Killing and Morality ...

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 179967

--- "horridporrid03" <horridporrid03 at ...> wrote:
>
> > >>Betsy Hp:
> > > <SNIP
> > > Harry had options *other* than killing. That's why I 
> > > think the fact that Harry doesn't kill is something that
> > > sounds pretty while at heart means little to nothing ....
> > > I've never killed. 
> > > <snip>
> 
> > >>Alla:
> > But there is no maniac after you, right? ... And you do
> > not participate in battles where  you have to fight for 
> > your life?
> > <snip>

> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Specially stupid. <rbg> I don't admire Harry for his decision
> to not kill. I felt it was pasted on morality that only 
> worked because the author was on his side. There was no honest
> examination of Harry's decision, IMO, because Harry was never
> put into a position where his deciding not to kill would lead
> to another's death.  ...
> 

bboyminn:

A couple of small items; in Harry's world they do not use guns,
they use the equivalent of Star Trek Phasers. When you fire 
a Phaser or wand, it's not 'shot or not shot', 'killed or not 
killed', it is not black and white, it is shades of gray. 

If the police, soldiers, and even criminals had 'guns' that 
could be set to Annoy, Harass, cause Pain, Stun, cause Injury,
or Kill I seriously doubt that they would continually set their
'guns' on 'kill'. Star Trek Phasers were alway set to Stun.

Because Harry has this range of options, he doesn't need to be 
willing to 'kill' every time he fires his wand. It makes 
perfect sense that regardless of circumstances, with a few
exceptions, that a good decent person would chose the minimum
force necessary. Even modern police are moving toward using
Stun Guns when real guns aren't necessary. 

You may not admire Harry for his decision not to kill, but
I certainly do, because Harry always has that option and 
circumstances occur in which, in the muggle world, his act 
of killing would be justified. He /could have/ killed, but
he didn't. He made the 'good' choice. 

I'm more annoyed that they weren't smart enough to take the
DE's wands away from them; disarm the enemy. But to kill or
not to kill, for a good person, is an easy and admirable 
decision, you don't kill unless it is absolutely necessary 
which is the choice Harry made. 

Just a minor point.

Steve/bboyminn