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>Given that this actually happened Did it? It's my understanding that Rowling casts Potter as a strongly pro-Palestine type, which is slightly absurd unto itse

>Given that this actually happened Did it? It's my understanding that Rowling casts Potter as a strongly pro-Palestine type, which is slightly absurd unto itself. [0] [0] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/harry-potter-would-be-disappointed-with-my-stance-on-israel-boycott-jk-rowling-says-a6710916.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/harry-potter-would-...

dTal 9y ago
Yes, I was referring to that reference. Sorry for mixing up the pro- and anti- positions. But now I'm even more confused - what's the joke, and the ring of truth?
- ivanbakel 9y ago
  The ring of truth is that, since many consider Rowling a big neoliberal type, and exactly the kind of person who would argue against the boycott of Israel, and she is well known for using her characters after the books have been written to make political points in a "relatable" way, that it might well happen (and in some way, has happened). The absurdity of combining a children's character with a major political view (which leftists tend to disagree with anyways) to try and defend her viewpoint forms the comedy.
  - pjc50 9y ago
    > many consider Rowling a big neoliberal type These people are either wrong or have a very strange definition of "neoliberal". It seems to have become, like "socialist", an all-purpose swear word to apply to people whose politics you don't like. Rowling is an old-school Labourite, solidly pro-welfare state, Unionist and Remainer.
    - peatmoss 9y ago
      While I understand that language changes over time, this new usage of neoliberalism is weird for anyone with a traditional understanding of the term. I hold the view that neoliberalism is basically GOP-style capitalism where markets are deregulated and everything is privatized. I've encountered a number of times recently where people appeared to be using neoliberalism as a stand-in for liberalism, which to me is exactly backwards. Edit for clarification: I agree with your understanding of neoliberalism, and your assessment that Rowling's left-wing politics are basically the opposite of neoliberalism.

dTal 9y ago

Yes, I was referring to that reference. Sorry for mixing up the pro- and anti- positions. But now I'm even more confused - what's the joke, and the ring of truth?

ivanbakel 9y ago
The ring of truth is that, since many consider Rowling a big neoliberal type, and exactly the kind of person who would argue against the boycott of Israel, and she is well known for using her characters after the books have been written to make political points in a "relatable" way, that it might well happen (and in some way, has happened). The absurdity of combining a children's character with a major political view (which leftists tend to disagree with anyways) to try and defend her viewpoint forms the comedy.
- pjc50 9y ago
  > many consider Rowling a big neoliberal type These people are either wrong or have a very strange definition of "neoliberal". It seems to have become, like "socialist", an all-purpose swear word to apply to people whose politics you don't like. Rowling is an old-school Labourite, solidly pro-welfare state, Unionist and Remainer.
  - peatmoss 9y ago
    While I understand that language changes over time, this new usage of neoliberalism is weird for anyone with a traditional understanding of the term. I hold the view that neoliberalism is basically GOP-style capitalism where markets are deregulated and everything is privatized. I've encountered a number of times recently where people appeared to be using neoliberalism as a stand-in for liberalism, which to me is exactly backwards. Edit for clarification: I agree with your understanding of neoliberalism, and your assessment that Rowling's left-wing politics are basically the opposite of neoliberalism.