Harsh Morality (was Re: Double standards and believing)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 121019


<SNIP> 
> Lupinlore: 
> > Dumbledore's decision to leave Harry with the Dursleys.  I have 
> been 
> > extremely critical of this decision, and I have been hoping we 
> would 
> > see some exploration of its consequences.  I have been hoping 
that 
> > eventually we would see a greater confession on Dumbledore's part 
> > that this was an extremely grey area and that he proceeded with 
> great 
> > misgivings and heartache, as well as a greater acknowledgement of 
> > pain Harry has suffered due to Dumbledore's decision.  But I 
> regret 
> > to say I am becoming convinced we will see no such.  In the harsh 
> > morality of the Potterverse I don't think there is room for such 
> > heartache and acknowledgement of Harry's pain and the injustice 
of 
> > DD's decision on any plane.  DD did what was necessary to uphold 
> THE 
> > GOOD in a Platonic sense.  His action was RIGHT, full stop, no 
> > apology or sense that perhaps the morals and priorities weren't 
> clear 
> > or that Harry deserves a chance to challenge the assumptions that 
> > have caused him so much pain.  
> 
> Jen: Dumbledore gave an explanation that the community good and the 
> future of the WW were more important in his mind than one 
> individual. That's a lousy choice if you're Harry, but not so much 
> if you're the rest of the WW. 

> 
> There was no 'good' choice for Dumbledore to make in that 
situation. 

We think there was no good choice.  I'm not at all sure that's what 
the books are saying, however.

> Every choice would have an unintended or unwelcome consequence, 
> either for Harry or the WW. In PS/SS we had our first clue that 
> Dumbledore did not relish the choice he had made: "For a full 
minute 
> the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle; Hagrid's 
> shoulders shook, Professor McGonagall blinked furiously, and the 
> twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledore's eyes seemed to 
> have gone out." (SS, chap. 1, p. 16)

I hope that this issue is going to be explored much more fully and 
that Dumbledore is going to make a valiant effort to give recompense 
to Harry for the injustice that he visited upon him.  But I'm just 
not sure.

Lupinlore