving parents and joined by the students.

There is one "juror" who becomes significant through the movie--she is known by her "pink" attire, and her name is Dolores Umbridge. Anyone who has read the books, now is the time to hiss at the appearance of the ultimate villain--even Lucius Malfoy is preferable to Umbridge.

Umbridge comes to Hogwarts as the Defense of the Dark Arts teacher. As Hermione says, it means the Ministry is interfering with the Hogwarts education. Truer words were never spoken. At the beginning of Umbridge's class, she hands out new books--defense by theory only, no need for magic in her class. The kids won't need practical applications for their OWLS (like our SAT's). When she's confronted by Harry and those who believe him, she sentences Harry to detention--and a most horrific detention it is. He is to use one of her "special quills" to "write lines"--"I must not tell lies". She provides him no ink, telling him it's not necessary. And it's not--for this quill cuts into the skin whatever the writer is writing and the ink is the user's own blood.

Slowly but surely, Umbridge takes over the school, "with the Ministry's permission"--to question her is to question the Ministry. She is always dressed in pink and the clothes look like Jackie Kennedy has been revived. She refers to the centaurs as "approaching human intelligence, half breeds"--very similar to how the dems feel about the proletariat. She keeps instituting more and more restrictive rules, keeping the use of magic down so the kids can't pass their OWLS with practical applications, starts "reviewing" the teachers curricula and teaching methods (trying to ban Professor Trelawney)--in short, complete nanny state.

The kids have ENOUGH and start "Dumbledore's Army", where they, under Harry's tutelage, start learning the defense of the dark arts from a practical viewpoint. They find the "Room of Requirement" which is only visible for dire need and supplies itself with what's needed. In the meantime, Umbridge has got Filch spying on the kids and institutes her version of the Nazi Youth to help him--and of course that would be Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. They capture Cho and through the use of Snape's Veritaserum, find out the details of the group, where they meet, etc. Dumbledore comes to the rescue and takes the blame for the group. When Umbridge and her ilk attempt to arrest him, he flees (rather spectacularly).

All along, the Ministry continues to deny Voldemort is back and rebuilding his army.

Through some more machinations of Umbridge and Hermione's quick thinking, Umbridge is finally disposed of. However, Harry finds he has a mental connection with Voldemort and Snape is trying to help him block that connection. Through this connection, he sees Sirius at the Ministry, being tortured by Voldemort. The kids race to the rescue and do what needs to be done. (What, you think I'm going to tell you all of it???); however, Sirius dies. Only at the scene's climax does Fudge see Voldemort and realize he can no longer deny what has been said all along. No matter how much he may try to discredit Harry, Dumbledore, the Order, etc., no matter how he may try to interfere with the education the children are receiving at Hogwarts, purposely dumbing them down with theory only and no practical application of their lessons, the fact remains, Voldemort is back--and definitely rebuilding his deadly army.

No amount of denial will work. None.

No amount of "nanny stating for the good of the people" will work.

No amount of interference in tried and true defense measures and education will work.

No amount of sleight of hand in the art of distraction from the real issues and the real dangers will work.

No amount of appeasement of the dark lord will work.

Voldemort is back. He is building his army. He will have his final war with Harry. Only one will survive. No one will stand in his way.

J.K. Rowling wrote this particular installment at least three years ago. Being a Brit, she's very familiar with what's happened on her home shores with the muslim appeasement and the attendant politics we are now seeing played out on our own shores.

Does any of this sound remotely familiar to anyone at this juncture in time--at least to those of use called haters and warmongers (when in actuality we're the ones seeing reality for what it is)? Or is it going over people's heads?

Art imitates life--are we smart enough to listen? Or are we going to continue down the road our politicians have chosen for us? Are we going to be part of the problem? Or part of "Dumbledore's Army?"

Sphere: Related Content

Subscribe to: Comment Feed (RSS)

SOLDIER"S ANGELS NEEDS YOUR HELP!

The Veterans Hospital in Tucson needs our help!!! They have contacted Soldiers' Angels with a list of needs for their patients. Soldiers Angels needs your help in making some of these come true.

Below you will find just a small portion of needs that are immediate. You can also find this list posted on the Soldiers Angels Forum at www.soldiersangelsforum.com you will be able to find lots of great information there for our deployed and vets.

If you are sending a monetary donation please follow the link and indicate the State you are in.

