OoP: I'll do it: In defense of James

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 62580

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote:
> Lupin the Prefect was there. So what happens if Snape makes a 
> pre-emptive strike? Lupin reports him, and maybe gets him 
> detention or expelled. The same thing happens if Snape fights 
> back hard enough to actually do James and Sirius some 
> damage. There were other witnesses, but James and Sirius are 
> popular...nobody's going to stick up for Snape.

Snape did strike back hard enough to do some damage -- he sliced 
James' face open with a spell.  I think it was pretty clear from 
that scene that Remus was resolutely staying out of the conflict, 
prefect or not.  I think the only thing that prevented Snape from 
striking back worse is that he was outnumbered, unnerved and caught 
by surprise.

> Secondly, while Snape's racism is odious, to parphrase Sirius, 
> the world isn't divided into good people and racists. James 
> doesn't consider Muggles inferior--good for him! But he doesn't 
> mind mistreating people he does consider inferior, so I can't 
> think he's morally superior to Snape here.

Have to agree there.  If the best thing you can say for yourself 
is "Well, at least I'm not a racist," then you're not doing so hot.  
For Lily's sake, I hope James improved *a lot* between his fifth and 
seventh year.

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com