Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil (Nel Question - LONG)

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 38381

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> wrote:

> Marina:
> >>>The Slytherins deserved to  lose the House Cup because of 
> Draco's actions.  They did *not* deserve to have their faces 
> rubbed in it in front of the whole school.  And Snape, in
particular, 
> did not deserve to be jerked around by his boss in front of all his 
> colleagues.<<<
> 
> Don't forget how the Slytherins behaved when they took the lead. 
> They were rubbing Harry's nose in it, in front of the whole school. 
> "Slytherins, on the other hand, clapped as he went by, whistling 
> and cheering." Apparently they've been insufferable about 
> winning for the past six years, because even the other Houses 
> are angry that Gryffindor blew its chances.    

But that's all among students, see?  A house wins and gloats, other
houses either cheer or sneer the winner, depending on their
allegiances.  It's part of the normal student culture at Hogwarts. 
Likewise, any gloating or sneering that Snape and McGonagall might do
in the staff room is part of a normal professional rivalry between
equals.  But the Headmaster, IMO, should remain publically neutral.


> I admit in real life it would have been unfairly harsh. However in 
> the context of the books, it was more like hitting the proverbial  
> mule upside the head to get his attention. The wizards are   
> more resistant to physical damage than Muggles are, and can 
> recover miraculously. The same seems to be true of emotional 
> harm. 

Well, it's not that I'm worried that Dumbledores actions will damage
the Slytherins' delicate little psyches. (If they had delicate little
psyches, they wouldn't be in Slytherin in the first place. <EG>)  I
just think that it went a long way toward reinforcing the resentments
and prejudices they already hold.  And that's just counterproductive.

Reaching the Slytherins is a difficult task. I think everyone here
would pretty much agree that the Slyths need to learn that Muggles and
Muggle-borns deserve as much respect as Purebloods.  But I don't think
that can happen unless they also learn that respect is not a zero-sum
game where you have to take it away from one group in order to give it
to another.  Until they get that, it will do no good to demonstrate
how wonderful Muggle-borns are -- it'll only make the Slytherins
switch from "Mudbloods don't deserve respect" to "I don't care if
Mudbloods deserve respect, they're not taking any of mine."

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com