The State of Bigotry in JKR's Homeland (was) What not to say in Scotland

[Ali]

Petra Pan wrote:-
 
>>> I am curious to hear from the Brits of current manifestations 
 in the UK of prejudice (which of course includes but is not 
 limited to racism) or, for a lack of better word, anti-
 prejudice.  While it's likely that JKR writes the HP books 
 with the entire globe in mind, I am curious to know what 
 'village happenings' closer to home inform her understanding 
 and view of prejudice.<<<

Prejudice is absolutely rampant, but it is also (in general) hidden. 
As part of my HR course, I recently had to do alot of work 
on "diversity". The statistics make shocking reading. Whatever our 
laws and our intentions, prejudice is rife in British society. That 
does not mean though that children of mixed parentage or those of a 
different religion would be discriminated against, just that it is 
more likely. Achievement levels vary massively between different 
racial groups, and cultural forces are at work as well.

I know of several mixed-marriages, and am not aware of any overt 
prejudice against their kids or against them. So, from that point of 
view, I don't think that JKR was considering her daughter's 
background in writing the Potterverse. In terms of the 
Scotttish/English thing, one of my friends is Scottish, married to 
an Englishman. When her kids are in Scotland they know to call 
themselves Scottish, but other than that, they would call themselves 
English, or perhaps more likely British - they currently live in 
Egypt! The Scottish (Welsh, Irish) v. English thing is perhaps 
naturally, much more of an issue in Scotland (Wales, Ireland) than 
it is in England.

Having said that prejudice is rife, there are of course areas where 
different cultures mingle harmoniously - I live in such an area. 
This might be an exaggeration, but I have been told that there are 
over 40 first languages spoken in my daughters' school - not bad for 
a school of c. 350 kids.

Ali