Hermione's rude comment

[Karen]

No: HPFGUIDX 74652

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
> > Nobody speaks to her, 
> >nobody  comments on it, nobody even raises an eyebrow or 
> >looks troubled or  surprised.
> 
> Oh yes, they do.
> 
> "He's not a horse, he's a Centaur!" said Lavender, sounding 
> shocked.
> 
> It isn't the first time Hermione has come out with  something like 
> this, either. In PoA  ch. 17:
> 
> "NO!" Hermione screamed. "Harry, don't trust him, he's been 
> helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too--*he's a 
> werewolf*!" (emphasis Rowling's) 
> 
> Try changing "werewolf" to the  ethnic signifier of your choice 
and 
> see how it sounds. 
> 
> I think Rowling is trying to show us just how insidious prejudice 
> is. Even a well-meaning person like Hermione can fall prey to 
> stereotyping.
> 
> Pippin

Isn't it possible that Hermione has a fear of horses? It is not that 
odd a fear. If someone were afraid of horses, a centaur would be 
pretty intimidating. Also, the Centaurs, by their own choice, wanted 
to be aligned with the "beasts" not the humans, according to 
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. They have actively tried to 
keep separated from human wizards and other "races". By their own 
definition, they are superior to the human wizards, so racism could 
be said to gallop (pardon the pun) through their herds. 

Karen  - "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"