Generations in the Wizarding World

[pbnesbit at msn.com]

Wonderfully lyrical, thought-provoking post, as always, Ebony!

I can only answer this from my Muggle viewpoint, so here goes...

I grew up in the same years as MWPP/Snape.  In my youth, I watched, 
horrified, as uniformed policemen sprayed African-Americans (quite a 
number of them children) with water guns, and set dogs on them.  I 
remember *exactly* where I was when JFK was assassinated. In my 
adolescence, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were assassinated. 
I watched on TV as riots tore apart many of our cities. Also in my 
adolescence, the Viet Nam War escalated, and brothers of people I 
knew were sent over there.  In my young adulthood, I worked with my 
Mum for Veterans' Services and listened to the horror stories of men, 
some barely older than I, who had served over there.  

Today, I am *much* more cynical about the government and its "great 
plans."  I've learned not to entirely trust those who hold great 
power.  I think the same would be true of Sirius, Remus, and all of 
the "old crowd."  They've seen it.  They've been there.  

To me, Dumbledore's speech at the end of GoF is incredibly moving (I 
never can read it without tearing up).  He is warning them about dark 
and difficult times to come.  Preparing them, in a sense, to meet 
what is to come.  

I think they will meet the challenge.  


Peace & Plenty, 

Parker