[HPforGrownups] Slytherin's behavior at the GoF final feast (was Re: Dumb...

[LeiaOS at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 57109

In a message dated 5/5/2003 5:49:26 PM Central Standard Time, 
Ygranependragon at aol.com writes:

> I don't like the "either you're with us or against us" argument...it 
> doesn't leave a place for people who don't agree with either side.  
> Or people who don't care.  If you agree with Voldemort, 
> you're "bad."  If you disagree, you're "good."  If you don't agree 
> with either of them and won't choose a side, are you bad?  I don't 
> think so.
> 

I have to say I have a problem with this. In the case of Draco and Harry, 
which you were discussing before this statement, I'd say you're absolutely 
right. The two are rivals at school. While as they mature and make decisions 
about who they are going to follow, this may change into something far more 
serious, currently it is just schoolboy squabbles. While not a fabulous 
thing, it's also not the end of the world and it's also very personal between 
the two of them and their immediate circle of friends. Many of the children 
may be only marginally aware that it is going on.

However, when it comes to Voldemort, I have to stand up and say I think a 
stand has to be taken. If you will not choose a side, you are no better off 
than someone who chooses the evil. That is currently, to a degree, what Fudge 
is doing right now. He's saying, that can't be, these people were cleared, 
we're not going to make a big deal about this. Pushing it away, ignoring it 
because he doesn't want to be involved. When you step into huge moral issues, 
where one side actively murders, deceives, cheats, etc and enjoys doing so. 
That side is clearly in the wrong. And if you do not stand against that, then 
in my mind, you become an accomplice to what that side presents.

Now that's all very black and white, and if we go back to Draco and Harry and 
the rest of the Slytherin House-and indeed, the school as a whole-is what 
they do now training for what they will choose later? Probably without a 
doubt. And is Draco in the wrong? Yes. But I'd say there are definately times 
when Harry has been in the wrong as well, and he certainly doesn't offer a 
hand of friendship to Draco. 

So, it's not as black and white or cut and dried as we'd like for it to be. 
But isn't that life?

 ~Sabrina~

'I say to you all, once again- in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we 
are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord 
Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight 
it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. 
Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are 
identical and our hearts are open.' 
                                             ~Harry Potter and the Goblet of 
Fire~


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]