Snape and moral courage WAS: Re: The Houses, Finally

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 184654

> > Alla:
> > 
> > To me positive treatment of the student for **any** reason ( as 
long 
> > as the reason is not illegal or immoral) is always better than 
> > negative treatment.
> Montavilla47:
> I quite agree with you about that, and I think I overstated it when 
I
> said it was "no better" to treat Harry well because of Lily than to 
> treat him badly because of James.
> 
> But I think either of those does Harry a disservice.  Any kind 
> treatment of Harry on Snape's part would be insincere.  He doesn't
> like the child, and treating him like he did would be to lie.  
<SNIP>

Alla:

I just reallly really do not get it. You mean not showing the child 
that he hates him would do Harry a disservice as well?

I mean, let's put one thing straight here - yes, I honestly think 
that if Snape loved Lily, it would be quite good for him to be nice 
to her baby.

BUT the only reason I even said it is because this is what I think 
**could be** good for both Snape and Harry as people.

By no means I believe that striking a friendship with Harry is 
Snape's obligation **as a teacher**, of course not.

I believe that Snape's obligation as a teacher to be **fair** to 
Harry, and at the very least **be neutral** to him.

On the top of my head that includes do not attack a child who just 
arrived in the unknown world and not taking points from him **for not 
helping Neville**.

On the top of my head that includes not destroying a potion that 
Harry made.

On the top of my head that includes **not bringing child's dead 
father in the equasion** any time this teacher wants to lecture a 
child.

So, what I am trying to say here that if you think that **not doing 
those sorts of things** does Harry a disservice then we just have to 
agree to disagree.

And if not doing those sorts of things means that Snape has to 
pretend, then yeah, I do believe that he is better to be pretending 
because if he is not, then in my view he is not performing as a 
teacher but as a miserable bastard who is taking his misery out on a 
kid who looks just like his succesful rival in school.

Only you see, some people may pity Snape because of that, I don't. I 
think Harry's wellfare comes first AND while I cannot ask Snape to 
erase his feelings, I certainly think he had no right ever showing 
them to Harry.

And if Snape was not doing those sorts of things of course there are 
some things which he was doing truly to protect Harry's life, and I 
would have felt very differently about them.

JMO,

Alla