Diversity, Mastermind Theory, Clothes, Weasley/Seer

[Lilac]

No: HPFGUIDX 40758


Diversity in Literature & Media (WAS book differences)-----------------------------------

Amanda said:
>>>"Me now --> The Patil twins are black? Just based on their names and the
description of Parvati's hair, I sort of figured they were Indian 
(India, not American). Is there canon for them being black?">>>

When I first read SS, Parvati/Padma Patil immediately struck me as from India like Amadna said.  The only reason for this is that in the apartment building I manage, we have many university students here from India with names similar in style and pronunciation to this.  But that is from my own background experiences, which would not have been the same had I lived in a different area of town.  I live in a very conservative western US state that just screams "all white" but in a big city, 
which is definitely more diverse than smaller towns, especially being close to a university.

Also, on the "black" students:  My background is in Elementary Education, and I had to take
classes on diversity in the classroom.  When I read SS I remember thinking, "Oh, they must be trying to make Hogwarts seem diverse to us readers" but it didn't bother me at the time.  I also admit I would have thought they were white without an obvious ethnic-sounding name, Like Parvati Patil, Cho Chang, etc. because of living in this very-white-with-pockets-of-diversity-US-state (although a friend has a son named Anton, but he is blond with blue eyes, so it's not always the case...)  
 
MASTERMIND THEORY --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Alexander Lomski,
Gryffindor/Slytherin crossbreed, said in his Mastermind Theory:
>>>  And it's real easy to make yet another Dark Lord. Just
sort a right boy into right House with right friends...
Guess what would happen to Harry is he would be sorted into
Slytherin, but Ron and Hermione into Gryffindor. No friends
(Draco would never become Harry's friend, even if they were
in the same House), those friends he has just got have
turned away from him... He would make a perfect new Dark
Lord to replace Voldemort in this position.>>>

I have a little pet theory of my own.  ONE BIG IMHO TO START THIS OFF WITH...

Harry is actually both the Gryffindor and Slytherin decendents combined, both through Lily,
 but his choices and life experiences make him lean more toward the Gryffindor side (very bangy for those who like bangs).  That's why the hat had such a hard time, such the evil thing as it is.  Lily's auburn hair makes me think that she is related to Dumbledore, who I believe is Gryffindor's
heir because of all the G. paraphenalia in his office.  But her green eyes tells me that she has a streak of Slytherin in her, enough to pass on those traits of parseltongue(maybe she spoke it, who knows?) and a propensity for ignoring rules (looking for cannon on this one) which were latent traits in her, imo. She could still be Severus Snape/Perseus Evans' sister. 

I also think that, true to MAGIC DISHWASHER/Spy Games fashion, that Dumbledore fed Harry
wrong information about a bit of Voldemort transferred to him from that AK because he couldn't handle the truth just yet, but he is truthful in saying that it's the choices Harry makes that determines who he is, not his genetics.  That's why the choice issue, between what is right and what is easy, is going to be more apparent in books 5-7.  I think Judy (sorry if wrong reference) said she believes there is a prophecy out there about Harry.  I think it's something to the effect of when Gryffindor/Slytherin combine, this person will become the most powerful wizard ever, even more than Voldie or Dumbledore, so that's why V wants to do away with Harry and Dumbledore wants him on the "right" side.  That's also why Dumbledore has kept him at the Dursleys...believe it or not, those awful experiences shaped him into what he is now and what he will become, along with his genetic Gryffindor that has made him extrememly resiliant.  It also kept him out of the WW where he probably would have gotten a big head and a little power hungry from the fame and the Slytherin part would just love that.  

Dumbeldore was masterminding this background experiences for Harry because children, if left to their own devices and choices, don't always choose what's good for them, but what might be easy or fun.  When Harry came to Hogwarts, he started to make more choices for himself...his friends, "Not Slytherin", etc.  Dumbledore wants Harry on the good side, but he wasn't going to force him there.  Like my children, ages 5 and 2, I make choices for them right now (what TV shows allowed to watch, people we associate with, etc) but as they get older, they will make more and more choices for themselves.  My husband and I as parents hope that they will make the right choices based on their background experiences we've given them, but the choices are theirs to make.  

