When I first read this, I pondered over it, considered it along with the plot, and accepted it. However, something drove me to read the various comments that had been posted under the news article.
I was incredibly surprised.
The responses ran the gamut from supportive to ambivalent to infuriated.
Most of these had one key line that surprised me. Something along the lines of "Why did she say that?"
(http://www.newsweek.com/id/50787/output/comments)
I don't understand how a character's sexual preference can change or ruin a book, but it does address the views of our society.
Bill O'Reilly, a conservative political commentator, referred to JK Rowling as a "'provocateur' who is 'going to let all hell break loose'".
(http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/24/oreilly-dumbledore/)
Should JK Rowling really be accused of a detrimental act, while she is just putting the spotlight back on an issue that is ever-present in many Americans lives?
Gallup Poll released several polls addressing America's changing attitude:
Do you feel that homosexuality should be considered an acceptable alternative lifestyle or not?
As you may know, there has been considerable discussion in the news regarding the rights of homosexual men and women. In general, do you think homosexuals should or should not have equal rights in terms of job opportunities?
Yet gay marriage still has not been legalized.
Do you think that homophobic attitudes have truly changed over the years?
What caused the vast amount of criticism Rowling's announcement made?
