Letters

Why

"The Real Magic Of Harry Potter" brought tears to my eyes [ARTS, June 23], not just for the account of author J.K. Rowling's long-distance friendship with Catie Hoch, the young American fan befriended by Rowling as the girl was dying of cancer but also because of the far-reaching effects the Potter stories have on people of all ages. As a teacher, I appreciate the effort that goes into writing the books, and I have used them to teach my students how to use descriptive language to improve their writing. The stories all have lessons to be learned, and although some are subtle, each is a gem to discover. That children are recognizing those subtle lessons and learning from them is a credit to Rowling.
LORI MUSA
Henderson, Nev.

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You noted that some conservative Christian parents think the Harry Potter books "promote witchcraft and Satanism." I don't understand why people would discourage reading this remarkable series, even if their religion holds that magic is bad. Rowling writes about goodness triumphing over evil, and although many of the characters are clearly either good or bad, there are also witches and wizards in the gray area in between. Even if the Potter books, as Yale professor Harold Bloom predicted, end up "in the dustbins everywhere," readers worldwide, young and old, will remember them as fascinating, magical stories of bravery and love.
MELISSA PAN
Plano, Texas

Contrary to what faultfinders like Bloom believe, Rowling possesses the one trait that all great writers share: the ability to make the reader want to turn the page. While I've always admired Rowling as a writer, when I read of her emailing Catie Hoch and reading the fourth book aloud to her on the phone, my respect for Rowling as a person increased enormously. Please, Ms. Rowling, ignore the critics! Your understanding of the human condition clearly surpasses theirs.
ELAINE PAPPAS-PUCKETT
Laguna Niguel, Calif.

It was gratifying that you focused on the positive aspects of Rowling's series and not on the headline-making, ban-this-book rubbish that so often takes center stage. Children (and adults) have found something they love that requires no keyboard to access — only imagination and an open mind. As a teacher, I relish discovering a book that students are eager to finish and reread. When students hustle into the classroom and want to share and discuss parts of a book they have read, that's truly magic.
DANIEL WALTERS
West Seneca, N.Y.

There is nothing more thrilling than seeing my 9-year-old son reading for hours. No watching TV, no playing video games, just reading a book. That is the gift Rowling has given parents. DAYNA O'GORMAN Olathe, Kans.

I'm shocked by those who believe that the Potter books promote witchcraft and so are bad for children to read. Have these critics forgotten the timeless classics, like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, The Wizard of Oz and Cinderella, all of which include magic and even witches? The story of Harry Potter will be yet another classic tale that will generously feed the imagination of generations to come.
LAUREN STEWART
Geneseo, N.Y.

--Lots of grownups were eager to let us know that they love Harry Potter as much as kids do. "My college fraternity brothers made fun of me until I persuaded them to read the first book," wrote a Floridian. "Guess what? They were all addicted immediately." Sharing the Pottermania were two friends from Nebraska, "both well over 50 and great H.P. fans." They proudly declared that they drove "100-plus miles to a bookstore in Rapid City, S.D., for the 12:01 a.m. release of Book 5." And an Arizona man wrote, "If everyone under 18 were to disappear from the face of the earth, the newest Potter book would still sell 3 million copies, including one to me."

Clandestine Commandos

Your report on the increased reliance ON the U.S. special forces made them appear unbeatable and invulnerable [IRAQ: THE WAR AND ITS AFTERMATH, June 23]. You noted that next year U.S. taxpayers will probably spend $7 billion on special forces alone. This might lead people to think that national security will be enhanced and that soldiers will fight better and have the resources needed to win. How wrong. The best soldiers are elite not because of their physical resources but because of their experience, mental toughness, quick thinking and superior tactics. And perhaps the most invaluable resource of elite soldiers is the ability to adapt to circumstances. Maybe $7 billion could be used to boost the economy instead of creating a superarmy.
SAM FERBER
Ruthven, Canada

Ponderous armies supported by heavy tanks and other expensive military equipment are not the most effective means of protecting U.S. national security. A few lightly armed troops with special training can employ speed, stealth and surprise with spectacular results. Today's special forces have the added advantage of technology. Success in Iraq has earned special-operations forces a permanent place alongside the traditional military.
JOSEPH J. WOODFORD
Crestline, Calif.