Reformation Spell?

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In Keep Calm and Flutter On, one of the things brought up is a reformation spell, which they were originally going to use on Discord should something happen, before he ate them of course.

 

What exactly do you think the spell is? Is it spell that rewrites the subject's personality to be good? Does it just emphasize the good traits in them? 

 

From what it sounds like it seems like some sort of mind-altering spell, but obviously I can't be sure.

 

If that is what it is, that begs the question.. is it moral?

 

I understand it'd be for the good of Equestria, but that doesn't exactly change the ethics of it. Mind-altering spells just don't sit well for me. You're forcing someone to change, it's almost like brainwash. We also know spells like this aren't anything new. For example, the "want it, need it" spell used by Twilight in Lesson Zero, which I may add, she did imply she's used it in the past.

 

I'd understand maybe if it was used solely for completely unreasonable, nearly mindless attackers, such as Sombra.. but say it was used on a pony like Starlight.

 

The motivation for her actions was a vendetta against Cutie Marks and a desire for complete equality. Obviously she took the ideal too far, but that still was her drive.

 

For the reformation spell to work, it would more than likely have to attack the problem at its source and change her way of thinking.

 

I don't think it seems very moral to forcefully alter one's viewpoints.

 

I know I'm going off of nothing, as this spell wasn't really explored any further or even discussed in depth, but I'm going based off of this assumption. I could be wrong and the spell could be something completely different, but I don't know what. It seems hypocritical to say that Starlight or Discord can't use their abilities to instill a different mindset in others (I'm not vouching for the use, it's still definitely wrong) but then say that the same thing could be done if it's "for good cause."

 

I won't draw a direct comparison, and I don't mean to bring up a hot topic, but it makes me think a bit of the whole capital punishment issue. We don't want people killing, so we'll take the lives of those who kill.

 

Anyway, I know there are definitely going to be some holes in my logic, but I'd like to hear your guys' take on it. Maybe some interesting and meaningful discussion can blossom.