Trust in Dumbledore WAS: Re: The Statute of Secrecy

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 158996

Alla:
> I mean, I suppose if the only Hat Dumbledore wore was the leader of 
the resistance, I guess more of his orders were supposed to obey 
without question ( still not all, I would say, I don't have much 
experience with the army, basically none :), but won't the soldier be 
excused if he refused to obey stupid order, order that will harm him 
and/or his comrades for no reason? I don't mean the order to fight, 
obviously, but something really stupid and unnecessary?)

Ceridwen:
It used to be that orders were followed, period.  But that has 
changed.  A soldier in the U.S. Military does not have to follow 
an "unlawful order", something that goes against the Geneva 
Convention, for instance.  That soldier would be remiss for following 
it and 'but, he ordered me to do it' is not an excuse.  Soldiers are 
supposed to learn the rules of engagement and other restrictions.  
They even have handbooks with those conventions spelled out.

I don't know how this sort of thing would work in a paramilitary 
group like a resistance movement.  They may think they have more to 
lose than an actual army.  They are operating outside of the 
government - the Order has no ties to the MoM, the French Resistance 
had ties to the ousted French government, but not to the Viche (sp?) 
government in power - they do not have government resources, they 
have nothing to fall back on.

In such a case, orders from commanders may carry more weight and be 
less negotiable than orders in a regular army.  Dumbledore told Harry 
to follow his instructions exactly, not to waffle or whine, to do 
exactly as he was told, period, end of discussion.  And, this makes 
sense, because something untoward might have happened that could have 
cost Harry his life if he didn't jump when Dumbledore said to jump 
(and, don't stand there asking 'how high', jump, then ask 'is this 
high enough?').  But, if Dumbledore expected the same out of the 
other adult Order members, then any order or instruction could have 
been non-negotiable, if only to keep the secret of their existence.

Ceridwen.