Maligning Lupin

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 149668

 
 Renee:

> > > Unfortunately, Pippin's answer doesn't solve my problem, which is 
that the *only* two members of this particular group we get acquainted 
with would be evil if Lupin is ESE. We have no basis left within canon 
to  assume werewolves could ever be okay and are a cause worth 
 fighting for. 

Pippin:

Wait, wait. As we're always telling each other on this list, inadequate
evidence does not become adequate by virtue of being the only
evidence available.

If two werewolves are evil will  our heroes  feel justified
in believing that  all the bad things they've heard about werewolves are 
true?  That werewolves are too scary to be given their rights and their
freedoms? I hope not, because that would mean they were prejudiced.

They  would have been influenced by  rumours and 
judged any number of people on the basis of their bad experience 
with two of them.   They would have decided that human rights aren't 
worth fighting for. 

If Lupin is ESE, I  think they'll be forced to consider the issue.
But I think we all know what they'll do. Don't we? 

Unfortunately there  are people,  in the WW as in the real world, who make 
human rights look like a bad idea. But if people are to be judged
by their choices rather than their abilities, we have to give them the
right to choose, even if others with those abilities have chosen poorly. 

Should wizarding law  and wizarding society grant werewolves the  
same rights and  freedoms as other wizards, even if, like other wizards, 
werewolves may abuse them? I think so.


I firmly believe that JKR will show us that ESE!Lupin's efforts to be good 
weren't  futile because  he was a werewolf. They were 
futile because he never had the courage to make himself accountable 
for what he'd done.

Note his utter incredulity that Dumbledore believed in  Snape's
remorse. 

Of course if lots of werewolves have adapted to their outcast way of
life, it's going to be difficult to integrate them into wizarding society,
just as freeing the House Elves is turning out to be a lot more difficult
than just telling them that they should be free. Social change is
*hard*. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be attempted.

Whenever anyone tells me that Lupin can't be evil because it 
would make things look bad for the werewolves, I'm reminded of
something I think Ben Gurion said:  that he would know anti-Semitism
was over when no one was afraid to say  that Israel's jails were full of
Jewish murderers and thieves.


Pippin