Morality and Harry Potter

[kathy]

No: HPFGUIDX 191884

> Steve <bboyminn at ...> wrote:
> <snip>
> As I have strongly counter argued in the past. Harry may not have obeyed the rules, but he always did what was right.
>
> He could not stand by and leave it to others, when it was clear that 'others' simply did not comprehend the source of the true danger, and they also seemed very adverse to listening to reason.
>
> To some, Harry's behavior was criminal. He disobeyed rules, he broke laws, he flouted authority at every turn, or so it seemed.
>
> To paraphrases Thomas Jefferson, 'the law is but the tyrants will'.
>
> Harry did what was right, rather than what he was told. Would we really rather Harry did what he was told even when his conscience knew it was not right?
>
> An old argument, but I still, as always, side with Harry.


Kathy:
I thought some of Harry best moments came when he broke the rules. Using magic on Aunt Marge at the start of POA? Fine with me because Harry finally showed the Dursleys that they couldn't bully him any more. Trashing Dumbledore's office at the end of OOTP? I was cheering Harry on since Dumbledore left him in the hands of that sadist Umbridge. I remember how upset some group members were that Harry used Unforgivable curses during Deathly Hallows. If the authorities weren't following the rules then why should he?