Tom Riddle's/Voldemort's name

[m.bockermann at t-online.de]

No: HPFGUIDX 37099

Ama wrote:
Speaking of the brotherhood of the
wands, ecuman, did you know that the name Thomas, as
in Tom Riddle/Voldemort means twin?!  Just a little
something to ruminate on...


Me:
Speaking of Tom Riddle's name... here is something that I have been chewing
on for some time.

As we know, Dumbledore is *very* adamant about calling Lord Voldemort by his
"proper name" (HP1, chapter 1) and not "you-know-who" or another euphemism.
In most magical systems in literature, the name of a person has a very
special meaning - often it is a key to his/her power, possibly kept secret
and so on. So it is logical to insist on calling Voldemort by his *real*
name: Riddle. Still, Dumbledores insists on calling him Voldemort.

Now, here is the question: if Dumbledore is so eager to dispell the fear
people have about calling the dark Lord by his name - why is he still using
"Voldemort" at all?

We know (and Dumbledore does, too) that Voldemort is in truth Tom Riddle. So
*why* doesn't Dumbledore tell people about it? Instead of telling them who
Voldemort was and giving the witches and wizards a chance to deal with the
information, Dumbledore keeps it secret.
There is still the trophy Riddle won for his special service (the servie
that ended Haggrid's education at Hogwarts) at its honered place in
Hogwarts. So the WW at large hasn't connected Riddle to Voldemort. The
witches and wizards remain blissfully ignorant.

What would happen, if he announced Voldemort's identity? Are there any
people who would be bothered, threatened, whatever by the realization that
the charming, strenuous student named Riddle turned into this monster? Is
there any way this fact would endanger Harry? Why would it matter: because
of a rich Muggle named Riddle or a witch whose name still remains unknown?

Any ideas on this subject? Or am I just chasing butterflies?

Barbara Jebenstreit