VA/H=Mx13+RP? Snape's Culpability?

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 147211

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214" <dumbledore11214 at y...> 
wrote:
>
> > Magpie:
> > > I mean, from his pov think of it this way.  He's on Voldemort's
> > > side.  His goal is to support him.  <snip>So 
> > > think of if Snape was working for DD and he heard a prophecy that
> > > said that someone who would destroy him could be found in such 
> and
> > > such a place.  He'd naturally pass that information on as a 
> > > supporter of DD. 
> > 
> > Jen: There's a small problem with the comparison because Snape is 
> > working toward an evil end. The actions are the same, the ends are 
> > not. Culpability-wise, I mean. 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Jen, thank you. Of course for DE Snape it would be a natural impulse 
> to pass the information to Voldemort. I am just not getting how it 
> makes him less culpable. Yes, he did passed the Prophecy to his 
> boss, but the boss is the bad guy, REALLY bad guy, so if the 
> argument is something along the lines that Snape did not know  that 
> the murderous evil maniac will act upon the information that  the 
> child would be born who can defeat him, as murderous evil maniac 
> would act? I just don't see at all how Snape could not have known 
> that. I am NOT buying stupid Snape and I am also not sure how 
> Carol's argument fits into the picture at all.

Pippin:
I think something important is getting lost here. VWI was a very
dirty war. *Both* sides were using Unforgivable Curses. Yes, the
Ministry's policy was only to use them on suspects, but they're
not exactly particular about who they suspect.

Snape the DE spy knew if he was caught, or even suspected,
he might be killed out of hand or tortured for information. He 
would know innocent people, only suspected of being DE's,  
who had been  condemned, just as Harry does. Voldemort's cause 
was no doubt more  evil, but it would have been hard to tell with 
both sides committing atrocities.

DDM!Snape fan though I am, I don't think DE Snape was unaware that
enemies of the Dark Lord, "those who have thrice defied him"
were going to be killed. Of course they would, that's what
happens in war. If they don't want to be killed, let them stop
being enemies. 

According to Dumbledore, something changed
when Snape discovered that the enemies Voldemort was going to
attack as a result of his information were people that he knew.
Dumbledore says he himself didn't care very much if
"numbers of nameless and faceless people and
creatures were slaughtered in the vague future, if in the here
and now" someone he knew was "alive, well and happy."

But Peter (and anyone else who was involved in giving up the
Secret) knew James and Lily, and were considered their friends. 
That was not an act of war. It was personal. 

Pippin