ChapDisc: DH 18, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 182669

---  "nikkalmati" <puduhepa98 at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  "Steve" <bboyminn@> wrote:
> >    snip
> >On some occasions human will sacrifices The Few to save The
> >Many, but on other occasion, quite illogically, humans will
> >sacrifice The Many to save The Few.
> 
> >This was especially impressed on me when Aberforth and Harry
> >argue in 'Deathly Hallows' just before Harry and friends
> >enter Hogwarts castle. Harry in essence says that some causes
> >are so great and so true, and the need so real that indeed
> >the few must be willing to sacrifice themselves for the good,
> >or if you will the greater good, of the many.
> 
 >Nikkalmati
> 
> The problem I am struggling with here is that Albus appears 
> to be willing to sacrifice other people for the good of the 
> many.  This is part of Aberforth's problem with his brother.
> He is asking Harry if he really knows what he is getting into.
> Of course, he doesn't - Albus never told him.  Albus knew 
> Harry would be willing to go forward at any cost, but was 
> that fair?  Albus' MO is to trap you into a committment and 
> then shame you into going on when you finally see the 
> handwriting on the wall.  Not my idea of the highest moral 
> standard.  
> 
> >Nikkalmati
>

bboyminn:

Yes, but how many men did General Eisenhower send to their
deaths? How many men did General MacArthur sent to their
deaths? How many of those men didn't want to go, but went
anyway out of duty and loyalty? And how many of the deadly
operation were brutal strategic error in judgment? 

Dumbledore commands an army, yes, a very small and select
army in a very limited war, but none the less, those who 
follow him, do so by choice and trust his judgment both
right and wrong. When he says go, they go out of loyalty to
their leader and to their cause. 

No one wants to be the person who gives that command that
sends men to their death, but thank god there are some men 
willing to do it. Because without them, we would all be 
speaking either German or Japanese today. 

Trust me, it's lonely at the top.

Steve/bboyminn