Looking at the election through Harry Potter’s eyes

Looking at the election through Harry Potter’s eyes

EDITOR:

Watching Democrats abandoning Hillary Clinton to jump on Barack Obama’s well-polished bandwagon, I cannot help but wonder: What would this election look like in Harry Potter’s world?

Were we to transport the Democratic primaries into Harry’s magical world, Hillary would actually be Hermione Granger — intelligent, studious, kind of a know-it-all, somewhat lacking in political panache, but nevertheless, the go-to-girl in a crisis.

Barack Obama would be Gilderoy Lockhart — author of “Magical Me” and winner of Witch Weekly’s Most-Charming-Smile Award five times in a row.

Readers familiar with the Harry Potter stories will recall that otherwise intelligent witches and wizards (including Hermione, at first) are enthralled by Gilderoy Lockhart’s charm, glibness, and purported heroics. But the students unfortunate enough to have him for their defense against the Dark Arts professor discover that he has none of his promised abilities.

One doesn’t have to like or approve of the Harry Potter stories to appreciate that J.K. Rowling created a world that closely mirrors our own. Her characters are all of us, and while their world is magical, their problems, hopes and dreams are just as real as ours. The lessons they teach should be taken seriously.

Here, in our world, the Democratic party is dangerously close to nominating a Gilderoy Lockhart. They are abandoning substance for style. Some older Democrats, who remember John Kennedy, are indulging in nostalgia — not so much for John Kennedy, but for their own youth and the excitement that went with it. Some younger Democrats seem to be indulging in excitement as an end in itself.

The Democratic nominee will be going up against a Republican candidate of substance, a man whose history provides him all the style he needs. So consider this, Democrats: Do you really want to pit Gilderoy Lockhart against Harry Potter?

MARGARET BIDINOTTO

Youngstown

Obama is the answer

EDITOR:

Youngstown, Warren, the Mahoning Valley and the state of Ohio are at the epicenter of the presidential election on Tuesday, March 4.

As a Youngstown and Mahoning Valley resident, I have seen the damage that NAFTA and GATT have done to the manufacturing base of the Mahoning Valley and the state of Ohio. These trade treaties have also contributed to the financial, economical and social decline and the erosion of the middle class, especially in the Mahoning Valley.

I and many Youngstown and Mahoning Valley residents, taxpayers and voters believe the best candidate for real change in the Mahoning Valley and for Ohio is Sen. Barack Obama, because truly the time is now and the historical moment is ours to vote and make the real change.

WILLIE JAMES RICHARDS

Youngstown

State shouldn’t intrude

EDITOR:

I am opposed to the state mandating sick leave for employees. This issue should be left to the employer, and not the state. A small business like mine could be greatly affected by the additional cost of this program.

LEONARD FISHER, CEO

Handels Enterprises, Inc.

Canfield