There it goes again! Objectivity out the window. (LONG)

[Katie]

No: HPFGUIDX 175269

> > va32h: Is Sirius hiding in 12GP, drinking and being depressed 
> because that's his choice? Or is he stuck in 12GP because his 
status as a wrongly accused and falsely condemned murderer makes it 
impossible for him to contribute to the Order outside of 12GP?
> > 
> > Do you really think so little of anyone but Snape that you don't 
> > think Sirius would be out there, risking his life, if he had the 
> > freedom to do so?
> > 
> 
> Lupinlore:Let us not forget Lupin, barred from employment and 
driven into poverty, facing prejudice on all sides while trying to 
act as an envoy to hostile werewolves.  Or Hagrid facing a journey 
to see violent giants.  Or Tonks and Shacklebolt, trying to operate 
within an ever-more-hostile and dangerous ministry, as is Arthur.  
And all without stooping to abusive cruelty a la Snapey-poo.  And, 
by and large, with the arguable exception of Sirius, without the 
driving force of a creepy and stomach-turning obsession.
For that matter, let us remember a little matter of three kids who 
manage to face and fight off dangers much greater than any these 
bumbling adults (and yes, I include Snapey-poo in that number) could 
deal with successfully.  Oh yes, there are many other people at work 
than Sevviekins.
>
va32h: 
> > va32h, who had this wacky notion that the series was about a boy 
> > called Harry Potter, not The Canonization of Severus Snape with 
a cameo appearance by Harry Potter.
> 
> Lupinlore:
Oh dear, I had that impression, too!  I think so did JKR!  Ah, well. 
I guess when she does her revised editions she can correct the 
titles to "Saint Severus Snape and the ...... with a cameo 
appearance by a certain unworthy and ungrateful brat who deserves 
all the cruelty and abuse he gets."  Then again, I doubt the people 
who do the dust jackets would go for it.


****Katie:
First of all, Lupinlore, LOL on the "Saint Severus..."! I laughed 
out loud (not so good, since I'm at work, but...).

However, I think all this side-picking has gotten a little out of 
whack. I like Harry, Sirius, and Lupin....AND Snape. I think it is 
possible to like them all. Except James. I agree with those who 
think we were given too little to like and too much to dislike. I 
think James *must* have turned into a decent guy, but I didn't see 
it, and I don't have much positive to say about him. 

I do think that the Snape-canonizing has gone crazy. I like Snape - 
in fact, he's one of my favorite characters to read about. Of 
course, just because I find him interesting doesn't mean I would 
want to have a butterbeer with him. I *would* want to have a 
butterbeer with Sirius or Lupin or Harry. In addition, Snape DOES 
have a creepy obsession. Sorry, that's just true. 

As for giving the other people props for what they have done, I 
agree that they are given NO slack, and Snape is given tons by 
certain people. Meanwhile, other people give Snape NO slack or 
credit. I think each group needs to bend a little. :)

Here's my take:

Snape - A pretty decent guy who got picked on, fell in with the 
wrong crowd, and lost his girl. He became bitter and fell in with a 
REALLY bad crowd, did some regrettable things, and because of a 
personal loss, turned back to the good side, and went back to being 
a pretty decent guy, albeit a really bitter one with a wierd 
obsession. 

His treatment of Harry and Harry's friends is just inexcusable. 
There is no argument about Snape's awful childhood, or crappy 
adulthood, or James' tormenting of him, that can justify adult 
Snape's behavior toward small children in his care. We have to 
remember that they *were* small children at the beginning, not 17 
year olds. And Snape was terrible to them. Harry hadn't even known 
his father! Taking out his anger at James on Harry was 
unjustifiable. Period.

However, he did keep Harry physically safe, if not emotionally safe, 
and he did put his own life on the line many times. He was a good 
friend to Dumbledore and he was, ultimately, on the right side, 
doing the right thing. I think he deserves commendation for that. 
However, no more commendation that all the outwardly good people 
should get for openly defying Voldemort.

Harry - Everyone knows that I love and respect Harry. I think he is 
exactly how he is presented to be, a good person in a difficult 
situation, handling it as best he can, and occasionally screwing up 
or being unpleasant. I think he deserves all the credit in the world 
for being a brave, strong, and good person. 

Marauders - They are a difficult bunch. We see them so rarely, yet 
they are a constant presence in the books, and in Harry's life. I 
see them as the kind of guys that never really grow up (much like 
Snape). I don't, in any way, think any  of them (minus Pettigrew) 
were "bad" people. 

Sirius is one of my favorites. I think he loved Harry dearly, and I 
think he went to great lengths, as Lupinlore said, to save Harry. He 
put his own life in danger almost constantly, just having broken out 
of Azkaban. He did what he could for the Order, and he fought at the 
Ministry to save Harry, even though (had he not been killed) he 
could have been captured. Sirius, in my opinion, was very brave, and 
very loving, if a little immature. I think he deserves at least as 
much credit as Snape. 

I really think we need to look at these characters objectively. They 
all have flaws, and they all have positive attributes. I think it is 
possible to like all of them, and I do.

Katie, just lovin' on er'erybody.