Topic of the Day: J.K. Rowling and the New York Times
Plus a "Coming Soon" note.
In lieu of Facebook, where I am not ready to engage in heated debates with friends and family yet, and Twitter, where there’s never enough room to say what one wants, I plan to use my Substack to occasionally link to articles and other resources that I find interesting, convincing, reaffirming, or challenging.
I originally set out to share the below links with a very brief commentary, but the commentary has expanded into a very complex article about my journey with Harry Potter and the recent frothing-at-the-mouth mob pile-on of J.K. Rowling over what people have deemed to be transphobic tweets (often without ever engaging with the actual content she shared.) It’s become much longer than I intended, and it would be better to save it until after I share my story about my journey out of fundamentalism, because without that, the context will make little sense.
Meanwhile, I will go back to my original intent this morning, which was to share an article that peaked my interest this morning.
“In Defense of J.K. Rowling” by Pamela Paul
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/opinion/jk-rowling-transphobia.html
I was pleasantly surprised to see this article show up in the New York Times summary today, and even more pleasantly surprised to see the overwhelming amount of commenters that understand, agree, support, or at least are willing to engage with J.K. Rowling’s ideas and statements. The comments section was, as the young people say now, “based.” (Do they still stay that? It all changes so fast.)
It seems to me that more and more people are willing to come forward and admit publicly that they agree with Rowling’s perspectives on the modern excesses of the gender identity movement. Actors Helena Bonham-Carter and Ralph Fiennes have spoken up for her, condemning the abuse activists have hurled at her and calling it “appalling” and “disgusting.” In November, a journalist named EJ Rosetta composed a Twitter thread detailing how she was commissioned to write an article entitled “20 Transphobic JK Rowling Quotes We’re Done With” and how after “3 months of dedicated research . . . I cannot find a single truly transphobic JK Rowling quote that stands up against the scrutiny of journalistic integrity.” There’s also a fair bit of discussion currently about the upcoming podcast, “The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling,” hosted by Megan Phelps-Roper, the granddaughter of Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist fame and a woman whose background and journey have strong parallels to my own. And now—even the New York Times, which has often seemed to hold to a very narrow view with little room for controversy or diversity of opinion. My hope is that, as more people are speaking out about this, that other people, such as myself, who are afraid of the ostracization and rejection that could result for coming forward on this topic, may find their courage as well.
Courage—not only to speak up, but also the courage to question. To consider. To engage Rowling’s arguments in good faith. In the end, you may still disagree with her. But at least you will have approached the discussion with honesty and openness.
One of my favorite comments on Paul’s piece is by Katherine Roland-Silverstein. She writes, “I agree with much of what she says, and am willing to think about those statements I’m not sure about.”
More of this, please.
Coming Soon:
There and Back Again, Part 1: My journey into fundamentalism and out again... and then back to the edges... and then out again...
Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Witch to Live (title pending)