'Harry Potter' Author: Stop Caging Children

Newsmax ^ | February 5, 2006 | Carl Limbacher, et al.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

The spectacle of a hapless little boy staring through the heavy mesh of a cage launched mega-successful author of the Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling, on a crusade to end the caging of Eastern European tots.

Referring to a 2004 story in Britain’s Sunday Times about little Vasek Knotek imprisoned in a Prague hospital, Rowling wrote in today’s Times, "If you read the piece and it’s as bad as the picture, then you’ve got to do something about it.”

The story hit her hard, she wrote, especially since she has a horror of what she sees as "one unendurable terror - incarceration in a very small space.”

"I tore out the article, frightened of losing it even though it was the most disturbing thing I had ever read,” she explained. "The following day I photocopied the page 50 times and started writing letters.”

Doing something about it has not been easy the Times noted, explaining that Rowling has had to combine her work for numerous other charitable causes and her roles as mother and author. It meant she had to stop breastfeeding her third child slightly early when she traveled to Bucharest last month to launch a charity, the "Children’s High Level Group,” which will campaign for improved rights for children.

Among its goals, she wrote is putting a stop to the "widespread cultural acceptance, even encouragement, of abandonment in the cases of children with mental and physical handicaps.” Noting that the Romanian government has put a moratorium on adoptions by foreign parents despite pressure from the West, she wrote that it is "an issue around which tempers flare like grenades.”

She writes movingly of "exceptional” children and teenagers she met who had experienced Romania’s child care system, describing how she found one abandoned baby lying listlessly in a hospital.

"I tickled her cheek with a finger; she continued to look ahead. But then as I was about to move away she looked round and gave a sudden smile.” Rowling writes that she so choked up that she felt she had a "hard-boiled egg in her throat”.

Conditions for children in Romania, says Rowling, have improved hugely since the fall of the communist regime in 1989. But she writes: "There is still much work to do there — more than 30,000 children remain in care.”

[retrokitten]

Potter Ping!

[Tijeras_Slim]

I always thought B.F. Skinner was a Death Eater.

[syberghost]

Just remember one thing, Ms. Rowling; under the Communists, you couldn't fight for a cause like this.

You can because of hard-nosed American politics. You can because Ronald Reagan said "evil empire" and refused to stop producing very expensive weapons. You can because rough men stood ready to do violence on your behalf.

While fighting your good fight, and make no mistake I think it's an excellent one, if you happen to run across an American soldier, be sure to thank him. While you're at it, thank the hundreds of Romanian troops in Iraq.

[retrokitten]

Off the top of my head I didn't know who that was, so I googled him. Now that I know, I totally agree with you. LOL

[Tarkin]

What about one of his main opponents - a certain linguistics professor from MIT?

[Pippin]

How can I help Ms Rowling in her fight for children's right to a safe and secure home were there is love.

I agree with Rowling about children of all backgrounds should and do have the right to a family and a good safe place in wich to live and learn and grow and play.

[null and void]

I wonder if we'll see children in cages in the last book?

[50sDad]

I was once told that if you encounter a rude Frenchman, just ask "Sprechenzie Deutsch?" When he says "Non," reply...

"You're welcome!"

[Frank_2001]

LOL;)

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

J.K Rowling is awesome. Thank you for sharing this story.

Harry Potter BUMP!

[retrokitten]

You know, I don't know. I'm searching around to see what I can find.

[Pippin]

Noooooooooo!

[NaughtiusMaximus]

My wife and I childproofed our house.

But they still keep getting in.

[Pippin]

Okay, thanks!

Let me know what you've found out.

[Pippin]

LOL!

Living up to your screenname ;o)

That was a good one!

[Allegra]

Everybody, all together now...

GRYFFINDOR!

[Pippin]

YEAH!!!!!

[null and void]

No? Why not?

[Pippin]

Okay!

Only if it's Draco!

I'd like to see him in a cage! LOL!

[Tijeras_Slim]

What about one of his main opponents - a certain linguistics professor from MIT?

He's a blast ended scrut.

[null and void]

I was thinking more along the lines of the OOTP rescueing a bunch from the Deatheaters.

Pearl S. Buck added a retarded child to The Good Earth simply because she had one at her knee.

J K Rowling could certainly have something she is passionate about added to one of her books.

[Pippin]

BTW, A co-worker and avid HP fan has told me that the DVD for "Goblet of Fire" will be out sometime in the middle of March.

Also, the 5th movie "Order of the Phoenix" will come out sometime in 2007. They haVE ALREADY Started shooting the movie and they found the actress who will play Umbridge. I can't remember the actress but she is British.

[Pippin]

An idea! :o)

[null and void]

Thanks! Get me one for my birthday...

[Pippin]

*snicker*

[Pippin]

Er, what?

A DVD?

And how am I going to get it to you?

[Old Professer]

How can one have the right to a family?

[Pippin]

I meant to say they have a right to be a part of a family

Sorry about that, I'm not real good at saying exactly what I mean.

[retrokitten]

Mugglenet has the new characters pictures about halfway down the page. Scroll a little further down and it has the actors who are playing Magorian and Kingsley Shacklebolt. One thing I read said filming was supposed to start today, but I'm thinking that they are probably in the read-through and rehearsal stages, because everything else I read says March.

I'm still looking, but I can't find much on ways to help the children of eastern Europe. This new group JKR is in looks so new that I haven't found a website or anything yet. Just a lot of articles saying what horrible conditions the children, mentally-ill adults and senior citizens are living in. It's very foul stuff.

[mollynme]

the actress who will play Umbridge

Imelda Staunton

[retrokitten]

Oh and amazon.com is already taking pre-orders for the DVD! It says the release date is 3/7.

[null and void]

A DVD?

yeah.

And how am I going to get it to you?

Hand carry?

};^P

[Pippin]

BRAT!

LOL!

[Pippin]

Thanks! :o)

[Pippin]

She looks familiar, like I've seen her doing other movies or tv.

[mollynme]

According to IMDB she was in Shakespeare in Love and played the abortionist in Vera Drake.

[EmilyGeiger]

and they found the actress who will play Umbridge.



I always think of Helen Thomas when i read about Umbridge. :)

[SuziQ]

I'm sure a lot of those Romanian children who have been abandoned to orphanages seem like they might be mentally ill, but it's probably just that they've shut down emotionally from the horror of being abandoned by their parents and also their government. But it's amazing what a little loving care could do for them!

I find it unconscionable that the Romanian govt. would not allow them to be adopted by Western families! The Govt. is condemning those children to hell on earth.

[SuziQ]

J K Rowling could certainly have something she is passionate about added to one of her books.

Sounds like she only recently found out about it. Maybe she'll work this, or something akin to it into the last book.

If not, I hope she'll just work hard in real life for it.

[Oztrich Boy]

Oh stop whining. Not everything is about the USA.

[SuziQ]

I can't remember the actress but she is British.

I can see Dame Judi Dench in the part.

[SuziQ]

Imelda Staunton

Oh yeah!! Even BETTER than Dame Judi. Imelda has the right eyes and facial structure!

[Cymbaline]

Eewww! She'd make a perfect Umbridge!

[Politicalmom]

You too?? :)

[onja]

Why do you assume she's blaming America. In the article she said nothing about America; only that we need to help those chidren. Do you have a problem with that?

[EmilyGeiger]

[Pippin]

Helen Thomas?

LOL!

That would've fit the image I have of Umbridge perfectly! :o)

[Pippin]

RE: #37

I won't hold that against her.

[syberghost]

I has been suggested that she is deliberately anti-American in her viewpoints. But in any event, any such post made here, where she doesn't read it, is obviously for the peanut gallery.