So true and in Harry Potter, we see him overcome it. If someone did something about it FOR him, it would take something away from how Harry himself overcomes it. It also makes for a great sense of satisfaction when we see Harry's magic do something deliciously deserved to the reprehensible couple and that horrible child.

I read a review yesterday about "Hairspray." The reviewer was critical that the movie doesn't play up the racial part of it more and that it didn't accurately reflect the times. My response to both types of criticism is this: if you want that part of a movie or a book played up and done accurately, write it yourself! "Hairspray" is through the eyes of the white people involved, not the black and is a celebration of overcoming prejudice and says it's cool to be different!

Perhaps someone should write it from the black perspective. Of course, some reviewer would then take them to task for not accurately portraying how sympathetic many white people were to the problems black people faced.

Write a book about a child who is abused and is rescued. That would be the end of the book, though. Harry Potter is a series about Harry's journey, the things he had to overcome and yet still remained a good person but able to take care of himself very well in spite of what he has suffered.

I think people read into books and movies the things that are important to them and if it doesn't quite do it the way they want, they criticize instead of simply enjoying it for what it is. There are books and movies out there that do take on race relations in very real ways and take on child abuse in very real ways. Just don't expect any one book or movie to be the end all and be all and to answer all of life's problems. Some of that you have to do for yourself.

Discussion of the issues is a good thing.