WW vs. MW (was: The Heir)

[Melody]

No: HPFGUIDX 45988



Ahh, precious Pip.  Only you could draw up the parallels of forbidden,
black-listed Harry Potter with a blessed New Testament Sunday school
lesson on the 'evil' holiday of Halloween.  I salute you.


Pip state:
> The WW, you see, has decided that instead of bringing magic to the
> world, it would rather withdraw within itself, creating its own
> society; that society being designed to preserve and improve magic.
>
> The Christian theology bit is Mark Chapter 4 Verses 21 - 22:
>
> ..."Does anyone ever bring in a lamp and put it under a bowl or
> under a bed? Don't they put it on the lampstand?
> Whatever is hidden away will be brought out in the open and whatever
> is covered up will be uncovered."
>
> which suggests to me that this separation from the muggle world,
> this hiding of magic's 'light' from muggles is wrong.


A fair passage in the middle of parables about sharing the talents
bestowed upon yourself with the world instead of hording them for
yourself, or worse not developing them at all.  I wonder though if you
are stretching it a bit too far.  After all, Jesus also said on the
Sermon of the Mount...

Matthew 7:6
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.
If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and
tear you to pieces."

Which suggests to me, that which is precious guard from those who
would, since not having such a gift, would abuse or fear the gift.

For hundreds of years, Muggles have feared magic.  Even in today's
world of modern advances in thought and reason, we still have those
that even fear the idea written in just plain fiction.  {mumbled with
a half-glazed look of anguish]  Might take root and corrupt all
generations...forever damning out nations...polluting our
streams...destroying perfectly good brooms...

Keeping magic from the general non-magic public is cruel...to us.  We
do not like being withheld from much now of days.  After all, we are
all finally created equal by our modern eye.  Any reasonable thing we
want to do, we can with little resistance.  A woman that attempts the
pen is no longer the intruder of the rights of men. [1]  But in this
world acceptance of everything different, we do loose the meaning of
being protected for our own good.

I hate to use this for an example since I have not see the movie, but
in Spiderman, Peter Parker states that his "special powers" are his
gift.  His curse.  He alone must bear its responsibility.  I see the
magic world the same way.  It is their "gift/curse" to have these
"special powers", and it is their responsibility to protect these
powers and use them.

Do you remember Gandalf in the beginning of Lord of the Rings?  He
cherished the simplicity of the hobbits and protected their innocence
from it all.  Even though the hobbits ended up being quite resilient
to the power of the ring and in fact, chase evil from their homes at
the end, Gandalf would of done anything to protect them from it.

I see the magic world as a conglomeration of all these things.  In our
muggle attempt to know all about the world, we are annoyed by the fact
there could still be a pocket that is trying to allude us.  It is not
fair.  We search out lost cities, study strange tribes, catalogue
every animal.  The idea of a whole world we do not know of is
infuriating really.  How dare they keep such an amazing human gift
from us?

How dare they indeed.  Unless, it is to protect us from them.  Do you
blame the WW for protecting it's gift?  It's curse.  Sure, it is all
so wondrous and magical.  I'm sure being able to shoot webs out of
your palms would be too, but with those gifts come *incredible*
responsibility.  A responsibility that is better held in private
really.  That is why superheroes always wear masks.  If everyone knew
who they were and thus knew their telephone number, then all the world
would *forever* be calling.  Since the whole world does not have that
gift, then those that do would be *extremely* stretched to fulfill the
needs of, really, just a world turned lazy.  Everything a wizard or
witch can do to survive, a Muggle can do too.

By separating themselves from the muggles, they can protect not only
their own lives but the muggles as well.  Though you did pointed out a
very good point I want to address:


Pip wrote:
>b) allowing them to be persecuted by evil wizards without
>understanding what the heck is going on [the Roberts's, anyone?]

Sure the Roberts were a little taken advantage of by the naughty DE's.
 No real harm done though.  Since they do not remember, the Roberts'
little lives will continue in ignorant bliss.  But you scream, "That
is not fair.  They should know.  They have a right to know."

Yes, yes.  Maybe they should.  What good would it have done if the
Roberts had known they were surrounded by wizards and witches who had
powers the never would...and not because they are too noble to use
them either.  ;)  Even if the Roberts had know about magic, what could
they have done?  What defenses they have are useless.  They would
still be puppets in the air.  Just now they would *understand* what is
going on.

So the wizard world is at a passing.  Let the whole world know they
exist and deal with the whole world of built up prejudice, fear, and
scientific curiosity, or stay hidden protecting their existence living
in relative peace and semi-symbiotic harmony.  If Harry is to join the
two worlds, I see a big task in front of him beyond anything of his
background, education, or vision.

A noble idea Pip, but a stretch in my eyes.


Melody

[1] a semi-quote taken from Anne Finch's poem "The Introduction"
originally reading:
"Alas!  A woman that attempts the pen,
such an intruder on the rights of men,"
lines 9-10