Snape, Apologies, and Redemption--Lupin vs. DD

[lanval1015]

No: HPFGUIDX 152613


> houyhnhnm:
> Snape may not have been into murdering and torturing himself and 
> he may not even have actually participated in any such acts, but 
> by joining the Death Eaters (as a late adolescent)he became 
> responsible for acts they carried out whether he participated or 
> not. He is responsible for the deaths of James and Lily Potter 
> because he reported the contents of the prophecy to Voldemort, 
> even though he may not have foreseen such a consequence and never 
> wanted them to die.
> 
> Sirius Black is not guilty of attempted murder because he was 
> just a high-spirited prankster afflicted with a teenage brain that 
> could not foresee the consequences of his act.  He didn't really 
> want Snape to die.


Lanval:

Big difference for me. Sirius only had to blurt out the instructions 
on how to get past the Whomping Willow, in a moment of utter 
frustration with Spying Severus. Not saying it happened that way, 
but again, no solid evidence yet.

Snape on the other hand joined the DEs. That requires thought, 
intent, and conscious decision-making. Besides, he was a few years 
older. The DEs were a gang of murderers, terrorists, torturers -- 
that's canon. I see no reason to believe Snape did NOT participate. 
Especially since it was not a huge organization. LV seems to have 
had a fairly good idea of what everybody was doing. There's little 
reason to believe Snape could have flown under the radar, as it were.

And no, I don't hold Snape entirely responsible for the Potters' 
deaths. I need to hear more evidence that he truly realized what the 
consequences would be. I'm willing to cut him some slack for taking 
the message to LV, and not realizing right away what it would mean 
(though, really, what did he THINK would happen?)

> So:
> People are responsible for the unintended consequences of their 
> actions.
> Or
> People are not responsible for the unintended consequences of their
> actions.
> Which is it?
> This is what bothers me about the arguments of the anti-Snapists on
> this list.


Lanval:

Funny story here... I recall reading this list several months ago, 
and coming across the argument that Snape was just too young, 
reckless, and generally too naive, when he decided to take the 
prophecy to LV... and I remember laughing and thinking, whoa, isn't 
that the line of reasoning that Snape-Fans insist CANNOT be used as 
an excuse for anything Sirius Black has ever done? That he is solely 
personally responsible for anything from Snape joining the DE to his 
own death?

So you see it cuts both ways -- and it's unlike to change. We'll 
just, as the cliche goes, have to agree to disagree, on who gets 
treated most unfairly. *g*