Amanda's Werewolf Soapbox again, was PoA Chapters 21-22 Summary (better format)

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 22209

Ali Wildgoose wrote:

> I doubt Black had any serious intention of killing Snape...at least,
> not conciously.  It's possible that he just didn't bother to think
> enough about the possible consequences.  Still, I buy into the theory
> that there was
> serious animosity between the two boys, and have little doubt that
> Sirius would wish for Snape to be harmed.  Maybe not KILLED exactly,
> but horribly maimed would have done nicely.

What nobody seems to cotton onto is that if Snape had not been killed,
he would be thereafter a *werewolf.* Cast out of human society, with not
even a little cadre of friends (that we know of) to ameliorate things.
This, to me, is worse than trying to kill him. I think Sirius wanted
Snape infected, which is tantamount to half-existence for the rest of
his life.

Even if he grew up a bit, he still seems too impulsive and sure of the
value of his own opinion to me; I'm not real fond of Sirius.

> Q: If werewolves are only dangerous at the time of the full moon, why
> are people afraid of them all the time? I can understand the fear when
> you don't know who the werewolf is, but when you know who he is, it
> should be easy to take precautions against him, no?
>
> Why are people afraid to let people with AIDS share their workplace,
> when the risk of infection is nill?  Why did the American government
> ship the entire Japanese-American population into internment camps
> during WWII, without a trial and without any evidence?
>
> Because most people are paranoid and stupid, particularly in large
> numbers, and logic does not come into the equation when their own
> lives are at stake.

Ah, but in Lupin's case, it is not their own lives. I've said it before,
many times, but it was long ago--it is the people's *children's* lives
at stake. Irrational as people can be for themselves, they are generally
even moreso for their children's sake.

Condemn the small-mindedness all you want. But put yourself in a
parent's place. AIDS will kill you eventually, true. But it does not
make you a ravening danger to others, many people accept you even when
they know your condition. Comparisons of lycanthropy to AIDS fail
utterly to convey the total and complete cutting-off of a werewolf from
all former society. Would you risk that for your children?

Lycanthropy is incurable. Lycanthropy is only controllable by a potion
which is very difficult to make, that only a few very skilled masters
can produce. Lycanthropy produces a madness that causes a hunger to
kill, and a form that allows that killing with ease and skill. In this
case, I can understand the prejudices of the wizarding world. If my
children were at Hogwarts, I'd have sent an owl off the next day calling
for Lupin's dismissal, too. *Even* if I knew he were a superb teacher.
*Even* if I knew I was casting him into outer social darkness again.
*Even* if I knew him personally. As a parent, I. Would. Not. Want. A.
Werewolf. Anywhere. Near. My. Children. You could convince me on the
giant thing, because no blood-madness is involved. But do not ask me to
let a werewolf have access to my children; the risk for them, in a
parent's mind, is too great.

--Amanda


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