[HPforGrownups] Re: Quesiton for Snapeophiles and -phobes RE Dumbledore, Snape, and Harry

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 114554

On 3 Oct 2004 at 8:00, dzeytoun wrote:

> But, I'm afraid in this context that is EXACTLY what it means.  Since 
> Dumbledore will not live up to his responsibilities and protect 
> Harry, Harry must protect himself.  Any opposition to that in effect 
> excuses Snape.

Sorry, but no, it doesn't.

Nothing excuses Snape. Nothing Harry does can excuse Snape. Nothing 
Harry doesn't do can excuse Snape.

And advocating particular courses of action doesn't excuse Snape.

You have a very clear idea of what you think Harry needs to do to 
protect himself. Fine.

Other people have quite different ideas of what Harry needs to do 
to proect himself. That's fine as well.

My view.

Harry is a child. Snape has the power in their relationship. That's 
a reality. It's not utterly impossible that by defying Snape Harry 
might gain something. But it's nowhere near a certainty.

I was abused as a child. Sometimes I fought it - but sometimes I 
made a deliberate decision that fighting it wasn't worthwhile.

And when it came from a teacher, those were times that I decided it 
wasn't worthwhile.

I'm not saying that's necessarily the right choice for Harry.

But it isn't necessarily the wrong choice either.

To me, the best answer to child abuse - is the one that leaves you 
as a healthy, happy adult.

And what that is, depends on the circumstances.

Just because people would make different choices from the ones 
you'd make, doesn't make them wrong choices - and it certainly 
doesn't mean they support abuse, or excuse the abuser.

If I thought Snape would change by Harry defying him, I'd support 
that defiance.

But - well, from what we know, Severus Snape is standing up to Lord 
Voldemort.

I doubt he's going to be broken by a 15 year old childs defiance.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia