Notification of prejudices

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 191481

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, sigurd at ... wrote:
>
> Dear List
> 
> ....
> 
> My own sympathy in the book is with the Hufflepuff's. Honest, hardworking, loyal, patient, devoted to duty, self disciplined, self sacraficing, law abiding, and responsible. ...I found the most admirable person in the book Cedric Diggory, and worth more than dozen Harry Potters. 
> 
> .... 
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> I also liked the clones in Star Wars. Good soldiers, honest, loyal, obey their orders, take their paychecks and dont screw around like the Jedi-- or the Gryffendors or Slitherin.
> 
> Otto
>
Steve:

Very admirable. I think JKR wrote each House with its faults and its virtues, and you are certainly not the only one who does not hold Gryffindor or Slytherin in the highest regard. And there are certainly those who see the highest virtues in the characteristics of Hufflepuff. I think most would agree there is a degree of arrogance in Gryffindor, but then leaders do need to have a degree of ego to given them the confidence to make the hard decisions.

Flawed as he may be, Harry Potter still got the job done. 

As to the obedient Clones in Star Wars, yes, within limits obedience is a virtue, but not blind unquestioning obedience. By international law, a solider who witnesses 'crimes against humanity' is morally and legally obligated NOT to participate. 

There is a point where quiet unquestioning obedience must be set a side for a higher moral and ethical standard. Though in saying that, I feel that unassuming Hufflepuff stood their ground with the best of them when the circumstances called for it. THEY are not blind obedient clones. They do what is right, even if that means disobeying or nor following the path of least resistance. They don't run from trouble when it comes, but neither to they go out of their way to look for it. Not looking for trouble is mostly a virtue, but it can also be a vice if it is adhered to too rigidly and too blindly. 

But then, that is just my opinion.

The failings of almighty Gryffindor have been discussed here before, so don't get the idea that we praise them without seeing their faults. Yes, the characteristics, both stated and real, are characteristics that are need in the world, but just as Hufflepuff  might excessively avoid conflict, perhaps Gryffindor is a little to eager to jump into the fight. Both need to balance their personality traits against a fair and reasonable assessment of the greater moral good.   

Frequently Harry does what is wrong relative to the rules, but usually, rules or no rules, he does what is ultimately the morally right thing to do. 

Thomas Jefferson once commented that the true guiding principle for our actions is where our rights end and the right of the next person's begin. He based rule of law on rights, not on law itself, saying that the law is frequently but the tyrants will. And I think he had a very good point there. 

Steve/bboyminn