Dumbledore 'forcing' others (Re: Harry learning from Snape)

[Paula "Elanor Pam"]

No: HPFGUIDX 114531


> > Pippin:
> > That is one reason that Dumbledore is not going to sit Snape
> > down -- the other reason is that as Dumbledore said in PoA, he
> > has no power to make other men see the truth. Which is to say,
> > that's one of the powers Dumbledore is too noble to use. If
> > people share Dumbledore's views, it should be because they
> > want to, not because Albus Dumbledore is good at being
> > obeyed. Dumbledore has no more right to remake others in his
> > image than Voldemort does.

> Dzeytoun:
> That is an utterly and absolutely absurd attitude.  And if Dumbledore
> really does feel that way, he has no business being in charge of a
> lemonade stand, much less a school or a war.


I'm sorry, but I think that not trying to force your view of right and wrong
on other people is a very noble thing to do. It's also the right way to deal
with kids, or else you'll completely smother and crush their ability of
choosing for themselves and respecting other people's choices. By not trying
to force his own image into other people, he's letting them exercize their
own individuality, which is a right every single rational creature has. Now
I don't know if Snape can be classified as rational, but Rowling herself
said Dumbledore considers cruel teachers like Snape an important lesson to
be learned (an interview if I remember well). So I suppose he wouldn't try
to change him - people should change themselves, not be forced to.

And he didn't ask to be in charge of a war, so cut him some slack. :)

Elanor Pam