In defense of considering pureblood preference racism

[sofdog_2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 106917

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "wickywackywoo2001" 
<wsherratt3338 at r...> wrote: I've just never gotten the impression 
that Arthur is being patronizing
> when he interests himself in Muggle inventions and traditions.  He
> seems to me very clearly to be in the line of English enthusiasts.  
He
> reminds me a bit of Mr. Pickwick; Muggledom seems to be a great
> adventure for him, and he's like those eccentric Englishmen who get 
a
> deep satisfaction out of what other people see as prosaic and
> uninteresting junk (trainspotters, for example).  He's an amateur,
> going back to the original meaning of the word, one who does 
something
> purely out of love.  I expect that's why he went into his present 
line
> of work, because it allows him access to something that interests 
and
> delights him.  He's not debating which way of life he wants to 
adopt,
> and why should he?  He's not a Muggle - he's always going to be
> 'outside' that world, but I see his interest and enthusiasm for 
Muggle
> artifacts to be rather charming.  As a Muggle myself, I'd never be
> offended by someone else trying to learn about my life; it might 
even
> make me appreciate it more, as what has become ordinary and dull to 
me
> is regarded as fresh and exciting by someone else.
> 
> Wanda

SOF:

I see Nora's point. Arthur finds Muggle inventions fascinating, yet 
he fails to be any sort of a real authority on them. It's pretty 
fishy that he obviously has access to Muggleborns who could teach him 
the workings of electrical devices and yet he hasn't put the 
opportunity to use. Arthur keeps referring to Muggles in patronizing 
tones, "bless them," as though they're naive children. The general 
attitude of the wizarding world in HP is of behind the scenes 
caretakers trying desperately to keep the lesser beings from falling 
to their own stupidity. This is a non-canon example but I never get 
over Mr. Weasley asking Harry the function of a rubber duck in CoS. 
Come on! The story hinges on a bathroom (plumbing) and a chute hidden 
under a sink. Yet this guy can't a understand a child's toy? :rolls 
eyes:

As to being appreciative of someone else's interest in one's customs, 
that lies in the eye of the beholder I s'pose. As an African-American 
I find nothing more annoying than being put on the spot about my 
customs. Just doing my hair was a whole a drawn out Q&A session in 
college. Perhaps a matter of how often, and to what degree one is 
subjected to unsolicited scrutiny.