Letters to the Editor 12-07-2001
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Potter Defended - Ivy Tech
Potter Defended
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to the article against the Harry Potter books, which is found in the Opinions Section of Wednesday, Dec. 5's edition of the Warsaw Times-Union. These attacks on the books seem to have come from someone uninformed, so I simply must ask, have the authors ever read any of the novels? A list of the apparent evils found in the books was included in the article. By simply glancing at the list, I was able to disprove most of them. In order to offend no one, the following views are simply another way of looking at an obviously controversial issue.
It was mentioned that animal, and other types of sacrifices could be found in the books. This is true, but the only sacrifices made were by one of the "dark" or bad wizards, and not by Harry or any of his friends. The acts were not looked upon as anything except malevolence by Harry and the other good characters in the stories.
A quote from the previous Potter article states that, "Non-magicians like you and I (muggles) are portrayed as dull, boring, cruel or useless." In all actuality, the only "muggles" that are depicted as being cruel or otherwise inferior are Harry's guardians, the Dursleys. There are many other "muggles" in the stories that are quite friendly, and shown that way, such as the parents of Hermione Granger.
It was also stated that the books show that "Power is the ultimate moral choice, irrespective of good or evil." Obviously these also came from an uninformed source. The good characters in the book used their magic to purposes that would benefit all. The only power-hungry characters were, in fact, the evil wizards and witches, and they were definitely not shown to be role models.
One of the accusations in the aforementioned article that shocked me the most was that the Harry Potter books were said to have a part where a baby was boiled alive in a cauldron. The only thing relatively close to this in the story happened when one of the bad wizards was being given back his powers in a cauldron of sorts. His form at this time looked somewhat like a baby, but more like a monster, and this rejuvenation of him was not looked upon as being a good thing by any of the characters except the evil ones.
Lastly, the article stated that Harry Potter was not a true hero because he tells lies, steals, breaks the rules and cheats by copying another student's homework. I can guarantee that there are hardly any children of the age that Harry is supposed to be that have never done these things. While that doesn't make them right, it does make them realistic. When Harry does these things, he usually does them to save lives. If he is to be accused of stealing, just remember that he does it to protect his friends. I'm sure most of us have heard the story of Robin Hood. This "hero" stole from the rich to give to the poor, and people had no problem with that, because it was just a children's story. So are the Harry Potter books.
The books portray many good things, such as friendship, the importance of family and surviving the trials and tribulations of growing up. Their purpose is to enrapture the reader and allow their imagination to grow and expand, because after all, isn't imagination what childhood is all about?
Brittany Kusserow
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Ivy Tech
Editor, Times-Union:After reading the letter to the editor by Dale Tucker concerning Ivy Tech, I have a few comments.
I taught in the first classes that were offered Ivy Tech on a trial basis in 1978. The student response was great and IVTC decided to offer their programs. I was the first Director of Ivy Tech in Warsaw. The problems were many. The National Bank offered a space in their bank for me to use as classes were organized and held at the high school. Office space was soon located on South Buffalo Street. A part-time secretary was provided. When the old McKinley school became available, it was renovated and four classrooms and two offices were used with the majority of classes still being held at the high school. Then the two top floors of the downtown Saemann Building were renovated and used for classrooms with the high school still being used for a number of classes.
During this early years of IVTC at Warsaw, Dale Tucker and Matt Dalton were the prime movers and big help to me as the administrator. It also was a time that I feel Ivy Tech would just as soon pulled out of Warsaw. My salary was in the lowest level. The additional help that I want was refused. I was the book salesman who picked up the books in South Bend and then lugged them to the classroom to sell to the students. My wife was the assistant to the Director, registering students, etc., without pay! Finally, in the last year of my five-year tenure, a part-time computer teacher was hired. The remainder of the teaching staff was provided by the men and women of business and industry that I had to arrange.
After I resigned, Ivy Tech has made some great strides at the old high school building. The local public school officials were very helpful and cooperative during my tenure, and I understand that they still are. What does the future hold for Ivy Tech? It seems to me that the request from the community to come up with three million to renovate the Sprint location is way off base after all that the community has put into Ivy Tech ... Isn't Ivy Tech a state supported college? Virginia Calvin needs to get things clearly in mind as to who pays for the functioning of a state institution.
Keep on it Dale.
