Snape can do nothing right. Was: Ministry going to punish Snape...?

[leslie41]

No: HPFGUIDX 169127

Lupinlore:

Does he always act properly?  Not to those of us who think very 
strongly that he is a constant abuser of children.  Which brings up a 
point -- personality and action cannot be so easily separated.  It 
is, in fact, perfectly appropriate to insist that Snape apologize for 
his personality and the way it leads him to interact with others, 
including what I'd say is his contemptible abusive behavior.  And it 
is, in fact, perfectly appropriate to insist that, short of an 
apology, punishment is in order.  Frankly, if JKR does go the way 
of "nice is not good" and "actions excuse an abusive personality" 
then I'd say the messages she has encoded in her books are -- 
<chuckle> unfortunate.

Leslie:

As to whether or not Snape is "abusive", that's a discussion that's 
far from settled and would take far too long to argue again here 
(plus I doubt either one of us would change our respective 
opinions).  

But your position neatly illustrates my point, which is that Snape 
critics believe he can do no right and the characters that are 
likable can do no wrong.  You cede that Snape does good, but then 
declare that good "irrelevant" to "the moral issues at stake", 
effectively rendering his goodness nonexistent.  

You are entitled to believe what you like about Snape.  However, if 
you want to avoid the charge of hypocrisy, and present an argument 
that is coherent and logical, you will demand the same treatment for 
those you like  that you do for Snape.  As you call 
yourself "Lupinlore" my guess is you will not, however.

If people are to be called to account for "abusive" behavior, Black 
should have been expelled for the prank.  Sirius and James should 
have been expelled for their abuse of Snape, and Lupin should have 
lost his status as prefect for allowing it to happen, and been 
declared a coward in front of everyone.  If people are to be called 
to account for *dangerous* behavior, all of the Marauders should have 
been expelled and sent to some sort of wizard juvenile hall for 
carousing around with a werewolf and endangering Hogwarts.  Adult 
Lupin must also be held accountable for selfish refusal to reveal 
Sirius was an animagus.

But you never seem to call for that.  Unless those who hate Snape and 
demand nothing less than his head on a platter apply equal judgments 
to the characters they like for similar or worse actions, their 
arguments about Snape will not be taken seriously, because they are 
not bolstered by an unbiased view of characters and events.