Ahh, that’s amazing. :-) Well deserved, Jo!

Not a huge Obama fan, but cool!

::climbs up on soapbox::

Folks are entitled not to like Obama, but there is a very good reason why he and JKR are mutual admirers: They are both committed to the same kinds of human values. The lessons taught in the books about the importance of tolerance and acceptance and understanding of Muggles, mudbloods, house elves, werewolves etc. are clear metaphors for the way many people treat non-Christians, non-whites, gays, immigrants, poor people, the mentally ill etc. in the real world. And the more virulent political opposition to Obama, such as the ‘birthers,’ comes from the same kind of people who would be Death Eaters or followers of Grindelwald or Ministry of Magic employees under the Pius Thicknesse regime if there really were such things.

I have no doubt that a real-life Grindelwald, for example, would be a huge supporter of the current trend popularized by right-wing talk radio hosts to blame everything that goes wrong on immigrants. And if Lucius Malfoy were American, he could easily be the ridiculously overpaid CEO of some insurance company who is funding misleading ad campaigns to overturn Obama’s attempts to reform the health care system, for fear that they will hurt his profits. If you identify with JKR’s ideals as expressed in the HP books, it wouldn’t hurt to examine if and how your personal politics align with them. (Well, maybe it would hurt for some, but sometimes pain is required for growth.)

::steps down::

@WeenyOwl Well said.

Let’s not forget the Obamas invited JKR — and she accepted the invitation.

Thanks, Oh, Neville. Though I must say, if by some remarkable twist of fate I should ever get invited to a dinner party with the same guest list and have some say in the seating arrangements, there’s no question in my mind that I’d want to be seated next to JKR so I could ask her a million questions!

WeenyOwl- I’m sure the people who commented saying they aren’t fans of Obama don’t dislike him because he’s tolerant, and I’m sure they’re aware of his policies. I’d be inclined to think they don’t like him because he hasn’t lived up to what he promised, but even if they are shock horror Republicans I doubt that any of what you said would come into their reasons for disliking him…

As you said, people are entitled not to like Obama, and it’s not very nice to imply that the reason they don’t like him is because they don’t understand what he stands for.

(FYI- not American and glad Obama is president!)

Are there any pictures of Jo at the dinner do we know?

So glad you said all that, WeenyOwl.

I’ve loved that Obama read Harry Potter to his girls – and I’m very jealous of that pie and ice cream!

well said guys..all obama thoughts aside though, no matter what people think of him as president or personally, He already gets brownie points for being a Potter fan. I think it is brilliant he has read the books. Not to mention, as a few of you said, she accepted his invite as well.

Great to see her appreciated! I just love J.K…who doesn’t?

Thats real cool.