"As your new Minister for Magic, I promise to restore this temple of tolerance to its
former glory.
Therefore, beginning today, each employee will submit themselves for evaluation.
But know this: you have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide."
Harry Potter has touched the hearts of people all over the world.
For many of us, it was an integral part of our childhood.
We dealt with life's obstacles and came of age alongside Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Although it's a work of fiction, the Harry Potter series also derives much of its power
from a narrative that deals symbolically with the struggle for justice and freedom in our
world.
It's said, 'the soul thinks in pictures' and in Harry Potter, we see vivid pictures of
the horrors of human rights abuses.
Voldemort's desire to immortalize himself spurs him to commit heinous crimes against
people.
He, along with his Death Eaters, use the Three Unforgivable Curses against citizens with
reckless abandon.
The Curses recognizes the worst possible use of magic in the wizarding world.
Interestingly, they represent three core human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights.
"To her, the mixture of magical and Muggle blood is not an abomination, but something
to be encouraged."
"Severus...Severus, please.
We're friends."
The Killing Curse represents a violation of the right to life.
Crucio, the Torture Curse that brings excruciating pain to its victim, represents a violation
of the freedom from torture and cruel, inhumane treatment.
Imperio, the Control Curse that places the mind of the victim entirely under the control of
the wizard that performed the curse, represents slavery.
"Dobby never meant to kill.
Dobby only meant to maim, or seriously injure."
"How dare you take a witch's wand?
How dare you defy your masters?"
"Dobby has no master.
Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends."
Voldemort uses these curses whenever it serves his interests, making him comparable to many
totalitarian leaders in our world.
He's also genocidal; he hopes to establish a world in which pure-blood witches and wizards
rule over all other creatures, including non-magical humans.
Harry Potter teaches us several important human rights lessons that we'd do well to remember
in today's world.
One: the strong are not entitled to abuse the rights of weaker individuals simply because
they can.
Two: justifying human rights abuses as a means to a supposedly higher end inevitably leads
society down the path of destruction and suffering.
Three: human rights apply to everyone, everywhere.
They are the inheritance of all humanity and must be defended on behalf of the weakest
and most vulnerable if they are to be preserved for the good of all.
"Do your duty to our school!
I've always wanted to use that spell."
The ultimate triumph of good over evil in this series is the triumph of equality, freedom,
and life over discrimination, oppression, and murder.
Unfortunately, things aren't that simple in the real world.
But perhaps this timeless universal human rights message is why Harry Potter resonated
so deeply with an entire generation.
May we all have the moral imagination and courage to stand up against such abuses in
the real world, for the sake of those who cannot defend themselves.
"Do not pity the dead, Harry.
Pity the living.
And above all, all those who live without love."