looong - musings on Dumbledore - Even Longer

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 158634

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, James Lyon <jnoyl at ...> wrote:
>
> Let's start at the very beginning: Was I the only one who 
questioned Dumbledore's "goodness" when he placed a baby on a 
doorstep at night and simply turned his back and left? What did DD 
do to Harry that day? Some how the whole WW learned that Tom had 
been defeated and DD didn't drop off Harry until the night after the 
day of celebration.
<BIG SNIP>

Alla:

Heeee. Brilliant rant. Nope, you were not the only one, certainly 
not.

Unfortunately to many of the charges you brought up I have only one 
defense - it is necessary for the sake of the story. Like the one of 
why he did not investigate the Chamber of Secrets, well because it 
was necessary for Harry to go there and do his thing IMO. I realise 
that it is a very weak defense, but I don't have anything stronger 
to offer, than in the story where kids play main role sometimes 
adults look like fools. :(

And of course to some of your charges I have no defense at all to 
offer for Dumbledore.
 
James Lyon:
> Then, consider the most obvious grievance against DD--he allows a  
> teacher to abuse and mind rape students (it seemed clear that 
Snape  
> and DD feel no hesitation in casting legilimens on minors--all 
for  
> the common good, of course). 
<SNIP>

Alla:

Yep, no defence to this one, like none, but the defense that will be 
offered is that Snape does not abuse Harry. :)

James lyon:
> IMO, there is no way to read canon and not feel that DD is either 
a  
> bumbling incompetent or a very "bad" person.

Alla:

Agreed again, I prefer **bubbling incompetent** though, I think it 
looks a bit better for **epithome of goodness**.

James Lyon: 
> Most of his time seems to be spent on non-headmaster duties.
> He never follows up on anything:  
> 
> He permits Hagrid to be sent to Azkaban without trial, he does 
nothing to get Hagrid's record cleared and place the CoS fiasco and 
the death of Myrtle on Tom Riddle. 
> 
> He does nothing about a man being sent to Azkaban without trial, 
he does nothing to free said convict when he learns the man is 
innocent. 
> 
> He does nothing to be sure that the CoS has released all of its 
secrets, he does nothing to establish what is petrifying the 
students (I mean, how many things could petrify?) or taking any 
actions to actually protect them.
<SNIP>


Alla:

Well, yes again - see above for the sake of the story and also of 
course that Dumbledore does not know everything :), but of course 
than we cannot have it both ways IMO, if he indeed does not know 
everything and just as human and fallible as every inhabitant of the 
Potterverse is, then he IMO has no special right whatsoever to play 
God with the fates of the potterverse people.
Because if it is indeed **his** world, then he has a lot to answer 
for.

When I read **LOTR** I never doubt that this is a Gandalf world sort 
of ( I know that he is just one of the divine beings, but I do not 
doubt his right to behave as he does for some reason, maybe because 
he behaves as divine being is supposed to IMO, DD on the other hand)

James Lyon:
> He allows dementors to attack Harry several times while on 
Hogwart's property or very close. He takes no action to determine 
who cursed Harry's broom.  He doesn't just destroy the philosopher's 
stone (but brings it into the school so all the students are placed 
at risk).  He doesn't call for an investigation into how Ginny got 
the diary. 
>

Alla:

Heeee. Yes, add to this that while being busy saving the soul of one 
student, he places at risk and almost let the death of two others 
occur ;)
On the other hand, could he really do something about the Dementors, 
wasn't he pretty much powerless against the Ministry/

James Lyon: 
> He sends a child back to an abusive home TWICE after said child is 
a witness to and is involved in the death on another person without 
any counseling or any sort of care.  He allows a student he forces 
to live in an abusive environment to live all on his own for two 
weeks without any protection or visits when everyone thinks that a 
psychotic killer is searching for him.
> 

Alla:

Don't remind me. I find this one to be quite despicable as well. I 
mean, Okay this is not the novel about therapy session, but to allow 
traumatised kid to go back **and** to forbid his friends not just 
visit but from writing anything of significance?

James Lyon:
> Can ANYONE think of ANY ACTION that DD has taken meddling in 
Harry's life that was actually of any net benefit to Harry?

Alla:

Supposedly Harry is still alive because of Dumbledore's placing 
blood protection charm on him, but erm... is he?

CoS - Harry's strength and Fawkes.

PoA - mmmm, bad guy is really good guy, no danger.

GoF - finite incantatem, Voldemort's victims held him off, Harry is 
able to get back.

OOP - Harry's own heart saved him.

So, the  blood protection worked where? In PS/SS indeed it worked, 
only  not in place where Harry's mom blood dwells, unless there is 
something we don't know yet.

JMO,
Alla/