1 Mind, 1 Mission, 1 Goal (And I Don't Mean Quidditch)
by Ann Marie
“It’s Draco and Harry sitting in a tree, s-n-o-g-g-i-n-g. It’s Draco and Harry sitting in a tree, f-a-l-l-i-n-g in love.”- “Draco and Harry” by the Whomping Willows
We Potter fans are very open minded people. Though our own personal beliefs are different, we can all agree as a group on a good number of major issues: the importance of reading, the power of love, and gays are people too. Ok, before personal stuff keeps you from reading let me get one thing clear right now- I’m just here to point something out to you (hoping that it’s something you’ve never realized or thought about before). Think about it. How many other groups- especially other series fanatics- can get away with the stuff we do? NONE! And I love it.
Through Harry Potter, kids, teens, and adults alike have joined and created groups dedicated to reading. The Potter Alliance, the most well known, was founded to “use examples of Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore to spread love and fight the Dark Arts in the real world.” Earlier this year they supported a book drive for children in Africa (as well as other places in America I think). By using the idea of a House Cup they collected thousands of fiction novels, so many I don’t think anyone wanted to count them all. We Potter-maniacs have also learned through countless examples how love is more powerful than hate. Voldy didn’t get that message well, did he? I’ve seen shirts shouting it, websites quoting it, people talking about it, and best of all our favorite genera of music is taking action! Many of the greatest Wrock bands out there have recorded not one, but two albums speaking out about the threats of public media. Wizards and Muggles Rock for Social Justice Volume Two features The Whomping Willows, Gred and Forge, The Remus Lupins, Catchlove, and so many more. All the songs talk about the Death Eaters controlling the Daily Prophet and Quibbler, but the message is pointed directly at our muggle world. As daring as this is, nothing shocked me more- in a good way- than gay rights.
In my opinion, this is our biggest fight we’ve kept secret. In 2007, Jo spilled the beans on one of Dumbledore’s secrets. Dumbledore was gay! There were so many reactions, who could keep up with them all? After a while, things calmed down, and I realized that I don’t care. Ok, reading DH and knowing kind of made things awkward about Grindelwald, but whatever. As a group of wannabe wizards we haven’t stopped shouting about our phoenix and his great deeds. Wizard Rock, once again, came to defend him. Justin Finch-Fletchly and the Sugar Quills even wrote a song about it. “Dumbledore is gay, and that’s OK. We don’t love him any different than we did yesterday.” The Wizards and Muggles Rock for Social Justice Volume Two cover depicts Dumbledore and Grindelwald getting married. Not only do we see nothing wrong with Dumbledore’s secret ways, The Whomping Willows wondered about other characters’ true loves. Now, where Matt Maggacamo came up with the idea of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy being together I don’t know. As crazy as the idea seems to me, it’s a great song.
So if we wannabes with our plastic wants, costume bought robes, and painted scars can fight for equality and happiness for muggles, why can’t our heroes and the wizarding world fight, too? Hermione of the Magical Law Enforcement Department, start SPEW again. Ginny of the Qudditch Department, all co-ed teams (as great as the Holyhead Harpies are, no more all-girl teams, ok?). Harry of the Auror Department, keep doing what you’re doing. To the rest of the Ministry (maybe the Ministry of Magic could write a song about equal treatment. That’d be cool. I think I see Wizards and Muggles Rock for Social Justice Volume Three?), werewolves are good, so start helping them get jobs. And to the wizards who keep their money at Gringotts, be nice to the goblins, and the goblins will be nice to you. As for the whole dispute on who owns what… the dragon wins.
See? I told you I wouldn’t be too bad. In all that useless info, what I meant was I love us HP fans. Though different, we’re the same. We can improve the world. One mind, one mission, and one goal.
We Potter fans are very open minded people. Though our own personal beliefs are different, we can all agree as a group on a good number of major issues: the importance of reading, the power of love, and gays are people too. Ok, before personal stuff keeps you from reading let me get one thing clear right now- I’m just here to point something out to you (hoping that it’s something you’ve never realized or thought about before). Think about it. How many other groups- especially other series fanatics- can get away with the stuff we do? NONE! And I love it.
Through Harry Potter, kids, teens, and adults alike have joined and created groups dedicated to reading. The Potter Alliance, the most well known, was founded to “use examples of Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore to spread love and fight the Dark Arts in the real world.” Earlier this year they supported a book drive for children in Africa (as well as other places in America I think). By using the idea of a House Cup they collected thousands of fiction novels, so many I don’t think anyone wanted to count them all. We Potter-maniacs have also learned through countless examples how love is more powerful than hate. Voldy didn’t get that message well, did he? I’ve seen shirts shouting it, websites quoting it, people talking about it, and best of all our favorite genera of music is taking action! Many of the greatest Wrock bands out there have recorded not one, but two albums speaking out about the threats of public media. Wizards and Muggles Rock for Social Justice Volume Two features The Whomping Willows, Gred and Forge, The Remus Lupins, Catchlove, and so many more. All the songs talk about the Death Eaters controlling the Daily Prophet and Quibbler, but the message is pointed directly at our muggle world. As daring as this is, nothing shocked me more- in a good way- than gay rights.
In my opinion, this is our biggest fight we’ve kept secret. In 2007, Jo spilled the beans on one of Dumbledore’s secrets. Dumbledore was gay! There were so many reactions, who could keep up with them all? After a while, things calmed down, and I realized that I don’t care. Ok, reading DH and knowing kind of made things awkward about Grindelwald, but whatever. As a group of wannabe wizards we haven’t stopped shouting about our phoenix and his great deeds. Wizard Rock, once again, came to defend him. Justin Finch-Fletchly and the Sugar Quills even wrote a song about it. “Dumbledore is gay, and that’s OK. We don’t love him any different than we did yesterday.” The Wizards and Muggles Rock for Social Justice Volume Two cover depicts Dumbledore and Grindelwald getting married. Not only do we see nothing wrong with Dumbledore’s secret ways, The Whomping Willows wondered about other characters’ true loves. Now, where Matt Maggacamo came up with the idea of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy being together I don’t know. As crazy as the idea seems to me, it’s a great song.
So if we wannabes with our plastic wants, costume bought robes, and painted scars can fight for equality and happiness for muggles, why can’t our heroes and the wizarding world fight, too? Hermione of the Magical Law Enforcement Department, start SPEW again. Ginny of the Qudditch Department, all co-ed teams (as great as the Holyhead Harpies are, no more all-girl teams, ok?). Harry of the Auror Department, keep doing what you’re doing. To the rest of the Ministry (maybe the Ministry of Magic could write a song about equal treatment. That’d be cool. I think I see Wizards and Muggles Rock for Social Justice Volume Three?), werewolves are good, so start helping them get jobs. And to the wizards who keep their money at Gringotts, be nice to the goblins, and the goblins will be nice to you. As for the whole dispute on who owns what… the dragon wins.
See? I told you I wouldn’t be too bad. In all that useless info, what I meant was I love us HP fans. Though different, we’re the same. We can improve the world. One mind, one mission, and one goal.
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