Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

Home ] Up ] Arts ] Intellectual ] Motor ] Social ] Adults ] Questions ]Hit Counter

The above advertising/sponsorship is provided by Angelfire.com and may not represent my views.

Today's Child

Back to Today's Child                                                                                                 updated 10/6/00

The Harry Potter Debate

It has been about three months now since I first heard about the "Harry Potter" issue and started wondering what the fuss was all about.  Although I did not make a great effort to follow the debate I did make note of the comments that were being presented.  
  • the books are all about witches and wizardry
  • the books teach children about the occult yet we can't teach about Christianity in schools
  • the books contain horrible violent scenes which young children should not read

Each time I heard something knew I would share the information with my son (who is now 23), wondering what his opinion was, as he had read the books.  His only comment was "that's rubbish" (or words to that effect.) Finally, after yet another question about whether it was evil and warping kids' minds, he walked away from me without a word and then returned with the first of the four books. "HERE  -- READ IT YOURSELF".  What a concept --read it myself!  I wonder how many of the "bandwagon" hoppers have indeed read the books themselves?

And so that night I delved into the world of Harry Potter and I was "bewitched". (haha, I couldn't resist).  How could one not get caught up in the world of the underdog.  This poor lad, orphaned, being raised by an abusive family, filled with doubts, fears, loneliness, and yet-- above all --strength of character, leads the reader into a world of learning, of friendship, of real life issues, and yes of wizardry.

Cloaked in the realm of magic lies many character-building lessons.  Every reader, in my opinion, has to be able to identify with the characters of the story, whether they ARE one of the students of the Wizard's School, or if they have known one of the 'characters' in their own life. Within the pages of the Harry Potter books can be found the clutz, the poor boy, the bully, the bookworm, the self-conscious, the followers, etc.  And along with these characters comes the development of valuable social/emotional skills.  

  • What does it take to stay true to your friends when they are being humiliated by others? 
  • At what costs do you defend what is right, when it is so easy to give in and take the wrong path?  
  • Would you have the courage to follow what you believe in? 
  • Could you endure the personal torture suffered by the characters in the book? 
  • Have you judged someone by their looks, without really getting to know them? 
  • Why should we give people a second chance, and not judge them by one situation?
  • And what about stereotypes? How do they twist our perceptions of people? 

To "Harry Potter" or not to "Harry Potter" -- that is the question! And the only way to find the answer is to read the books with open eyes, and heart.  Do not judge the books by what others have said.  Do not read only the wizardry, but look at what is really being said.  The books are about open-mindedness and the courage to go against the flow. They are about honour and loyalty. They are about strength of character, and right and wrong. They are about humanity and the real world we find ourselves in, within society.  

I have now finished reading the four books and cannot wait for what comes next.  What will happen to the bully?  Will the loner finally be recognized as a valuable member of the group?  What difficulties will the friendships endure? How will "good" overcome evil?  We can only wait and see! 

Permission to copy is required
D. Roswell copyright 2000

Back to "Today's Child" 

 

 

Hit Counter