Pensieves objectivity AND: Dumbledore's integrity

[mochajava13]

No: HPFGUIDX 79570

Salit said:
The problem for Dumbledore is that his main goal is to defeat
Voldemort. Everything else is a means to that end, including Harry
himself. Dumbledore concedes that his weakness is that he grew to
love Harry, thus not being able to use him effectively as the
tool to destroy Voldemort. In OoP Dumbledore was able to make
the switch and while he will still care for Harry very much,
I think that he is ready to sacrifice him - whether his life or
his happiness to achieve the ultimate goal.

This may seem like cold calculation to you, but when you fight
pure evil you have to make sacrifices and use whatever tools
you have, and Dumbledore is the leader in that battle.


Now me (Sarah):

I agree with all that has been said about Dumbledore needing to be 
cold and calculating in order to effectively battle Voldemort.  
However, I think Dumbledore's weakness is that he also treats some 
people as children when they aren't (or can't be), and when he 
should have placed adult responsibilites on them.  In other words, 
he cares about people as a father cares for his children.  He wants 
to protect people he cares for, but panders to their desires to feel 
happy and useful.  

For example, with Harry, Dumbledore should have told Harry 
everything.  Harry needed to know, for his own protection.  I don't 
think the events of OoP would have changed even if Harry knew that 
Voldemort wanted the prophecy.  (Well, Harry might not have picked 
up the prophecy.)  Harry already knew that Voldemort wanted 
something in the Department of Mysteries very badly, and had tried 
to get that.  Hermione told Harry that Voldemort might be tricking 
Harry, but Harry said he didn't care; he was going to go after 
Sirius anyway.  I think that Harry would have gone after Sirius even 
if he knew what the prophecy was all about.  That's Harry's nature; 
to go after those in trouble.  Dumbledore telling Harry about the 
prophecy and Voldemort's desire to get it wouldn't have changed 
anything.  (Harry might have been even more likely to go after 
Sirius in an attempt to prevent Sirius picking up the prophecy and 
going insane.)

And Dumbledore also treats Sirius like a child.  Dumbledore ordered 
Sirius to stay inside Grimmauld Place, with good reason.  The death 
eates knew of Sirius' animagus form, and would have tried to kidnap 
Sirius just to get Harry.  Sirius was a target, and needed to stay 
hidden.  Plus, the ministry was looking for Sirius.  Human disguises 
could be seen through, and Sirius might have been sent back to 
Azkaban or given a dementor's kiss.  Sirius realizes this, and, for 
the most part, complies with Dumbledore's orders to stay inside.  
But, Dumbledore pandered to Sirius' desire to be useful and to know 
about the fight against Voldemort.  Why keep Sirius at Grimmauld 
Place?  True, it is very well hidden, but enchantments could have 
been placed at a number of other locations.  However, if Sirius was 
carted off to a different location, even if it was one Sirius 
enjoyed being at, Sirius would be out of the loop.  He would have to 
rely on messages from others.  So instead of having Sirius hide 
somewhere else, or setting up headquarters somewhere else, 
Dumbledore gives into Sirius' desires.  As a father would, not as a 
general would.  Dumbledore had misgivings about using Grimmauld 
Place as headquarters, but gave into Sirius' desire to feel useful.

Anyway, I think Dumbledore tries to be Macchiavellian for the 
greater good.  (Sacrifice the few for the greater good of the 
whole.)  But I think he fails because of his fatherly attitude 
towards those much younger than himself.  Dumbledore tries to 
protect too many people, instead of giving these people the 
responsibility to look after themselves.  (Namely Harry and 
Sirius.)  He wants to give Harry a childhood.  He wants Sirius to 
live, really live, after being unjustly stuck in Azkaban for so 
long.  Just my two cents.