Abuse

[Susan McGee]

No: HPFGUIDX 2602

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Simon Branford" 
<simon.branford at h...> wrote:
> Dee wrote: "I DISAGREE!!!  (Sorry Simon!)"
> 
> I would have been more upset if it had not promoted a reaction. It 
is quite
> an important issue to the books.
> 
> Dee wrote: "On page 41, american, Ch 3, it stated how Vernon beat 
Dusley
> about the head"
> 
> Exact quote is: "...his father had hit him round the head for 
holding them
> up..."
> It depends on what is meant by this. If it is a clip round the ear 
hole then
> there is nothing wrong with it. There is a large amount of 
ambiguity in the
> statement and I took it to be a more symbolic action against Dudley 
rather
> than any massive fists flying action. We are told of some of the 
actions the
> Dursley's take against Harry. If they did hit him then I am sure we 
would
> know about it.
> 
> Dee wrote: "Neglect is not only of items (food, clothes, etc), it's 
also of
> love.  As far as that, Harry is the one of most neglected ten year 
olds!"
> 
> He has had an advantage that many never had. He had 15 months of 
total love
> from his parents (I think this is a logical assumption) at the 
beginning of
> his life. Things may have gone downhill from there but I still do 
not think
> it was that serious.
> 
> Simon


I want to be respectful to your viewpoints, but must vehemently 
disagree with them.

Harry is an abused and neglected child. 
Dumbledore's decision to leave him with the Dursleys may
be eventually vindicated because Harry has turned out to be
a terrific person. He does have genetics on his side. He does
have prenatal and first 15 months love on his side.

But the Dursleys have been beastly to him, and what is described is
the classic case of the battered child.

Susan McGee
former director Child Abuse and Neglect Council, Jackson, Michigan
current director, Domestic Violence Project, Ann Arbor, Michigan