Defending Percy ( was Percy Weasley )

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 105027

Katie wrote :
> I see JKR setting Percy up as the classic "collaborator" figure- 
> someone who will follow the rules and try to please those in 
> authority even when it becomes obvious that the rules are wrong.

Del replies :
But it is NOT obvious that the rules are wrong ! Fudge knew what he
was doing when he refused to follow DD, but Percy and the rest of the
WW don't know that. Percy hasn't met neither Harry nor DD since LV's
return, he wasn't there at the parting of the ways. He's aked to
follow Harry, DD and his parents *blindly*, even when *everything*
points to the fact that they are crack-heads having collective
hallucinations ! What's so wrong in refusing to do that ??

Katie wrote :
> I think Percy is highly intelligent but doesn't have an advanced 
> grasp of morality.

Del replies :
Could you define what you mean by morality ?

Katie wrote :
> There's nothing inherently wrong with respecting those in power.
> It is, however, VERY important to realize when those in power are 
> corrupt or acting from the wrong motives. I don't think Percy 
> understands this.

Del replies :
Yes he does. He "realized" that DD, whom he respected very much just a
few years before, has lost his marbles. And also that Harry, whom he
quite liked, has turned into a dangerously delusive liar. Percy
understood the concept very well, he just made a mistake in applying
it. And considering the little info he had, it was a very easy mistake
to make IMO.

Katie wrote :
> Even if Fudge were ousted, I think Percy would rationalize this, 
> severing his loyalties to Fudge and clinging to the Ministry's 
> decisions. I don't see him losing reverence for the MOM's policies 

Del replies :
I don't understand : why *should* he ? It was indeed Fudge who was
wrong, not the Ministry policies. Once the Minister changes, the
Ministry will realign itself, and Percy will do good to follow.

Katie wrote :
> So, where do I get this in canon? Well, particularly from Percy's 
> letter to Ron. I get a real "don't rock the boat" vibe from Percy's 
> advice, and he seems far more concerned about the possibilities of 
> Ron's future career than the morality of the situation. In fact, he 
> doesn't really even seem to consider the moral implications of what 
> he is saying.

Del replies :
I don't see what moral implications you mean. Could you extrapolate ?
And I don't see anything wrong with a big brother telling his little
brother that his current best friend can lead him into big troubles.
In fact, I find that admirable. Isn't it what we all want to do when
we see an "innocent" kid fraying with "bad boys" ? Percy is thinking
about Ron's future, and he's telling him to be strong and to take
whatever measure might be necessary to protect himself from Harry and
DD's crazy actions. I wouldn't call that "don't rock the boat", quite
the opposite in fact.

Katie wrote :
> I think the Percys of this world are much more dangerous than the 
> Siriuses (Sirii? ;)) Percy (and those like him) seems to be 
> extremely productive and admirable when his source of authority is 
> positive, but when that authority is negative, he can't recognize 
> the difference and will continue to rationalize "official" decisions 
> until something severe happens.

Del replies :
You say so yourself : Percy *can't* recognise that his source of
authority is negative. It's not a choice, it's a natural inability.
And just asking him to get over that inability is rather stupid. Percy
needs to be *shown* the error of his way, not just told. But nobody
has bothered doing that yet. All anyone ever says is that Percy is a
stupid git for not seeing the truth, but none of them ever thinks of
taking the time to go and talk to Percy in a respectful way, with
logical proofs, not just "you must believe so-and-so". No wonder he's
still at sea.

Del