JK Rowling denied top US honour

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
JK Rowling denied top US honour
18
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 9:51am

JK Rowling


JK Rowling's Harry Potter's books have sold more than 400 million copies


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8282356.stm


Harry Potter author JK Rowling missed out on a top honour because some US politicians believed she "encouraged witchcraft", it has been claimed.

Matt Latimer, former speech writer for President George W Bush, said that some members of his administration believed her books promoted sorcery.


As a result, she was never presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.


The claims appear in Latimer's new book called Speechless: Tales of a White House Survivor.


He wrote that "narrow thinking" led White House officials to object to giving Rowling the civilian honour.


The award acknowledges contributions to US national interest, world peace or cultural endeavours.


Past literary recipients of the award include John Steinbeck and Harper Lee.


Others denied the privilege under the Bush administration included Senator Edward Kennedy, who died in August this year.


Latimer claimed, in his book, that the veteran politician and health care activist was excluded because he was deemed to be too liberal.

Photobucket      The WeatherPixie Patriot

 


Photobucket&nbs

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 10:10am
Well, *IF* it's true, it wouldn't be surprising. At all. >>:=\\ Totally mis-informed and ignorant, but given those idiots in our country wanting to censor or ban or burn her books -- again, not surprising. He was ignorant and intolerant of other religions. And perfectly willing to use his position as President, to push his god into our laws and gov't. And did whenever he had the chance. UGH!


Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(





Photobucket



"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night.

It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.

It is the little shadow which runs across the grass

and loses itself in the sunset.



- Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator



Photobucket Photobucket



Dog fighting is cruelty, which is a human activity and a human illness.

It's not the dog's fault.

All dogs need to be evaluated as individuals."

--Tim Racer, one of BAD RAP's founders



http://www.badrap.org/rescue/



Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket Photobucket



Mika Dog




"All things share the same breath;

the beast, the tree, the man.

The Air shares its spirit with

all the life it supports."

--Chief Seattle



"If there are no dogs in Heaven,

then when I die I want to go where they went."

~Will Rogers



"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress

can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

~~Mahatma Gandhi





Photobucket



"Life is a state of mind." ~~from Being There.



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 10:26am
Even though Rawlings repeatedly said she is *NOT* Pagan, nor Wiccan. AND, that the book is FICTION just like Cinderella or other fairytales. Ho-hum. :(( This deliberate ignorance and attacks gets so old... <:=//


Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(





Photobucket



"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night.

It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.

It is the little shadow which runs across the grass

and loses itself in the sunset.



- Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator



Photobucket Photobucket



Dog fighting is cruelty, which is a human activity and a human illness.

It's not the dog's fault.

All dogs need to be evaluated as individuals."

--Tim Racer, one of BAD RAP's founders



http://www.badrap.org/rescue/



Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket Photobucket



Mika Dog




"All things share the same breath;

the beast, the tree, the man.

The Air shares its spirit with

all the life it supports."

--Chief Seattle



"If there are no dogs in Heaven,

then when I die I want to go where they went."

~Will Rogers



"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress

can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

~~Mahatma Gandhi





Photobucket



"Life is a state of mind." ~~from Being There.



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



Community Leader
Registered: 04-05-2002
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 10:29am
This should be put in the same file as denying an award to Sesame Street because Ernie and Bert are gay.










iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-2007
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 12:07pm
~~The award acknowledges contributions to US national interest, world peace or cultural endeavours.~~

Despite the fact that her books DON'T promote witchcraft any more that Scooby-doo does...her books don't really contribute to US national interest, world peace, or cultural endeavours anyway. But that IS a stupid reason they gave for not giving her the award!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2009
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 12:21pm

Here's a list of previous Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. It's pretty interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidential_Medal_of_Freedom_recipients

Avatar for ddnlj
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 1:45pm

I guess my question would be what has she done to deserve the Medal of Freedom?


According to a description I found The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.


I'm not sure how writing children's books fits this category.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Avatar for ddnlj
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 1:50pm

OK, after reading the list of other recipients I see there are various categories including literature.


I guess I'm still missing the point. I can't see children's fiction as literature deserving a medal from the PRESIDENT.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2009
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 1:53pm
In terms of getting kids actually reading, I'd say that is worthy of a medal. :-)
Community Leader
Registered: 04-05-2002
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 2:50pm
Well, given the Lucille Ball, EB White, Carol Burnett, Bill Cosby, Hank Aaron, Billie Jean King, Jack Nicklaus (just pulling a few random people), etc., etc. are on the list, I don't see Rowling as being less deserving. It's an odd assortment of people on that list. Reading seems a step higher than TV comedy.










iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 3:09pm

Weeellll...I wouldn't say it's a 'children's book'. LOL!


Pages