[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry, Snape,Occlumency

[Silverthorne]

No: HPFGUIDX 94298

But, that's just one man's opinion.

bboy_mn


Only one comment here, because for civilians--and most especially those
trying for the utopian pacifistic life that we would all love to lead (well,
most of us, inclduing me), but realistcially can not achieve due to the VAST
variety of human nature, Bboy's analysis is 'true'. Most people get treated
this way and it pretty much screws them up. There's a certain mindset and
inner strength you need to have in order for the technique to be of value to
you if you are the recipieint of such actions, or to be able to blow it off
without it ever really affecting you. Everyone else just 'falls apart' under
it in one way or the other.

However, for Military trained people (and those kids raised in a military
school, military families, or participating in ROTC), the ability to remain
calm and rational no matter *what* Mr Asshole Seargant is screaming (or
nasty task he has set for you, including traching your project at a moment's
notice and telling you to "Start over again, asshole")  at you is one of the
primary foci of training. Why? Because later, when you're stuck in a fox
hole with bombs going off right over your head, a bleeding gut wound, and
the best buddy you knew since high school laying right next to you with his
guts hanging out, you're still going to have to be able to function and
*think* in order to survive where you're at. Emotional reaction won't cut
it. Neither will a passive attitude. And without certain training, most
people can NOT function effectively in a violent situation like that. They
panic, they make emotional decisions, and nine times out of ten, it kills
them, and/or the people around them.

Mind you, I'm not defending *anyone* here (Personally, I'm glad I didn't
join the militray as I intended to--I would have loathed every moment, I
suspect, and likely washed out too, on top of everything else), but I am
pointing out a real teaching technique that is used in real life, for real
people, who are about to go into real situations where the Zen Buddist, live
and let live, No need To Be Pissy and Stressed Out way of dealing Will Not
Work. It will, in fact, get you killed. And as long as there are people who
are willing to kill you, blow up your buildings, commit geneocide on you and
yours, commit terrorist acts, and so forth, it is a necassary mind set, even
if it is not for everyone.

It is ALSO exactly the treatment Snape gives to his students (Having a
former Navy Lifemate and several family members and former BF's in the
military has proven this to be a true statement, according to what they have
told me about thier own basic training courses, and having compared it to
Snape's techniques. Keep in mind, most of them were OUT of the military by
mid to late 80's so if there's younger military on the baord, they may
disagree, since due to public outcry, those techniques may have changed.).

To put it into a little bit of cannon *speculation*, this is why, I suspect,
some of Snape's actions (horrid as they are by even Rowling's standards),
are permitted and maybe even encouraged. The WW is at WAR. War means that
the peaceful, kind of way of dealing with things is a luxury, and not,
unfortunately, a right (Unless you would like to 'rightfully' loose your
mind under pressure and then die as a result). Sad but true. Like in RL wars
of the past, the WW is under the unslaught of a sadistic, amoral, evil
bastard that, if not stopped, will indeed visit a very bloody Holocast on
the wizards, witches, muggles and other creatures of Rowling's world.

You can believe Snape is truly abusive or not, a horrid teacher or not, but
he is still delivering necessary lessons for a generation who is not living
in utopic peace...and is in fact at the moment, hurtling to it's exact
opposite--Hell on Earth--thanks to Voldemort. And although what Snape does
can be argued as 'damaging' to the kids in present day pyschology terms, it
will still help them when up against Voldemort--because they will *already*
know how to keep thinking, no matter what's getting thrown at them, thanks
to having to deal with Snape.

No one likes thier drill Sergeant...not until months or years later when
they are in thier unit, trapped in a do or die situation, and those words
"Think, Soldier!" come flashing through thier mind at the crucial moment,
and saves them.

Just some food for thought

Anne

**Going back to lurking since really, this discussion has degenerated into
personal viewpoints which will ALWAYS be at odds with each other...^^;**
HUGS to all...