JK Rowling denied Presidential Medal of Freedom because writing “encouraged witchcraft”

[parasearchers]

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civil award, and is given to individuals who have contributed to: 1) the security or national interests of the United States, 2) world peace, or 3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

In his new book, Speechless: Tales of a White House Survivor, former Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer reveals how politicized the revered Presidential Medal of Freedom became during the Bush administration.

Latimer writes that administration officials objected to giving author J.K. Rowling the Presidential Medal of Freedom because her writing “encouraged witchcraft” (p. 201):

This was the same sort of narrow thinking that led people in the White House to actually object to giving the author J.K. Rowling a presidential medal because the Harry Potter books encouraged withcraft.


Latimer also writes that when he suggested bestowing the honor upon Ted Kennedy, who had just been diagnosed with a brain tumor, fellow speechwriter Marc Thiessen objected because Kennedy “was a liberal” (p. 201):

When Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a brain tumor, I suggested that the president might at least consider awarding Kennedy the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Marc objected wtih the genteel diplomacy he was known for. “That’s crazy!” he thundered. Kennedy was a liberal, he noted (of which I was well aware).


The Bush administration was notorious for awarding the medal to its staunchest Iraq war allies. Bush’s final three recipients of the Medal of Freedom were two supporters of his war in Iraq — former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Australian Prime Minister John Howard — and leading human rights violator and Bush foreign policy ally Alvaro Uribe. Other recipients included a whole lineup of figures heavily involved in the Iraq war, including Paul Bremer and George Tenet.

When President Obama took office, he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16 recipients, including Kennedy and former congressman Jack Kemp, a Republican.

http://parasearcher.blogspot.com/2009/09/jk-rowling-denied-presidential-medal-of.html

[saltpoint]

1. I don't see anything wrong with witchcraft to begin with and would

honor any writer who can inspire kids to read books at all, let alone at the level Rowling has done.

[Xipe Totec]

What good are honors from such men? n/t

[bullwinkle428]

2. We save those high honors for people like George Tenet!

[Poll_Blind]

3. Bush dishonored the office of the Presidency in a way which hopefully will not be repeated soon. n/t

PB

[Captain Hilts]

4. Perfectly silly. nt

[derby378]

5. The Medal of Freedom, sad to say, has been devalued to begin with

The Bush administration turned it into a dog and pony show.

[Ilsa]

6. Given my perception of JK Rowling's values, I wonder if

she would give a damn about not getting the PMF from GW Bush.

The decision to exclude people for political reasons is no surprise to me.

[crim son]

7. It's a Christian thing.

No sorcery or fortune-telling allowed, and only Jesus or your local pastor is allowed to perform "miracles."

[Seldona]

21. Don't forget, the Holy Ghost gets a booty call every so often. Guess that doesn't count.

I assume it is a he, since he can impregnate. At least the ghosts in Harry Potter didn't sexually assault anyone.

I've got it! Holy Ghost Female Condoms! Wear yours to bed every night to prevent unwanted immaculate conceptions. If I get the business plan up and running, I promise I will send you an email. You inspired me. lol

[crim son]

22. Hey, let me be a phone rep. I can be very persuasive!

:rofl:

[zbdent]

8. I'm surprised that George H.W. Bush didn't award Saddam Hussein

the medal in January 1990 ...

[MineralMan]

9. Witchcraft? Does that stuff even work?

If so, then Rowling sure didn't write well. I tried calling up my Patronus once, but the drunk guy still threw his beer on me for wearing the wrong team's t-shirt.

Her damned magic spells aren't worth shit!

[verges]

14. You're just not good at it. You darn muggle! nt

[Quasimodem]

10. The Idiocy of the Bush Administration has no bottom.

RK Rowling’s Harry Potter books do no more to promote witchcraft than the children’s books of L. Frank Baum, Edith Nesbit, or C. S. Lewis.

What they do — through a seven-book series — is to repeatedly point out the lesson that neither a person’s background, nor his abilities, nor his opportunities indicate the measure of that person. Rather, starting from that background, it is the choices that he makes with those abilities and opportunities.

I certainly can see why people such as those in the Bush Administration, who have made such abysmal choices with their talents and opportunities, might greet so enlightened a message with more than a little animosity.

[damonm]

17. +1

[dem mba]

20. you presuppose that they might read a book every once in a while

well, other than the New Testament or those end of days/rapture books.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. My question is, would she have accepted an award from Voldemort? nt

[BlueMTexpat]

12. My reaction too!

:fistbump:

[verges]

15. The decision was not Dick Cheney's to make. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. Why would this decision be any different than all the others? nt

[evenso]

13. that's what happens when you put religious zealots in charge

[madmom]

18. Since the like of the b*sh cronies have received it, it's worthless now IMO.

[TuxedoKat]

19. I'd like to see Paul Newman receive it

posthumously for all his charity work.

[FailureToCommunicate]

23. Agreed! His example of generosity continues every time you buy "Newman's Own" brand

Where the rubber meets the road for words into action.

[lupinella]

24. *stealthily pulls out eleven and a half inch willow wand*

'Obliviate! Confundus! Stupefy!'
These spells would work better if Bush and Cheney hadn't already made people forget their history, be completely confused and topple mindlessly to their knees.

Hmm, must have the Aurors round them up. If anyone is guilty of using the Cruciatus, Imperius and Killing Curse, it's them.
*jots down appointments with Hermione in the offices of Magical Law and Minister for Magic Shacklebolt*

What?
Darnit, I hate it when my geek is showing.




:freak:

[parasearchers]

25. I've learned to just embrace my geekyness :)