Why Draco Malfoy Isn't Evil ...

[anguis_1 at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 14934

I've been lurking for a while, but I felt I just had to put my 2
cents 
worth in.  Since I work a lot with kids (mostly grade school) and my 
own high school experiences are still very fresh in my mind, I happen 
to have a very strong opinion on this topic.
Children who behave like Draco usually do not do so without reason. 
As 
quite a bit of fanfiction has asserted, the root of the problem is
most 
often found in the home.  Physical abuse does not have to be present 
(although it is all too common), nor even verbal abuse.  Neglect
(once 
again, not just physical) and even overindulgence can foster a 
seemingly unreasonable amount of genuine hatred.  Often, this strong 
emotion is not directed toward the responsible parties, but toward *
innocent* bystanders, such as a child's peers.  (This situation is
not 
limited to childhood, either.  Once a person gets started on this
path, 
it is extremely difficult to deviate from it, even in adulthood, when 
it is said that he or she *should know better.*)
(Just a note: I am not saying that all children from problematic
homes 
turn out like this.  There are plenty of people who somehow transcend 
their difficulties and become stronger for them.  However, it is 
impossible to discern why the same experiences can make one person 
bitter and cruel and another person compassionate.)
In dealing with children such as those I have described, I find that
I 
do not get angry at them, but at their parents/guardians.  So,
instead 
of condemning Draco, look for the cause of his actions, which, I 
believe, lies in his parents.

And now, just to show how much of nitpicker I am....
Cassie said,<"EVIL" is a big word and I'd use it 
> sparingly. It does not apply to "being mean.">
Personally, I agree with you, but if you look in the OED, evil has a 
very broad range of meaning, from "mischievous"(aha! I KNEW Harry was 
evil!;) to "unpleasant" to "offensive" to "prejudicial" to "hurtful"
to 
"vicious" to "wicked" to "morally depraved."
However, I agree with most of the rest of her post.