...once again Dumbledore!Abuse - a Balanced Approach

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 142846

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at y...> wrote:

> Dumbledore had two choices-
> 
> 1.) Harry could be comfortable and away from the Dursleys
> 
> 2.) Harry could be safe from a pack of mad deranged Death Eaters who
> were likely bent on Harry's torture and murder.
> 
> So ...comfortable ...or DEAD.
> 
> Seems like an easy choice.


Does it now?  I don't think we would all agree that such was the 
choice that faced Dumbledore or that he made the correct choice.  

But actually, that isn't the issue, anyway.  The issue is, I think, 
the fact that JKR was not at all clear with that final speech in 
OOTP.  It simply puts Dumbledore in far too bad a light for 
an "epitome of goodness."  And I do think she means us to take that 
at face value.  

Why does it place him in such a bad light?  Because it raises the 
idea that he knew what was going on at the Dursleys (in fact knew in 
advance it would go on) and did not intervene forcefully to put a 
stop to it, as it was his absolute moral duty to do.  There is NO, 
and I repeat, NO, excuse for turning a blind eye to child abuse.  And 
yes, what was going on at the Dursleys WAS child abuse and if 
Dumbledore turned a blind eye and did not intervene he WAS an 
accessory thereto.  And no, the safety of the wizarding world is NOT 
an excuse and no, the idea that Harry "might" be in danger somewhere 
else is NOT an excuse.

By backing off Dumbledore's knowledge in HBP -- and yes, I think JKR 
pays a LOT more attention to discussions in the fandom than she 
sometimes lets on and was very deliberately backing off -- JKR 
restored him to his "epitome" status, but at the cost of making him 
into a benign bungler.  But better that than a child abuser.


Lupinlore