On the other hand (was Re: Disliked Uncle Vernon)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 93168

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "annemehr" <annemehr at y...> 
wrote:
> > 
> And yes, there are thousands of "moral codes," but they are in
> surprising agreement, and where they disagree is very often on what
> aspects of morality to emphasise over others.  What they all do,
> though, is more or less successfully approach absolute moral truth. 
> Tolerance for differing moral codes has to be moderated by justice:
> just as the world rejected South Africa's racist system and forced
> change, so we can reject the Dursleys' treatment of Harry as wrong.
>

Yes, yes, many times yes. Thank you. I hope elfs will forgive my 
little outbirst.

> Annemehr:
> What the Dursleys should do is try to see the difference between 
right
> and wrong, make a reasonable attempt to do what is right, and treat
> Harry accordingly.
> 
> Why bring Dumbeldore into it?  Whether DD was just a doddering old
> fool who assumed the Dursleys would want to care for their nephew 
or a
> Machiavellian who cared nothing about the abuse he foresaw, that has
> nothing to do with Vernon and Petunia's guilt.  Culpability is not
> like a pie where, if you assign a bigger portion to DD you're taking
> away from the Dursleys.


Yes, again. Dumbledore's morals are definitely a suspect after OoP, 
it does not mean that Dursleys' morals become less suspect due to 
this fact. We do think along the same line.

I do think though that Petunia still has a chance at redemption. Her 
descriptions definitely became less caricature na smore realistic in 
OoP ("And all of the sudden, for the very first time in his 
life,Harry fully appreciated that Aunt Petunia was his mother's 
sister" OoP, p.38). I think that very is a small chance that Harry 
and petunia will reach an understanding.


Alla