Unforgiveable v. Illegal (Was: Re: Umbridge (WAS: Umbridge's Rape)

[Talisman]

No: HPFGUIDX 78303

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "KathyK" <zanelupin at y...> 
wrote:
> jsmgleaner:
>  By the way, that makes me think: why "unfrorgivable"?  > 
Shirley:  
> I don't know why the "unforgiveable" label ..."illegal" seems more 
appropriate to me.  
> KathyK:
>  The other thought I have is that "Unforgiveable" sounds much more 
> dramatic than simply, "Illegal."

Talisman, putting on her coif for a moment, suggests:

In the English (and American) legal system, equity trumps the law. 
(May it ever be so.)  Therefore, the law can be "put aside" for the 
right reasons--say where it leads to an unjust result.

"Unforgivable" suggests to me that no equitable argument will be 
accepted as an excuse. (Though we see that no categorization can 
protect the community from evil leaders.)

It also invokes moral as well as merely legal censure, and so is 
more dramatic. 

Talisman, who thinks the Yahoo curse should be unforgivable, too.