Criticisms of Dumbledore WAS Re:OoP SPOILERS: Worries for Harry? Warning: Long

[Anna Hemmant]

No: HPFGUIDX 58493

The criticism of Dumbledore that I most take issue with here is the 
one about him sending Harry to live with the Dursleys. Now, my sister 
and I both had supremely bad childhoods; we were sent around foster 
homes from an early age, and they're not known for being wonderful 
places to grow up in. But my sister got an attachment disorder, which 
we believe was due to being abused by our natural mum. Now, having 
grown up with her, and living with my own neuroses, I can honestly 
say that if the MAGIC DISHWASHER theory is correct, and Dumbledore 
has been grooming Harry to become the 'one' to defeat Voldemort since 
day one, it may have been the best place to put him. 
Now, before you all get crazy and have a go at me about condoning 
Dumbledore's decision to put Harry in an abusive environment, let me 
explain why I think this.

If we take a look at all of the other 'world change' stuff out there, 
like the LOTR, Buffy at the moment, The Matrix, etc, and we take a 
look at the heroines or heroes in particular, as has already been 
said somewhere on this list, the events that are going to take place 
are going to change everybody involved irrevocably, and not 
necessarily for the better. A person who has already dealt with 
hardship is much more likely to be able to deal with the events that 
are obviously coming. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger and all 
that stuff. As long as you don't have to deal with the betrayal of 
those close, as long as they stay loyal, you can pretty much 
withstand anything. Also, you tend to think less of yourself, and do 
what's best for everyone else. Unless, of course you're permanently 
emotionally damaged, and Dumbledore obviously had Arabella Figg 
looking out for him in this respect. If Harry had been damaged by his 
experiences at the Dursley's, he would have started acting out from 
an early age, and it would have been visible to all who knew him.

Excuse my use of my personal experience to put myself forward as an 
authority on this; few people ever respond to my posts; please don't 
think I'm going to cry or anything if people disagree! 

Anna