The unforgivable curse argument

[Adesa]

No: HPFGUIDX 173028

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Lana" <unicornspride at ...> 
wrote:
>
> 
> 
> 
> > Colwilrin
> > Many are upset that Harry used the Crucio curse.  I am not, for 
one 
> > specific
> > reason.  In the US (where I am from...and have spent the last 48 
hours
> > taking the lawyer's bar admittance examination), the use of 
deadly force 
> > is
> > allowed, and justified when one is in a position of fear of 
imminent death
> > to oneself or another.
> >
> > When Harry used the Crucio curse, he was in a battle situation.
> > Voldemort and the DE's were intent on killing both Harry and 
those who
> > supported Harry.  In any US court, Harry's actions would be 
justified 
> > under
> > Self-Defense.
> >
> > I was actually a bit happy when Harry finally got serious and 
fought fire
> > with fire.  I never wanted him to AK anyone...but he used the 
force
> > necessary to protect himself...and I was thrilled by it.  Just as 
I was
> > thrilled when Molly asserted herself enough to dispatch 
Bellatrix.  Way to
> > go girl!
> ------------------------
> > Sherry:
> >
> > As it was war, I could have accepted even Harry using the killing 
curse.
> > It's the Imperius and Cruciatus that bothered me.  Cruciatus is a 
torture
> > curse, inflicting terrible agony in every fiber of someone's 
body.  That
> > isn't self defense or fighting fire with fire.  We have soldiers 
facing
> > court martials for torturing prisoners.  Torture is wrong, in my 
opinion,
> > and I hated seeing the hero, the good guy using it.  I didn't 
mind molly
> > offing Bella, because it was war, and soldiers do kill in war.  
That's 
> > their
> > job.  I didn't want Harry to have to kill, but that would have 
been far
> > easier to accept than cruciatus for me.
> 
> Lana:
> 
>   I was thrilled that Harry used the curse.  Not because he 
tortured 
> someone, but because of everything he went thru, he chose not to 
kill.  I do 
> not think that you can really compare troops to this.  Not even 
remotely the 
> same thing.  These people have been chasing him and trying to kill 
him since 
> before he was even a year old.  I think a little torture is 
justified.
> 
> Lana
>

Adesa:

I, too, was happy Harry used the Cruciatus curse. Not because his 
tormentors deserved torture, but because I got the feeling he was 
looking to do only enough damage to defend himself; nothing long-
lasting. His ability to give others second chances, I think, rival 
Dumbledore's by the end of our story.

I also think that JKR's point that people are not *all good* or *all 
evil*, that we each have shades of grey in us, was part of Harry's 
actions. And what's wrong with that? Above all else, IMO, is JKR's 
ability to capture human behavior in all its imperfection. That's why 
I loved OotP so much and why I've *cared* about fictional characters 
for a decade.