Harry Potter and the Lessons of Life

Back in 2001 right-wing groups started a drive to remove books from the Harry Potter series in schools across the country by alleging that they were luring children into witchcraft and the occult. Pat Robertson went so far as to say "that God will forsake nations that tolerate witchcraft."

Ok, they have the right to say what THEIR children can or cannot read, but I really think they were overreacting by trying to get the book banned in all schools. The Harry Potter stories are essentially an episodic fairy tale that not only transports the reader to another world, but also teach valuable life lessons, as fairy tales were designed to do. Children need to learn these principles in order to make their way in the world, and adults of all ages can often use a refresher coarse. Here are some of the values I have rediscovered and hope my nieces and nephews will learn from reading the Harry Potter books:

TRUST IN YOURSELF

While magical words and wand maneuvers assist in the making of magic, they are useless unless the wizard using them has the conviction that what they wants to happen, will indeed happen. Believing that which is commonly held as impossible is possible can make a feather levitate, banish fear ( Riddikulus!), or produce a protective spirit.

This is why self-confident Hermione excels at spells even though she was raised as a Muggle, and poor, pure blooded, but timid Neville is such a disaster at magic until he gains self-assurance and commitment to a cause.

LOYALTY

The bond between Harry, Ron and Hermione is firmly established in the first book and tested again and again. While, like all friends, they have their differences, they always seem to overcome them to be there for each other, often in terrifyingly difficult situations.

When Hagrid rescues Harry from his Muggle guardians, a bond of fraternal friendship is formed between them, much like the bond between Hagrid and Dumbledore. Even when Hagrid gives up on himself, Harry refuses to allow him to wallow in self-pity.

Hagrid's loyalty to his animal charges, especially Buckbeak, teaches the young wizards that such devotion is often repaid when one needs it the most.

While no one would confuse the Weasley's with the Brady Bunch, they offer up an excellent example of familial loyalty. They may tease and argue among themselves and drive their poor mother to distraction, but they also look out for and take care of each other. This is why Percy's defection to the Ministry of Magic is such a blow to his parents and earns him the contempt of his siblings.

EVIL HAS MANY FACES

Voldemort is, of course, the ultimate in pure evil for evil's sake, vile beyond redemption, but there are other characters that present subtler representations of wickedness.

While many of the death eaters are just plain sadistic, some, such as Lucius Malfoy, are in it for the profit and the power. In the Muggle world they would be corporate raiders, and CEO's.

Cornelius Fudge is a bumbling example of political corruption, kind of like, oh let's say, George Bush, while Dolores Umbridge makes it an art form. Think Carl Rove in drag.

Some would be inclined to put Snape in this category, but I cannot. Yes, he had taken a dip in the pond of malevolence as a young death eater, as many ill-treated geeks do in order to gain respect and power, but I believe he was terrified by the enormity of what was expected of him and left, returning to Dumbledore for safety, yet retained his bitterness, and hence, semblance of evil.

PREDJUDICE AND INTOLERANCE ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE

Even in the wizarding world there are inequalities. Some of it reeks of racism, as with the treatment of the House Elves and Hagrid's ostracism because of his Giantess mother.

The aspersions cast on mixed blood wizards ( Mud Bloods) and Muggles appears to be a form of class repression, while the shunning of Professor Lupin because he is a werewolf puts me in mind of the way some people, such as aids patients, are sometimes treated like lepers because of their health issues.

The main characters see these ideas for the absurdities they are and Hermione goes so far as to try to organize and free the house elves, only to find out that they did not wish to be freed, which opened up another avenue that even Rowlings seemed to see as too complex for a children's book.

IT'S OK TO BE DIFFERENT

Let's face it, everyone in the magical world is a bit odd in their own way compared to our straight laced Muggle society, however, even the magical folk have their oddballs who are laughed at until they prove themselves to be useful in their own strange way.

My personal favorites are Luna Lovegood and Mad Eye Moody, mainly because I was very much like Luna in my youth, but as the hard lessons of life take their toll I find myself becoming more like Mad Eye in my middle age.

While Luna appears to live in her own cerebral world, she is actually a keen observer of what is going on around her. She does not care what people think about her and has her own unique sense of fashion.

Many years of pursuing and battling the forces of evil have left their marks on Mad Eye Moody both physically and mentally. He is cranky, paranoid and probably an alcoholic, but he is a good man to have on your side when battling death eaters.

Moaning Myrtle was an outcast in life and remains one in death, but she too is a keen observer and has helped Harry out of several tight spots.

Sybil Trelawney is obviously delusional, and decidedly odd with her airy-fairy manner and gypsy costumes, kind of a comic version of Stevie Nicks. However, she is occasionally capable of making predictions that are right on the money.

THE POWER OF LOVE

Lily Potter's supreme sacrifice to save the son she loved was so powerful that it almost destroyed Voldemort, and continued to protect Harry as he grew.

Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, is constantly putting himself at risk to help Harry and he too pays the ultimate price in doing so.

Even beautiful, but vain Fleur Delacour, whom everyone expects to abandon handsome Bill Weasley after his face is mauled by a werewolf, shows her true colors and stands by her man.

Dumbledore keeps trying to tell Harry how powerful love can be in defeating evil, and how hate and anger, while very powerful themselves, destroy not only the opponent, but ultimately oneself as well.