Why AK is unforgiveable (a little long)

[four4furies]

No: HPFGUIDX 40063

Long time since I posted, though I have been keeping up.

  I think we do not give JKR enough credit for her socio-political 
references.  The Three Unforgivable curses are unforgivable because 
they violate the basic Human Rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit 
of Happiness (or in the case of Crucio, freedom from unjustified 
infliction of pain).

That they are unblockable is of little consequence really.  I may be 
able to block a knife thrust to my gut, but it is still illegal to 
try and stab someone.  Nor is intent the key.  I may not intend 
someone harm by locking them in my basement, but it is still false 
imprisonment.  What counts is the effect they have on the victim.  
They take away the only things that make life as a human being 
special, be we muggles or magi.  

The question of the importance of human rights and qualities will 
likely get played out in the continuing revelations surrounding house 
elves.  I suspect Hermione's minions here on the list will be shocked 
to discover that the biggest difference between 
House Elf slavery and our modern examples of abuse is that house 
elves are not human, while black slaves, european jews, gay men, 
feminists, the handicapped, and republicans presumably are.

Finally, Crouch sr and other zealous aurors used the Unforgivables in 
the same way that soldiers at war have greater powers than police men 
at peace.  Conflict and crises often cause us to compromise our 
virtues, but it does not relieve us of the responsibility to return 
to our ideals as soon as circumstances permit.  You'll see what I 
mean as the war on terror continues.

FourFuries 


--- In HPforGrownups at y..., heidit at n... <heidit at n...> wrote:
> "random_monkey0_0" <ntg85 at p...> wrote:
> > Pippin:
> > > I think it's unforgiveable because it's a spell that can *only* 
be 
> > > done with murderous intent and has no use other than killing.  
> 
> But we don't know anything from canon about the intent one has to 
have while
> doing it. And it's also been stated that it's unforgiveable against 
humans -
> does that mean one can use it to kill bugs at one's house? 


> > I was under the impression that it was unforgiveable because 
there was 
> > no way to stop it (or at least, very few ways...) 


> > Incidentally, if Imperius is unforgiveable, why did Crouch Sr. 
use it? 
> > Would he have been thrown in jail if Junior hadn't been kissed?
> We don't know what the punishment level for breaking someone out of 
Azkaban
> would be. Crouch probably realised that by the time he put Imperius 
on his
> son, he'd be going to Azkaban for the breakout in the first place.
>