Snape's abuse (Re: Would an "O" for Harry vindicate Snape?)

[Chris]

No: HPFGUIDX 131668

> Hells:
> 
> I think what Del was saying is that you can't judge one society by 
>another's standards. Whatever our personal views we can't judge the 
>wizarding world by our muggle standards. For example, I'm English 
>and I find the idea of owning a handgun - a weapon designed to kill 
>and maim - very sickening. I find it hard to understand why 
>Americans can own guns and keep them in a house with children. I'm 
>not saying it's wrong, just that my society has a very different 
>viewpoint and you can't compare them as if they are the same and we 
>are more similar than wizards and muggles.

  I think you all misunderstand my point. I don't care what another 
society thinks or does, or what laws or morals that society has in 
place. Last time I checked, everyone on here and everyone in the WW 
are HUMAN! As humans, we have certain fundamental rights that lower, 
non-reasoning animals don't have. The right to treat others in a 
respectful way, and the right to expect the same treatment in return. 
The right to make the correct or incorrect decisions, and face the 
consequences of those decisions. These are fundamental rights that we 
as humans have. And there's that little thing about free will.
  Snape has the right to act the way he wants to as long as that 
behavior does not impact negatively on anyone else. The concept of 
being uncivilized and civilized was brought up in another post. Last 
time I checked, purposely degrading someone was not the mark of a 
civilized individual. He has the right to treat his students the way 
he wants to according to WW standards. And Harry and the other 
students have the right to not like it, and to do something about it 
according to human standards.
  As far as the weapons go: I'm American, and as a member of our 
civilized society, I have the right to reject the idea of owning a 
handgun and keeping it in my house, and I have. I own no firearms of 
any kind in my house, and have never owned one. It is my right not to 
have one. If you are a student of history, which I am, you will 
already know why that amendement is in place and I will not need to 
explain it to you.
  As for present times, our society is filled with people who use 
guns for criminal activities and other violent measures. I agree to 
the right to own a handgun for protection against these kinds of 
people. I think the laws should be more strict as to who owns them, 
training in the use of firearms, and how easily they should be able 
to get one. However, I think they're overall use is necessary. It 
wasn't Americans that first created firearms in the first place...
Chris
labmystc