Moral messages (and Hagrid)

[cat_kind]

No: HPFGUIDX 128732

catkind earlier
> > Hagrid is good, the Dursleys are bad, therefore it's just fine for 
> > Hagrid to be nasty to a terrified eleven-year-old boy, whom he's 
> > never met before, for being fat. 
> 
> Valky:
> Ughhh Catkind, is that not a nauseatingly lopsidedly politically
> correct statement.. ? For the record I think that this particular
> scene can hardly undermine the moral message of the books, when it is
> in context a no so bright but bighearted (and admittedly burly) oaf of
> a man standing for the defense of an oppressed and overwhelmed
> innocent against his torturers of a decade of his life. Yeah I think
> it goes to Hagrids failings but also to his virtue as he's not by
> nature a fighting person, but he'll fight for this cause because he
> believes in it, he believes Harry deserves his chance to be great and
> have love. 

catkind now:  I'll reply to this point first as it's the easiest. 
What I mean is, we may know Dudley was oppressing Harry, but all
Hagrid's seen is a terrified child.  Dudley hasn't said a word in the
scene.  Hagrid is (rightly) angry with Harry's Aunt and Uncle, and
takes it out on Dudley.

If Hagrid did somehow know what Dudley's like it would be more
excusable, although personally speaking I still find it unpleasant
that he takes out his anger on someone who's not caused it, and that
he is to some extent descending to their level. 

I don't think I'm just being PC; although from a PC point of view I
think it is still a no-no to be nasty to someone about their weight
even if one does think it is due to being a lazy slob. On the other
hand, if it's about Dudley oppressing Harry, why bring his size into it? 

To be honest, the scene made me dislike Hagrid instinctively when I
first read it. The rest is rationalization. 

I'm not saying this particular incident undermines the moral message.
You can take it, as you say, as Hagrid doing something wrong out of
temper and maybe not being "bright". I rather had the impression we
were supposed to be cheering him on. 

Of course I have no argument that it's great that Hagrid is nice to
Harry, and Harry thoroughly deserves it. (I expect most DEs are
equally nice to their friends' children, that doesn't mean I like
them.) And I'm no Dudley apologist, he's unquestionably a nasty piece
of work.

Sorry if anyone found my point nauseating, I hope it's less so with
explanation :-/

catkind