| la_pensee in nocturne_alley @ 2003-04-26 19:39:00 |
I understand what Draco did was inappropriate.
However, this would hardly be a justifiable cause for us to act equally inappropriately. You only make yourself look bad in turn. I can't help but question the personal motives behind the punishments Draco has received, official punishments and virtual ones from classmates. I definitely don't mean to imply that this has anything to do with Harry being who he is. Harry is well-loved and respected here. I wonder how differently this would have been treated if their roles were reversed. I wonder why there was no punishment sought for Colin Creevey after he told Draco that his mother did not care about him. I feel that is just as personal a thing to announce to Hogwarts. Is it different because it isn't prejudice? The response to Draco seems to be more than just that he was homophobic. A lot of it says that Draco outed Harry Potter. Colin Creevey did this exact thing when he said that Draco's mother didn't care about him. Furthermore, what Colin Creevey said was not even true.
I don't pretend to agree with Draco, but I do understand. If this were a situation where a boy had knowingly tried to kiss a girl who was made uncomfortable, I believe the girl would have been able to go to the proper disciplinarian and complain without being faulted. I think we are all looking at this differently because Harry is not someone we would think of as an aggressor. However, this has made Draco terribly uncomfortable. And he did keep it to himself for as long as he could. I don't condone his saying it publicly, but I understand that it has to be incredibly scary to be told things like what Ron Weasley said. Ron did act as though Draco was now to be a part of Harry Potter's life, when forgive me, Draco doesn't want it. I understand why Draco has said this is not fair. We cannot expect anything from Draco simply because Harry has taken a liking to him. Draco owes him no more than anyone else. Again, I do not think Harry deserved the brutality of Draco's temper, but why are we really surprised?
I do not mind that Harry is gay. It is not my business, and it is no one else's. I do however feel that the fact that it does involve homosexuality is hampering judgement. Draco's statements were no worse than anything he has said in the past; however, this hits some professors on a personal level, and I don't feel that gives them a right to bring out the most serious level of punishment I have seen at Hogwarts. I agree with Professor McGonagall's decision to withdraw points from each House. There are none of our Houses who were not acting irrationally last night. The threats of violence will do little more than tell Draco that he succeeded in making people angry. Speaking to him in other languages and removing all of Slytherin's House points and turning him into a pariah will, if anything, I feel encourage him to turn himself into a pariah. If everyone hates him, what reason does Draco have to like anyone else?
Comments:
| scotchtartan @ 2003-04-26 07:16 pm UTC |
Parkinson,
This is not a matter that I would care to linger upon. However since you have raised interesting points, I will make this exception.
I believe we can all agree that emotions were at their highest last evening; I myself will readily admit to losing my normal composure, leading me to putting 11 minutes aside to regain it. My own addition to this bloodshed has very little to do with who was involved and why. The fact of the matter is that Malfoy attacked each and every pupil and professor on an extremely personal level. I do not care what the level involved, but these sort of libelious statements are not tolerated, particularly from someone put into the position of power that a Prefect offers.
I have had a word with Professors Black, Vector and Snape individually. I believe that Malfoy no longer befits the name of Prefect. This has been a matter of debate between the House Heads and myself for many months. Malfoy has been on probation and his luck has run out.
I do not necessarily agree that these permanent methods of punishment are beneficial. Regardless, this is the punishment Professor Snape chose to cast upon his House. My own actions served only as that of Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. I am fit to watch for Hogwarts' best interests.
There is little I can do to interfere with the way Malfoy's home life is run.
And that, Parkinson, is the last of my opinion.
Professor McGonagall
| la_pensee @ 2003-04-26 07:35 pm UTC |
Professor,
I've taken the liberty of coming up with a few points to make to the staff.
I really don't believe Draco has said anything he has never said before. To punish him now makes it seem like anything else he has done is completely forgiveable. And what has he said now? What happens if you take out the references to homosexuality? It's nothing different at all.
For example:
Oh, and threatening a student. A shining example of why [Muggle-borns] deserve to live in society.
Obviously the brackets indicate what I have changed. What makes homophobia so different than, for lack of a better term, racism?
Draco tried to be nice to Harry Potter. He has hardly been nasty to him at all lately, and while I suspect this may have had something to do with Ron's absence, this only proves that Draco did try to let the issue rest. Now he wants only to be left alone, but Ron and Seamus Finnigan aren't making that possible. Yes, he does deserve the backlash, absolutely. However, adding to his discomfiture by isolating him from his House (I seem to remember Harry, Ron and Neville Longbottom losing a mere 150 or so points from Gryffindor and everyone in Harry's House isolating him for that very reason) and telling him that Harry 'chose' him--giving him no choice in the matter whatsoever--is unfair.
Pansy Parkinson
 knight_to_h3 @ 2003-04-27 03:04 am UTC |
If you know what's good for you, you'd bloody delete this post NOW PARKINSON
| la_pensee @ 2003-04-27 03:12 am UTC |
Oh, Ron. Should I replace it with one like this from your lovely little friend Colin?
(parent)| knight_to_h3 @ 2003-04-27 03:15 am UTC Re: |
NO ALL OF YOU SHOULD BLOODY SHUT UP UNLESS YOU KNOW WHERE HARRY IS, IF NOT SHUT UP NOBODY'S LISTENING UGH
(parent)| la_pensee @ 2003-04-27 03:19 am UTC |
Now Ron, I'm sure Harry knows perfectly well what he's doing. I'm listening to you.
(parent)| la_pensee @ 2003-04-27 03:32 am UTC |
Well. You did comment to me first, Ron. Why don't you just calm down and think: if you were Harry, where would you go?
(parent)| knight_to_h3 @ 2003-04-27 03:34 am UTC Re: |
I'M NOT BLOODY GOING TO MALFOY MANOR IS THAT WHERE HE IS???
(parent)| la_pensee @ 2003-04-27 03:47 am UTC |
I don't know where he is, Ron, that's why I'm telling you to think like him.
(parent)| la_pensee @ 2003-04-27 03:58 am UTC |
Ignoring someone when they are trying to help you is not polite. You are very adorable when you worry, though. I can't wait around all evening, Ron. I really do have to go back to bed. I do hope you find someone who can assist you.
(parent)