Does this make any sense?  I guess what I'm trying to say is that Harry's background, staying with
the Dursleys (yes, he's related to Dumbledore, but D. was way too busy to be a dad, plus it's a secret that he's related to Lily except for a select few) was arranged by Dumbledore ala MAGIC DISHWASHER style so that when Harry was older, his choices would lean towards the Gryffindor side, but the choices were/are Harry's nonetheless.     

There...Phew!  Got that over with.

(puts on bullet proof vest to prepare for the holes that will inevitibally be shot in her theory)


CLOTHES---------------------------------------------------------

Heather Gauen said:

<<<However, the Weasley kids are described as wearing muggle clothes
during the holidays in GoF, which I took to mean
things like jeans and t-shirts (or whatever else would
be normal clothes for a kid). Do all magic kids wear
"muggle" clothes when not in school? If so, why do
adults bother to wear robes? More importantly, why
don't adults know how to dress properly as muggles>>>


I think that the WW is becoming more intertwined with the Muggle world with each passing
generation, so that muggle clothes are more normal for the kids, but the adults still
have trouble with it, but are better at it than Dumbledore's generation.  The line becoming
blurred between Wizard/Muggle, I would daresay, is something that Voldemort is fighting against, 
but is something that needs to happen for the WW to survive in a "muggle world" (I am assuming 
here that the WW population is a tiny percentage of the entire Muggle world). Maybe something
Harry & co. have to fight for...acceptance of cultural diversity (hmmm, very timely).  Wasn't 
that Lockhart's wish (peace between all magic and non-magic folk), along with starting the hair care products?    

*Heather, who just burst into uncontrollable giggles
at the thought of old Archie in his flowered nightgown
(who likes a healthy breeze 'round his privates,
thanks)
 
Me too<g>

 


Seventh son or daughter (was Missing Weasley Children - Names)------------------------

"barefootpuppets" Heidi R. said: 
<<<I've been following this thread with interest and only want to 
interject one thought:  What if there really wasn't a "David" and the 
alphabetical thing was just a coincidence?  OK.  This would make 
Ginny the 7th child.  Now, it's true that she wouldn't be a 7th SON, 
but JKR does tend to put twists and spins on some traditions.  Could 
it be that Ginny (who is supposed to, according to interviews, play a 
much larger role in future books), is the seer?
Now, jumping back to the Ron being a seer theory...I think this would 
be mighty hysterical if he and Hermione were to hook up...she is so 
anti-Divination, after all!>>>

I think something will and should come out about Ron and Ginny that will
be especially helpful in the fight against Voldemort.  The Trio all have talents,
but Ron's only seems to be chess strategizing and funny one-liners, while the other
two's strengths seem to have been more apparent.  Don't get me wrong, I love Ron!  
But there's something we don't know about him, imo...

Now with Ginny, I also think she has more coming out about her.  The 7th child/seer
theory could be it.  I think we'll see more of her personality as well as her bravery
as more comes out about her encounter with Tom Riddle.  Harry and Ginny do have a couple
of connections...they've both survived encounters with V, and Ginny has a life debt 
to Harry.  What does this mean, I have no clue.  But I have been spending alot of time
at the Sugar Quill, so I know what they think it means.  

I think that Hermione is anti-"fake" divination, because her only experience has been 
Trelawny.  She hasn't seen the real thing...yet! 


-Lilac :) 
(who loves reading these messages while eating Otter Pops, and laughs at the irony of 
this with JKR's love of otters and the otter theme relating to the Weasley's) 



 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Tut, tut --- hardly any of you remembered that my favorite color is *lilac*. I say so in Year with the Yeti." 

--Gilderoy Lockhart, COS



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