Spoiler: Sirius the 'Jerk'

[D.J.]

No: HPFGUIDX 63894

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lhunneb" <LHunneb at a...> wrote:
>  "D.J." <contra75 at y...> wrote:
> > --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "edisbevan" 
> <A.E.B.Bevan at o...> 
> > wrote:
> > > S
> > > P
> > > O
> > > I
> > > L
> > > E
> > > R
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > S
> > > P
> > > A
> > > C
> > > E
> > > .
> > > What annoys me is this: after not showing the reader one 
> > redeeming quality in Kreacher in 870 pages (except, I suppose, 
> > loyalty to Dark wizards) JKR tells us through Dumbledore that  
> > Kreacher could've been saved by a little kindness!  Whatever was 
> > redeemable about Kreacher, I missed as thoroughly as Sirius did; 
> > which, in light of the outcome, makes Dumbledore's comments feel 
> > like a slap in the face. 
> > 
> > This descent into sanctimony mars what is otherwise a fabulous 
> novel.
> > 
> > D.J.
> 
> I don't agree.  I think that Dumbledore was advocating kindness and 
> respect as the way to treat ALL creatures, regardless of their 
> station, their past or their current behaviour.  

Yes, I think Dumbledore was advocating that.  And it is a singularly 
stupid thing to advocate.  The notion that you cannot judge people's 
behavior and treat them accordingly is so unreal as to be 
impracticable.  JKR herself seems to realize what the consequences 
would be if this attitude became commonplace, as she confines this 
sort of solicitousness exclusively to elves.  (There is no question 
raised--and one hopes there never will be--as to whether Harry, 
Dumbledore and the others have been sufficiently nice to Voldemort 
and the Death Eaters.)

D.J.