Draco, right & wrong, grammar

[katzefan at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 25424

From:  fourfuries at a...
--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Mindy, a.k.a. CLH" <
mindyatime at j...> 
wrote:
> > 
> TOPICS I DON'T WANT TO SEE DEBATED ON THIS LIST 
ANYMORE: > DRACO! DRACO! DRACO BEING EVIL/DRACO 
BEING REDEEMED... 
> 
>Now, you knew when you posted the above that you were 
>throwing fuel on an already popular thread.  What is it about the 
>conversation that bothers you?  Is it the fact >that there is no 
>right answer yet?  That is the case for >every topic we discuss 
>that can be affected in a later >book.
......
>Draco is that person that we would all like to be if there were no 
>EternalGod/BhuddhaNature/AbsoluteTruth/Ultimate Justice to 
>fear.  Rich, privileged, influential, popular, witty, probably 
>attractive enough, and certainly used to getting his way.  In a 
>word, he is powerful, and he raises the >ultimate question of 
>human morality (as does Voldemort, >Dumbledore, Lucius, 
>and to a lesser extent, Fudge):

>Does Power Corrupt, and if so, Does it Corrupt Absolutely?

>If it does, how do we avoid corruption without being powerless 
>(Harry, Dumbledore). If it doesn't, why in the hell shouldn't 
>everybody behave badly?  That's what we in the "Draco" thread 
>have been discussing.  Got an opinion?

>4FR (trying to get a better understanding of people >different 
than himself).

Really good post, 4FR ...I wrote one some time ago on a similar 
subject, but didn't manage to make myself very clear. I think 
you're right: what is driving people around the bend on the 
subject of Draco is that he *could* go either way: could turn into a 
really vile, evil DE, or redeem himself spectacularly, and so far 
JKR has given no real hints either way. I've read with interest
the supporters of Draco's redemption, and IMHO, it's not in
the cards ... but they've made some excellent points and I
wouldn't bet the rent money on my opinion.
As for all of us wanting to be like Draco if we could, that is an 
interesting point. If we *could* get away with virtually anything, 
how many of us would take advantage of that? I think most 
people would continue to struggle with right and wrong, and 
listen to the promptings of their consciences ... but I also 
think a fair number would eventually be worn down by the 
seductive lure of unlimited power and the complete lack of 
accountability. 
As things stand now, do most people obey the law out of morality 
or fear of punishment ... or some combination of both? 
Particularly since, for vast numbers of people, religious authority  
(in the form of EternalGod/BhuddhaNature/AbsoluteTruth/
Ultimate Justice) has diminished considerably.
Opinions?

>In HPforGrownups at y..., Tammy Z <
too_much_coffee_lady at y...> wrote:
> Well Catlady...it's not that I am "grammar snob" but
> that teaching writing correctly is important.  For YOU
> to write with And or But at the beginning of a
> sentence to EMPHASIZE is fine as an adult - but when
> writing for children some authors use it so frequently
> they couldn't possibly be trying to emphazie that
> much. Adults writing and children writing are two
> different apples all together.
> All I am saying is that JKR is a great reading model
> and writing as well...as we all know otherwise this
> thread wouldn't exist.
> 
I think the difference here is between those who *do* know 
correct grammar, and who break or bend grammar rules to 
emphasize a point, or create realistic-sounding dialogue (or 
dialect), and those who write with poor grammar simply because 
they don't know any better. Some time ago I began to read a 
recently published book that could have been excellent had a 
competent editor gotten to it - as it was, I dropped the book 
halfway through Ch. 1 and doubt I will ever finish it. The errors 
were *so* numerous and profound that I could not believe it was 
anything but ignorance on the author's part and really, really 
slipshod editing on the publisher's part. Pity, because the story 
itself sounded interesting.



katzefan (who really liked Aleks's signature quote in message 
25391)


*********************
Lockhart cuffed Harry merrily on the shoulder. 'Just do what I did, 
Harry!'
'What, drop my wand?'
(CoS)