Appropriate terminology

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 89334

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman" <susiequsie23 at s...> 
wrote:
> The word "Muggle" is used all the time, in everyday conversation!  
> Seamus announces his mum's a witch, his dad's a Muggle.  Arthur works 
> in the Office for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts.  I doubt anyone 
> would set up a "Misuse of Mudblood Artifacts Office."   
> 
> I'm not arguing about how Muggles are or aren't treated; I'm arguing 
> about the WORD "Muggle".  Many wizards may well see Muggles as 
> lesser; that is a different issue.  I stick w/ my argument 
> that "Muggle" is an identifier, pure & simple; "Mudblood" is a 
> pejorative.  
> 

Yep, Muggle is used all the time in the WW - by *wizards*. It was
invented by them, is used exclusively by them as an exclusive term.
Muggles are the common muck from which a gem might appear -
a wizard. Otherwise they are worthless and something very like 
apartheit is practised. Hagrid says it all - they'd want their problems
solved by magic! OK for us, not for them; they're much better off
on their own.

Mudblood is a conceit used by purebloods. It is an artificial divide;
the ones of which it is used are, in fact, wizards. It is reminiscent
of aristocratic pretensions of superiority over self-made men in a 
democracy - pointless and irritating. It demonstrates the last gasp
of the loser.

Frost posted intimating (semi-humorously I think) that from now on,
if the word Muggle was used for her/him there would be a strong 
response. It  would only count IMO if the person using it was *not*
a Muggle and how could Frost tell? A pejorative term cuts when the
one on the receiving end is insulted or offended. (Sometimes it
backfires on the prejudiced; in my years abroad I've been called all
sorts of names that were intended to be insulting. Many I found 
amusing and some I positively relished. That throws 'em.) 
But in this particular instance I think Muggle is a discriminatory term
and I have a very good lawyer who says that if I  can prove that I'm 
being victimised I could make a packet out of this. 
Yippee! Early retirement!

Kneasy