Nice vs. Good - Compassion

[puduhepa98 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 153110

>Pippin:
We have different definitions. My dictionary says compassion  is a *deep* 
awareness of others' suffering, coupled with the desire to  relieve it. It 
does
not take a deep awareness of suffering to notice when  someone is 
dissolving in tears, under the cruciatus curse, kidnapped by a  bloodthirsty
monster,bleeding to death from multiple wounds or lying in a  dementor-
induced coma. 

>Snape doesn't seem to be aware of  suffering when it 
presents itself more subtly, Whether that's because he  doesn't care, or
because he doesn't easily pick up cues from other people, is  hard to
say at this point. <snip>
>
Nikkalmati:
 
So a major act of compassion doesn't count because it is too easy?   Little 
acts of compassion are more important?  I'm sure you have head the  saying 
"handsome is as handsome does."  In my view it applies to  Snape.  He has to be 
judged by his actions, not what he says.  I think  we are discussing here in 
another guise polite or kind vs. good.   Snape does not care for weakness or 
whining (as he would see it), but he  recognizes real need and responds 
appropriately.  IMO this meets  the definition of a deep awareness of others suffering 
and a desire to relieve  it.
Nikkalmati
 
>>Lanval: 
> If anyone else, say, Lupin, had brought the  Unconscious Four up to 
> the castle, would you still classify the  stretchers as kindness -- 
> or perhaps as a practical decision (because I  would imagine 
> stretchers from a magical hospital already to be equipped  with a 
> levitating spell of some sort, hence making it much easier to  move 
> along, instead of walking while having to maintain a spell on four  
> different people.)? Just a thought.

Nikkalmati:
I don't see the kindness as conjuring a stretcher for Sirius, but as having  
brought him back to the castle at all.  He could have left him there or  
called the dementors back.  Neither of these choices is consistent with  Snape's 
character IMO,   At this point Sirius is an escaped murderer  to DD and to 
everyone else who was not aware of the events in the Shack,  including Snape. He is 
unaware of the alternate version of the events after  Godric Hollow and he 
probably blames Sirius for the deaths of James and Lily as  well as the 12 
Muggles and a deadly threat to Harry.  In fact, Snape would  have been totally 
within the law to have killed Sirius on sight.  Some  listees may say he did not 
kill him because he wanted to call on the dementors  to suck his soul.  Well, 
he didn't do it when he found him lying  unconscious by the lake.  I think he 
threatened Sirius in the shack to  twist his chain a bit and to gain control of 
the situation.  
Nikkalmati


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