Why were the sacrifices different? (was: A moral theory of Magic )

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 95358

Siriusly Snapey Susan:
>>>Hmmmm.  Just because Voldy planned to kill James all along 
doesn't negate James' death being a sacrifice, does it?  After all, 
you're talking about *Voldy's* intention to kill James, not James' 
intention to allow himself to be killed.  If James was just sitting 
in a chair & Voldy walked in & murdered him before he even looked 
up, I think I'd agree with you.  But in this case it's in James' 
reaction to the confrontation where the sacrifice comes in.  It's 
James' staying there to take on Voldy & to try to give Lily & Harry 
time to run that makes his death sacrificial, imho.
 
*Kimberly's comments*
> The very fact that he stayed there "to take on Voldy" suggests to 
> me that it wasn't a true sacrifice in that he gave himself up.   
> It's a very fine line.  I looked up the meaning of sacrifice and 
> got this:
> 
> "Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one 
> considered to have a greater value or claim.    Something so 
> forfeited."
> 
> With James fighting there was a chance he would win and therefore, 
> I feel, didn't give himself up or surrender to Voldemort as Lily 
> did, without a fight at all.     Grant it, they both gave their 
> life for Harry but there's a slight difference in how it 
> transpired.    I think that perhaps this is why there is more 
> emphasis on Lily's sacrifice than James.    That and the fact that 
> she put the charm on Harry that allowed Harry to survive at all.  

Siriusly Snapey Susan again:
I think we're where I end up so many times here on HPfGU:  
semantics.  Yes, James fought and *might* have won...but he fought 
and was *prepared to* (and did) die.  You can't go into a fight 
knowing you're going to win or lose, but your *willingness* to die 
is what I see as sacrificial.  James had that willingness to forfeit 
his own life for something greater (Harry & Lily's potential 
survival).  [See definition above.]  Or so that's how I see it. We 
may not see eye to eye is all.

Siriusly Snapey Susan