[HPforGrownups] Re: Hermione's rude comment

[The Crashing Boar]

No: HPFGUIDX 74679

From: feetmadeofclay 



  >   It was suggested that Snape was a racist because of one word used 
  when he was being taunted as a teenager (seen in the pensieve), so 
  perhaps JKR might of been dropping a hint that not everything said by 
  a teenage student to another is to be taken as a sign that they are 
  deeply tainted with racist beliefs?
  > 
  >   Dawn


  I'm sorry but no matter what you actually believe the hurling of 
  racist comments only promotes racism and the idea that being 
  publically racist is ok.  If you can't make racist people tolerant, 
  you can do your best to make them ashamed.

  <snip>>>

  -----

  I too agree that racist comments *can* promote racism, but as has already been pointed out, many comments being made, particularly by school children are the result of ignorance, and simply smacking them with censorship of language will not make them more tolerant or ashamed, just drive them underground to fester out of sight.  

  I have problems with the way Hermione behaves towards nonhuman magical creatures anyway.  She is campaigning for the poor benigted house elves, whom she sees as a lowly creature in need of reeducation and protecting from their established way of life, but is derogatory and ultimately insultingly ignorant of the intelligent, independant and proud centaurs.

  Maybe JKR doesn't beat the anti-racism drum at every opportunity, but maybe she is also letting us know by more subtle means that even well informed and well meaning people are not always correct in their assumptions.  This doesn't make them bad people, simply imperfect.  It's a good thing for anyone to remember there is always room for improvemnt.

  Dawn


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