Snape Harry and forgiveness/ judaism related/Canon for the Snape being abus

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 144295

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "ornadv" <ornawn at 0...> wrote:
>
<SNIP>
> 
> Anyway, I thought it would help us to refine somehow, why these 
> particular things are considered abusive in WW. It seems that canon 
> tells us they are different from the other behaviors, which are just 
> nasty.
> 

Interesting point, Orna.  However, I'm not sure it's relevant, at 
least not from the perspective from which some of us are coming.  I, 
for instance, could not possibly care less about what is or is not 
abuse by the standards of the WW.  I have never bought the "it's not 
abuse by the standards of his culture" defense of Snape.  Sorry, 
doesn't cut it.  Some cultures are simply corrupt and reprehensible in 
their standards and practices.  

For instance, in Nazi culture (and I do think the Nazis very 
definitely had a particular culture which they inculcated through much 
of Europe), persecuting Jews was laudable.  Some have even claimed 
that as a defense, saying "of course Germans informed on Jews, it was 
expected by the culture of Nazi Germany."  Is that a defense?  No.  
The DEs are considered perfectly legitimate by many segments of the 
culture of the WW.  Is that a defense?  No.  "But Snape doesn't know 
any better!" is something we hear.  That's a cultural version 
of "ignorance of the law."  Is it an excuse?  No.  My own ancestor 
(some of them) kept slaves.  Did their culture say it was wrong?  No.  
Did they "know" any better?  No.  Is that an excuse?  No.  Does that 
mean that keeping slaves was not evil?  No.  Does that mean that they 
did not deserve to be punished for it (which they were)?  
No.  "Dumbledore knew about it!" we hear.  That's a version of "I was 
following orders."  Is it an excuse?  No.  "Other people do worse (or 
the same) things!"  That's the cry of nearly everyone caught in a 
wrong deed.  It comes down to "If they weren't punished, I shouldn't 
be!"  Is that a defense?  No.  Is it a reason not to punish?  No.


Lupinlore