Hermione's AND Hagrid's rude comments

[severusbook4]

No: HPFGUIDX 75248

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Wanda Sherratt" 
<wsherratt3338 at r...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "loonyloopyrjl" 
> <loonyloopyrjl at y...> wrote:
> > I don't think Hermione was being racist or prejudiced when she 
> > referred to centaurs as "horses" to Parvati and Lavender [OoP, 
> > Chapter 27].  Rude, yes, but not necessarily racist or "speciest."
> > 
> > Hagrid himself (although not known for his tact) referred to the 
> > centaurs as "mules" IN FRONT of the centaurs themselves:
> > "I won' be kept outta the fores' by a bunch of mules like you!" > said 
> > Hagrid. [OoP, Chapter 30]
> > 
> > And walking away from them, Hagrid says to Harry and Hermione:
> > "Ruddy old nags though, eh?" [OoP, Chapter 30]
> > 
> > And back in PS/SS Chapter 15, Bane says of Firenze:
> > "Have you no shame? Are you a common mule? . . . . It is not our 
> > business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our > forest!"
> > 
> > I would expect Hagrid, more than anyone else, to be not racist or 
> > prejudiced against other species.  He is half-human and imperfect, as 
> > is Hermione, so he will say stupid things. The centaurs, on the other 
> > hand, have no problem insulting their own as mules or donkeys, so I 
> > think it's understood that this is an "acceptable" insult.
> > 
> > 
> Hermione just safely despatched her jibe sitting at the breakfast table, and 
> there was no excuse for it, except that she wanted to score off some 
> girls.  As I said before, she wouldn't dare say that to a centaur's 
> face, but she'll do it when there's no risk.  I'm not developing a 
> theory that Hermione is a secret racist, I'm more concerned with 
> what a line like this is doing in the book.  Rowling should have 
> known better, and an editor would have noticed that it was 
> discordant with the larger theme.  I think she is getting too 
> indulgent with her characters, and not keeping them disciplined. I'm 
> just not in the mood to think up elaborate excuses for a lazy 
> author.  It's illogical to say "Hermione is muggle born; muggle-
> borns can't be racist; ergo, if she uses a racist term it isn't 
> really racist."  I thought the term was offensive, even if Rowling 
> is too enchanted by her creations to notice it.
> 
> Wanda

Wanda, don't you think you think that is putting too much weight on 
that 2 second conversation in a book?  Four years ago when Hermione 
first started at Hogwart's she would have never said anything 
derogatory to anyone because she was intensly insecure, as 
most "know it all" people are.  JKR simply put this in to show 
Hermione has grown and is much more secure in herself and her 
friends.  She can be catty and not worry about pushing two potential 
friends away. Yes it could be interpreted as racist, but it wasn't 
due to the context it was used.  I believe readers are putting way 
too much time in on the subject, was Hermione rude for saying it? 
yes.  Was it to girls she doesn't particular like? yes. Did she say 
it to hurt Firenze? no.  So is Hermione being racist? no.  Does she 
like horses? no. Does she find Firenze dreamy as the two girls do? 
no.  Let it rest, Hermione has changed from a non risk taker and 
straight laced child to a young woman who will take chances for her 
friends. And sometimes she can do or say stupid things just like the 
rest of us.