Half-Baked Prince

Having started the most recent Harry Potter adventure In Australia and been forced to abandon it, I decided to borrow the same substantial tome from Sanda library. With a three week deadline for its return, I managed the last chapter this morning. A good read with a few surprises, as usual.

Of course, I think everyone knew about the death of Dumbledore within minutes of the novel's release, but the manner of his death had, luckily, thus far evaded me. I was surprised and somewhat shocked that the ghastly deed was the work of Severus Snape, whom Dumbledore had implicitly trusted. Despite his past history as a Death Eater and servant of the unmentionable one, we had, I believe, been given some reason to believe that Snape had undergone some kind of transformation of character. At first reading, this change appears to now to have been deluded good-will one behalf of the readership.

But therein lies to problem. Having sought out the opinion of other Potter readers at a fan site (not something I make a habit of, incidentally) I discovered that a lot of folks felt the same way. That is, despite his somewhat irksome nature, Snape was seen as redeemable. Further, that the murder of Dumbledore was a shocking incident, given the absolute trust that the latter had had in Snape. And. no doubt, the complex feelings that readers had about the sardonic wizard.

This has, in turn, spurned some elaborate theories about the reality of the act itself. One theory, supported by events and quotations from the novels, argued that Snape was obeying Dumbledores plea to kill him in order to save the (hidden) Harry Potter. It fits quite a lot of the facts, but the central argument against it is simply this. Dumbledore abhored killing of any sort and to ask one of his staff members to murder him, even as a sacrifice, seems well beyond the fundamental philosophy of the man.

Is there redemption after all? Is it possible? I guess we will find out soon enough.

pontifications

The furor over Pope Benedicts recent speech has barely abated, despite the Pontiff's apology. Anyone wishing to comment on the matter would be well advised to read the text of the speech, which I did a a couple of days after the 'story' broke. It might be argued that the Pope should have used a differnt example to illustrate his point, though it seems that the choice of material may have been the result of the recent translation of the the 14th century text. So in spite of its medieval origins, it was, hot off the press, so to speak. And the Pontiff, after all, is a theologian, interested, no doubt, in the arcane and obscure.

The resulting hysteria (for there is no other word for it), shows that, at best, Islam has a problem. It has a probem with criticism, whether intended or not. It has a problem, common at to all reliogions at some stage, with extremism amongst some of its adherents. It has an ongoing problem of image amomgst many many people in the non-muslim world. The bad behaviour of the few has tarnished the majority.

Some of the problems that we see today have resulted from aspects, residual or otherwise, of Western imperial policy in the past. Some of the perceived slights have resulted from recent (and often unwise) Western interventions in the Middle East today. The Israeli/Palestinian imbroglio is a continuing sore in a wounded region. Having said that, the only way for Islam to mend its fence is through self-help - by the actions of its own believers. Somehow, through whatever efforts and collaborations possible, it must reign in those fanatics who claim to represent the faith, and demonsrate through actions, and not just protesting words, that it is a faith of peace. Does this mean eschewing excuses and ceasing to look for scapegoats? Yes. Will it mean a better deal for people of the Islamic faith and the wider world. I hope so.

This is just to say...

I guess that I must be a lucky person. And perhaps I'm having a fortunate life as A.B Facey was wont to say. Yes, there have been some misshaps. I've been arrested and been tried in a court ( a terrifying experience), I've suffered from various nervous disorders which continue to come and go and I can never return to my old job as a teacher in Australia. Pitted against this mild downside is the fact that I am happily married to a gorgeous amd lovely woman, I have a healthy baby boy, a lot of friends, some hobbies that I'm moderately good at, and, I have had the chance to work overseas on and off for the last 5 years.

I am especially happy not to be famous or even infamous. I don't want the allotted 15 minutes of fame. media attention, a well paid TV commercial or financial riches. I do want happiness, though it is an allusive quality at best. And if any of the email spammers who regularly plague my inbox are reading this, no, I don't want a penis enlargement, discount bulk viagra or the opportunity to work from home to make a fortune. Nor am I interested in allowing my bank account ot be used by a stranger in Nigeria to launder funds that don't exist.

No matter what happens, yes, it has been a fortunate life so far. I should grumble less and be thankful more.