Why should Harry be expected to listen to anyone at Hogwarts?

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 122953



> Tonks writes:
> 
> >I totally disagree. A teacher or anyone in a position to be one's 
> >superior is to be treated with the respect afforded their office.

Nicky Joe writes:

> I can't agree with that one.  I once had a Supervisor that was as 
> useless as she was good at sucking up to those above her.  I was once 
> called into the Manager's office and told that I had to respect my 
> Supervisor simply because she was my Supervisor.  I told him that if 
> that Supervisor managed to slither her way up to being the President 
> and CEO of the company that I would STILL not have one iota of 
> respect for her because she was not worthy, regardless of title.  I 
> believe Harry has reached this point with Snape.  He gave Snape 
> cursory respect when he was young because Snape was a Professor.  Now 
> Harry is growing up and has realized that a title means nothing, and 
> he no longer has any respect for the person beneath Snape's title.  
> 
> Nicky Joe
> 

Julie replies:

I think there is a difference between having or feeling respect for 
someone and *treating* someone with respect. Harry doesn't have
to feel respect for Snape to treat him with the respect due his station.
Just as you could still have treated your supervisor with the respect
due her position while not feeling any respect for her ability as a 
supervisor (I speak in a general sense as I don't know the details 
of your situation). To do otherwise, in both school and workplace, 
just exacerbates an already unpleasant situation. 

So, yes, Harry should treat Snape with respect, whether he 
feels that respect and whether or not Snape *deserves* that
respect. In doing so, Harry's not doing it for Snape but for 
himself. If you stoop to someone else's level, what are you
proving, after all, except that you have the capacity to be
an equally disrespectful person? (IMO, of course)

Julie 



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