Ending WAS : Compassionate hero

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 176042

Betsy Hp:
<SNIP>
> What you're saying, Alla (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that 
> your "personality" didn't change despite all the culture-shock 
> experienced.  And I believe that's what your friend was talking 
about 
> too.  And that makes sense to me.
> 
> But "ideology" is something quite different.  That's more the 
belief 
> system you work under. 
<SNIP>

Alla:

Not hundred percent sure what my friend was talking about, since he 
was talking in general about child's character, will have to ask him, 
but I was definitely talking about both, including my belief system.

To put it shortly :

I adopted a fairly liberal system of beliefs, when I was a child and 
teen. Nothing happened to make me drastically change it. I sort of 
grew more cynical with age as to the changing the world in general, 
doing politics with clean hands and admiring politicians, but all 
together, I still believe in what I did.

For example - I was always, always against death penalty since early 
teens, I still am. My reasons for that changed a bit, but the 
underlying belief is there.

I was always for the freedom of speech, since I was greedilys 
wallowing the forbidden books during soviet era as a young teen, I 
still am.

So, NO by and large I did not change my ideological beliefs.

>>Alla:
> I will just say briefly about Natzis, since I do not have in depth
> picture, but will touch more on what I am familiar with. I see on
> the news that Natzis groups are still in **existance** in Germany
> these days. Sure, they are not on top, not in charge, but aren't
> they even part of the government now?
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
No. They couldn't be because the Nazi party is illegal in Germany.
Just as segragation and slavery is illegal in the USA. Are there
still racists around? Sure. But they're not codified by the
government. And that's a big change. One that occurred quickly,
with a stroke of a pen. <eg>

Alla:

First, the party I saw on the news was not calling themselves Nazi, 
but from listening to their program, I thought it was same crap, just 
under different name. But as I said, I will have to do more research 
to speak more confidently.

Secondly, my point was that if **government** only makes changes, 
unsupported by population, it can be short lived, the change I mean.

That is why I love Dumbledore refusing power position ( well now we 
know that he was also afraid that he would be tempted by it), but I 
also thought that he chose to work for longer term changes – changing 
the hearts of his students. IMO of course.

 Betsy Hp:
<SNIP>
> The problem, IMO, is that with Slytherin house JKR has conflated 
> personality with ideology. And by condemning one, she's condemned 
the 
> other.  And that's bigotry.  It's the kind of thinking behind Pol 
> Pot's persecution of "intellectuals", because in his mind people 
with 
> that sort of personality are examples of a dangerous ideology.
<SNIP>

Alla:

I refuse to enter into debate whether it is bigotry or not, because 
this is something I am sure we will not change each other minds on, 
but I do want to ask - where in the books do you see JKR condemning 
Slytherin's personalities?

Condemning their ideology, their belief system - **totally**, but 
where do you see condemning personalities?

Thanks,

Alla