Harsh Morality (was Re: Double standards and believing)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 121015


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214" 
<dumbledore11214 at y...> wrote:
> 
<SNIP> 
> Salit:
>  
> DD is the lead general in a war. His goal is to preserve the 
ultimate
> weapon he has to win the war and prepare that weapon for the task
> assigned to him by prophecy and chance. Harry therefore has to be
> protected at all costs to himself or others (you realize that his
> residence with the Dursleys puts them in mortal peril - I could 
> hardly blame Vernon for deducing the logical conclusion from the 
> events even if he did it in a very mean fashion). In addition, 
Harry 
> has to be toughened. He can't be coddled too much and has to be 
> given great challenges early on to raise him to fulfill his 
destiny. 
> It's harshperphaps but that was the only way he could survive.
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Right, so do you think that JKT allows for gray area on this issue 
> or not?
> 
> "Harry's survival" v "Harry's living as abused child to save WW 
> later on in life".
> 
> Do you think she allows middle areas as such that Lupinlore pointed 
> or not?
> 
> Is Dumbledore AT LEAST feeling sorry for what he allowed to happen 
> to Harry or NOT?
> 
> I tend to think that he does feel sorry, but as I said earlier, I 
> think my reading of his last speech in OOP is too optimistic and 
> Lupinlore is correct.
> 
> Because you see, if Dumbledore is OK with what he did, it does not 
> make him a very moral person in my book.
> 
> Sure, general has to sacrifice good of one for the good of many (I 
> cringe when I type this sentence, to tell you the truth), BUT 
> Dumbledore not only a general, but an epithome of goodness in 
> GENERAL SENSE,according to JKR and a such should, IMO, at least TRY 
> to lessen the pain of one child, who is expected to save them all.
> 
> "Happiness of all mankind is not worth one tear of the child". Do 
> you think that Dumbledore ever heard of such or similar saying?
> 
> 
> Just my opinion,
> 
> Alla


Well, I really didn't mean to touch this debate off again.  For the 
record, I agree with Alla and Dumbledore was wrong to do what he 
did.  But rather than get into the trenches on that issue yet again, 
I really would like, if possible, to keep the focus on the overall 
moral themes and tones of HP.

Lupinlore