The boy who lived again, and again, and again

Harry Potter hysteria went up this past week, with ridiculous numbers of "pot"heads rushing to theaters to see the first part of the final chapter of the epic saga. I too was part of the rush to see the beginning of the end for "the boy who lived," and was not disappointed. Incredible effects, brilliant cinematography and a good plot line made for a great movie.

One thing I noticed while watching however, was the simplicity of the plot. Harry Potter is, at its most basic, a simple story of racism. Instead of the color of one's skin being the symbol for prejudice, the ability to use magic is instead. Voldemort (or rather, he who shall not be named) is simply a glorified white supremacist, a Nazi, a KKK member. All while missing his nose.

Voldemort develops a following of those who do not believe the "other" group is worthy of equal rights. They form an exclusive group to work together to terrorize the non-believers, and to make the lives miserable of all who do not agree with or act like them.

Harry is an exact representation of a freedom fighter. He, the underdog, the one who should have been dead before he even got started, is the only one who can vanquish the evil of prejudice. He, the young man, holds all the power. He is, of course, depicted as bold, brave, fearless, and most of all modest, all while standing up against great danger and fear to defend what he thinks is right.

J.K. Rowling is very talented at crafting a story. She didn't, however, make up the idea. In fact, she wasn't even born when the idea was first used. People have been being killed and tortured for their differences since before anyone can remember, and J.K. Rowling is simply talented enough to write about it and make an excruciating amount of money from it.

Everyone who has bought into the HP phenomenon now has a social obligation. Yeah, that's right. Rowling tricked you. Now that she has you addicted, you have the obligation to be the next Harry Potter. No, race isn't as big of an issue today, although some races are just as abused. This connects much more to the obligation to stand up. Stand up against those who seek to destroy the dreams and hopes of others. Stand up for those who may have no idea that they are oppressed, but simply know that they are suffering. You don't need to wave a wand to create magic. Magic can appear in our daily actions, our weekly behavior, and our yearly commitment to doing what is right to benefit the community as a whole.

It may sound as though this is a giant tangent from the Harry Potter topic that was going on earlier. It really isn't. The story, as creative as it is, boils down simply to even the most famous book of our generation contains the same ideas that have been plaguing us for centuries, and it is our job, as this current movement to fix them.

May we have strength as we do so.

Remove the Stumbling block

You just won the division and are headed to the playoffs for the first time in your career. What are you going to do now?
For most players the answer would be to go into the clubhouse and celebrate with your friends. Champagne will be flowing and the festivities will continue for the remainder of the night.
This was not the case for Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers. After his team clinched a playoff berth, something that is owed to the masterful performance of Hamilton, he chose to skip the post-game elation and instead go with members of the opposing team to discuss his faith with the Oakland fans, a discussion that Hamilton had committed to ahead of time.
Hamilton is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. After years of addiction and abuse to himself, he finally got clean through religion, throwing himself completely into his own personal faith.
When the idea of celebratory alcohol came up, Hamilton chose to avoid temptation and instead share his faith, the thing that had allowed him to get past that part of his life.
It would have been easy to go to the clubhouse. It would have been easy to grab a bottle and cover his teammates. It would have been easy to be doused in champagne by others. But, most importantly, it would have been easy to relapse and get deep into trouble that he had worked so hard to get himself away from.
Having the courage to admit that something that you want to do may bring about a problem is admirable. Having the ability to avoid situations that will cause events that may harm you takes an incredible amount of maturity and self-respect.
Hamilton's ability to use spirituality and faith to keep his life on track makes him one of my biggest heroes. I have so much respect and admiration for the experiences that he has endured, and the ability for him to take responsibility for his actions and learn from them makes him the type of individual who is a good role model for not only baseball fans, but all people.

"I have a dream"...and YOU do too

You are 5 years old. You are sitting in a kindergarten classroom and your teacher asks you "What do you want to do when you grow up?" You think for a moment, and then throw something out there. Sometimes it is an astronaut, sometimes a fireman, sometimes a scientist, a president, and any other profession. But there is an answer. Something you want to do.

I recently turned the tables and asked one of MY teachers what SHE wanted to be when she grew up. At first she laughed, chuckling at the concept of "growing up" for an adult. But, after a minute, I repeated the question. I wasn't joking; I wanted to know.

Everyone has dreams. Whether they are short term or long, lofty or basic, insignificant or momentous. But all too often they disappear. You grow up, realize how hard it can be to attain them, and stop trying.

I find it especially disheartening when I see people stop striving for what they reach for. I can't help but feel responsible. That may sound ridiculous, but I feel that I could have helped them, no matter how big a goal, at least in some way.

Interestingly enough, one of MY goals right now is to avoid just that. My goal is to be there to help people realize those dreams that may be seemingly out of reach. I want to help facilitate those who think their dream is impossible, but really just need a little extra help in reaching the peak of the mountain.

So whether it be something as little as visiting some restaurant, or as lofty as becoming president of the United States, don't let your dream slip away. Don't get wrapped up in how hard it is to attain. Get wrapped up in how amazing it will be to get to the goal. And if you ever need inspiration, look for me. Ask me. Or ask anyone. All you need is a kick in the butt to get you rolling.