Lowell Landis
Former Director of IVY TECH at Warsaw
via e-mail
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- Potter Defended - Ivy Tech
Potter Defended
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to the article against the Harry Potter books, which is found in the Opinions Section of Wednesday, Dec. 5's edition of the Warsaw Times-Union. These attacks on the books seem to have come from someone uninformed, so I simply must ask, have the authors ever read any of the novels? A list of the apparent evils found in the books was included in the article. By simply glancing at the list, I was able to disprove most of them. In order to offend no one, the following views are simply another way of looking at an obviously controversial issue.
It was mentioned that animal, and other types of sacrifices could be found in the books. This is true, but the only sacrifices made were by one of the "dark" or bad wizards, and not by Harry or any of his friends. The acts were not looked upon as anything except malevolence by Harry and the other good characters in the stories.
A quote from the previous Potter article states that, "Non-magicians like you and I (muggles) are portrayed as dull, boring, cruel or useless." In all actuality, the only "muggles" that are depicted as being cruel or otherwise inferior are Harry's guardians, the Dursleys. There are many other "muggles" in the stories that are quite friendly, and shown that way, such as the parents of Hermione Granger.
It was also stated that the books show that "Power is the ultimate moral choice, irrespective of good or evil." Obviously these also came from an uninformed source. The good characters in the book used their magic to purposes that would benefit all. The only power-hungry characters were, in fact, the evil wizards and witches, and they were definitely not shown to be role models.
One of the accusations in the aforementioned article that shocked me the most was that the Harry Potter books were said to have a part where a baby was boiled alive in a cauldron. The only thing relatively close to this in the story happened when one of the bad wizards was being given back his powers in a cauldron of sorts. His form at this time looked somewhat like a baby, but more like a monster, and this rejuvenation of him was not looked upon as being a good thing by any of the characters except the evil ones.
Lastly, the article stated that Harry Potter was not a true hero because he tells lies, steals, breaks the rules and cheats by copying another student's homework. I can guarantee that there are hardly any children of the age that Harry is supposed to be that have never done these things. While that doesn't make them right, it does make them realistic. When Harry does these things, he usually does them to save lives. If he is to be accused of stealing, just remember that he does it to protect his friends. I'm sure most of us have heard the story of Robin Hood. This "hero" stole from the rich to give to the poor, and people had no problem with that, because it was just a children's story. So are the Harry Potter books.
The books portray many good things, such as friendship, the importance of family and surviving the trials and tribulations of growing up. Their purpose is to enrapture the reader and allow their imagination to grow and expand, because after all, isn't imagination what childhood is all about?
Brittany Kusserow
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Ivy Tech
Editor, Times-Union:After reading the letter to the editor by Dale Tucker concerning Ivy Tech, I have a few comments.
I taught in the first classes that were offered Ivy Tech on a trial basis in 1978. The student response was great and IVTC decided to offer their programs. I was the first Director of Ivy Tech in Warsaw. The problems were many. The National Bank offered a space in their bank for me to use as classes were organized and held at the high school. Office space was soon located on South Buffalo Street. A part-time secretary was provided. When the old McKinley school became available, it was renovated and four classrooms and two offices were used with the majority of classes still being held at the high school. Then the two top floors of the downtown Saemann Building were renovated and used for classrooms with the high school still being used for a number of classes.
During this early years of IVTC at Warsaw, Dale Tucker and Matt Dalton were the prime movers and big help to me as the administrator. It also was a time that I feel Ivy Tech would just as soon pulled out of Warsaw. My salary was in the lowest level. The additional help that I want was refused. I was the book salesman who picked up the books in South Bend and then lugged them to the classroom to sell to the students. My wife was the assistant to the Director, registering students, etc., without pay! Finally, in the last year of my five-year tenure, a part-time computer teacher was hired. The remainder of the teaching staff was provided by the men and women of business and industry that I had to arrange.
After I resigned, Ivy Tech has made some great strides at the old high school building. The local public school officials were very helpful and cooperative during my tenure, and I understand that they still are. What does the future hold for Ivy Tech? It seems to me that the request from the community to come up with three million to renovate the Sprint location is way off base after all that the community has put into Ivy Tech ... Isn't Ivy Tech a state supported college? Virginia Calvin needs to get things clearly in mind as to who pays for the functioning of a state institution.
Keep on it Dale.
Lowell Landis
Former Director of IVY TECH at Warsaw
via e-mail
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