Donate here;
Ttp://soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=veterans-support

COMFORT ITEMS- $350/MO
Dry Skin Cream
Slipper Socks-No skid
Catheter bag covers
Shaving Cream
Hand Lotion
Baby Shampoo
Hand Soap
Roll on/Spray Deodorant
Denture Cleaner
Underwear (men and women (all sizes)
Toothbrushes
Denture Grip
Socks (white)
Talcum Powder
Nail Clippers
Toothpaste
Ladies hand and body lotion
Backpacks
Disposable Razors
Comb/Brushes
Shawls
Shaving Cream/small
Knitted Caps
Travel Alarm Clocks
Ball Caps
Tote Bags
Shower Shoes
Pocket Size Needle and Thread Kit
Heart pillows for cardiac patients
Lap Robes (3x5 or 5x7)

GUEST SERVICES
30 cup coffee makers
Coffee supplies (reg. & decaf)
Music CDs
Stamps
Writing Paper and Envelopes
Prepaid Phone Cards for patients’

RECREATION
Puzzle books
Crossword Puzzles
Pencils
Video tapes & DVDs (movies, educational)
DVD Player

Sports equipment (basketball, tennis rackets &
Tickets for entertainment & sporting events
Balls, badminton set, Frisbees, football)

If you can send just one item that would be great!!! If each person sends one thing we will make a difference! They are also needing those who can volunteer time at the hospital just contact the Voluntary Services Dept. For information.

Mail Items to:

Department of Veterans Affairs Southern Arizona VA Health Care System – Voluntary Services 9-135, 3601 S. Sixth Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85723

PLEASE HELP US HELP THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM!

My Favorite Speeches and Other Items of Interest

George Bush's March 28, 2007 Discusses Economy, War on Terror During Remarks to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association;http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/03/20070328-2.html
Mitch McConnell's March 15, 2007 Funding For Troops, Not Timelines for Retreat; http://mcconnell.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=270747&start=1
Ronald Reagan's June 12, 1987 Tear Down This Wall Speech; http://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan/speeches/wall.asp
Vice President Cheney's March 12, 2007 Remarks at the AIPAC 2007 Policy Conference; http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/03/20070312.html

Winston Churchill Quotes

A prisoner of war is a man who tries to kill you and fails, and then asks you not to kill him.
Although personally I am quite content with existing explosives, I feel we must not stand in the path of improvement.
Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed.
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter.
Danger - if you meet it promptly and without flinching - you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!
I always seem to get inspiration and renewed vitality by contact with this great novel land of yours which sticks up out of the Atlantic.
I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.
I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.
I like a man who grins when he fights.
I was only the servant of my country and had I, at any moment, failed to express her unflinching resolve to fight and conquer, I should at once have been rightly cast aside.
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time-a tremendous whack.
In war as in life, it is often necessary when some cherished scheme has failed, to take up the best alternative open, and if so, it is folly not to work for it with all your might.
It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.
Moral of the Work. In war: resolution. In defeat: defiance. In victory: magnanimity. In peace: goodwill.
Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
Never, never, never give up.
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism.
One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
The first quality that is needed is audacity.
The nose of the bulldog has been slanted backwards so that he can breathe without letting go.
The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.
There is no such thing as public opinion. There is only published opinion.
These are not dark days: these are great days - the greatest days our country has ever lived.
They are decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all-powerful to be impotent.
True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information.
Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.
War is a game that is played with a smile. If you can't smile, grin. If you can't grin, keep out of the way till you can.
War is mainly a catalogue of blunders.
We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.
We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival.
When the eagles are silent the parrots begin to jabber.
When you are winning a war almost everything that happens can be claimed to be right and wise.
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.

Ronald Reagan Quotes

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant: It's just that they know so much that isn't so."
Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have.
All the waste in a year from a nuclear power plant can be stored under a desk.
Approximately 80% of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation, so let's not go overboard in setting and enforcing tough emission standards from man-made sources
Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.
Double, no triple, our troubles and we'd still be better off than any other people on earth. It is time that we recognized that ours was, in truth, a noble cause.
Facts are stupid things.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.
Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.
Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them.
History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.
How can a president not be an actor?
How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin.
I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US Congress.
I will stand on, and continue to use, the figures I have used, because I believe they are correct. Now, I'm not going to deny that you don't now and then slip up on something; no one bats a thousand.
In Israel, free men and women are every day demonstrating the power of courage and faith. Back in 1948 when Israel was founded, pundits claimed the new country could never survive. Today, no one questions that. Israel is a land of stability and democracy in a region of tryanny and unrest.
Let us ask ourselves; "What kind of people do we think we are?".
Man is not free unless government is limited.
My philosophy of life is that if we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose - somehow we win out.
No mother would ever willingly sacrifice her sons for territorial gain, for economic advantage, for ideology.
Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.
Our forbearance should never be misunderstood. Our reluctance for conflict should not be misjudged as a failure of will. When action is required to preserve our national security, we will act.
Protecting the rights of even the least individual among us is basically the only excuse the government has for even existing.
Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.
The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas - a trial of spiritual resolve: the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated.
The United Sates has much to offer the third world war.
There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.
To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I did not take the oath I have just taken with the intention of presiding over the dissolution of the world's strongest economy.
Today we did what we had to do. They counted on America to be passive. They counted wrong.
We are never defeated unless we give up on God.
We have the duty to protect the life of an unborn child.
We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.
We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.
Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.
You know, if I listened to Michael Dukakis long enough, I would be convinced we're in an economic downturn and people are homeless and going without food and medical attention and that we've got to do something about the unemployed.