Jewish Goblins?

[jwcpgh]

No: HPFGUIDX 81884

Matt, you can reiterate all you want-we don't agree on this and I 
think we'll have to leave it there.  

<snip> 
> Laura's reply:
> 
> > Sigh.  I must say that the timing on this 
> > discussion is most unfortunate, coming 3 days 
> > before the celebration of the New Year and 
> > the succeeding holidays.  
> 

Matt's response: 
> I don't understand why you say it is unfortunate.  Actually, this 
week
> ought to be a good time for calm reflection.  I really hope this
> wasn't some sort of veiled accusation of insensitivity on my part 
or
> Nemi's, which would itself be a bit offensive.

Laura's new reply:

No, no, although I can see how you might have inferred that.  My 
apologies for the misunderstanding.  I meant, unfortunate from my 
point of view, because I had other things I should have been doing 
(which is entirely my responsibility, no one else's).  However, calm 
reflection wasn't going to result from your reply-I found the tone 
unpleasant.

my earlier post:
> > I agree that JKR is trying to make a point 
> > about prejudice in the RW.  She does so most 
> > effectively without having to resort to 
> > caricatures.  
> 
Matt:

> Again, __no__one__said__there__was__any__caricature.  <snip> 

The caricature would be in the nature of the goblins-smart, uniquely 
able to handle money, ugly, not "like us".  I'm glad you find this 
to be an unconvincing portrait of Jews-so do I.  But there are still 
people in the world who see us this way.  So Nemi's suggestion that 
these characters suggest Jews, even if in a historical sense, is 
unworthy of JKR.  


> 
> > The comparison would be correct if JKR had included a 
> > character with stereotypical gay or lesbian traits but 
<snip>   Rowling's treatment plainly acknowledges and plays off
> of the bigotry her readers can see in the real world, and not just 
itsmost overt forms.  It's there in the focus on lineage, the 
mistrust of foreigners, the isolation of the half-blooded.  

> my new post:

You make an interesting point here, and one that I think somewhat 
undermines your argument.  The issues you point out that JKR raises 
are, I think, very live ones in Britain today.  My understanding 
(and please correct me if I'm wrong, Brits) is that the fallout from 
the end of colonialism is still having effects in Britain.  Those 
issues would be the ones JKR would be most familiar with.

> Moreover, does it really matter what Rowling intended?  <snip>   
It wouldn't be much fun reading
> Shakespeare, or Aristophanes, if their works spoke only to their
> worlds, and not to ours! 

Yes, it does.  They're her books.  We're reacting to her world.  And 
I think the writers you mention have survived this long exactly 
because they *intended* to address timeless issues. 

I don't purport to speak for all Jews, just this one.  I hope that 
if this discussion continues, we can do it politely and 
respectfully.  You may be surprised to know that I know what an 
allegory is-thanks, though.