In defense of considering pureblood preference racism

[Ava]

No: HPFGUIDX 107059

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "arrowsmithbt" 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sofdog_2000" 
<sofdog_2000 at y...> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > SOF: I couldn't disagree more with this assessment. The 
> > Pureblood/Muggleborn conflict is clearly racism, not a caste
> > system. If it were a caste system, both groups would be aware 
> > that they were partcipating in it and know there places. 
> 
> Kneasy:
> Better hit the biology and social anthropology books:
> 
> Race: ...a genetically or morphologically distinct variety of plant
> or animal.
> 
> Caste: an hereditary class of socially equal persons....usually
> following similar occupations and distinguished from other castes
> in the hierarchy by its relative degree of purity or pollution.
> 
> Dig into past posts and there are lots of speculations about the
> genetics of wizards and the possibility of a 'magic gene'. I think
> that all agree that it must be a recessive of some kind, probably
> not a single gene with a simple yes/no expression.  Since Muggles
> can produce wizard children and wizards can produce non-magical
> offspring they cannot be considered as separate races. It would be 
> the Real World equivalent of considering children with genetically
> determined differences as being of a different race. Aptitudes
> for music (think Mozart - composing aged 6) or mathematics
> (think Gauss - self taught by the age of 3) are well documented. 
> And sometimes in runs in families. Magical aptitude could be a 
> similar mechanism.
> 
> In the definition of 'caste' note that "purity and pollution" are 
the
> determining factors - doesn't that mirror the WW exactly? It's
> the purity of blood that young Malfoy siezes on, and the insult
> refers to 'polluted' blood.

   Ava:
What is striking about this particular caste system, however, is 
that it has an Escher-like quality to it.  While within the confines 
of the WW, the caste system concept is consistent with what you'd 
expect, the Brahmins at the top and untouchables at the bottom, the 
interesting thing is that in the broad scope of things, while the WW 
may see the Muggles, literally, as "untouchables", on the other side 
of the mirror, the Muggles see the WW as one step below that - 
nonexistent.

> > SOF: 
There is clearly a caste system within the magical world. 
> > House-elves were created specifically to draw water and hew
> >  wood. The laws that restrict them are strikingly similar to the 
> > laws governing American slaves (ie. no possession of wands). 
> > 
> 
> Kneasy:

  * * * *

> The attack on the Roberts family was the equivalent of a lynching
> > in the American segregation era. They were picked on because 
> > they were isolated, outnumbered and unable to defend themselves. 
> > 
> 
> Kneasy:
> I  wasn't  referring to this episode but the earlier one when 
Roberts
> was taking money for the camping site. "Obliviate!" - keep him
> stupid, use him for our own purposes - and nobody thinks it wrong.

 Ava:  Not even the reader, at least initially.  It's only upon 
further reflection that it looks improper, and you eventually 
recognize that the subsequent attack is merely a louder echo of the 
first seemingly harmless, utilitarian and socially acceptable act.  
Very clever, that, and a technique Rowling uses again and again.  
You become so engrossed in the WW, a Thaumophile, so to speak, that 
misdeeds against your very own kind become acceptable.

   ******

> > SOF:  It seems to me that the core reason Wizards work so hard 
to 
> > stay under the Muggle radar is to keep themselves from being 
hunted
> > down and killed off. Mass hysteria leads to ugly things. Ron's 
comment
> > that Wizards needed to intermarry in order to keep from dying 
out 
> > indicates that they are a significant minority of the human 
population.
> > If sure if provoked, Muggles would find away to wipe them out.
> 
> Kneasy:
> True at one time, but does is still apply?
> Again in PS/SS Hagrid says that the main reason the Ministry tries 
to
> keep wizards hidden is because "..everybody'd be wanting magic
> solutions to their problems. Nah, we're best left alone." Fear 
doesn't
> seem to be a significant factor these days.

Ava:  You mentioned before (and I've already snipped, I'm afraid), 
the distaste Umbridge and her ilk have for half-breeds like Hagrid.  
Hagrid himself identifies (understandably) with Wizards more than 
with giants, though he heads towards reconciliation with his 'other' 
half, of course, (rather awkwardly, IMO) in OotP.  His point in 
PS/SS that you cited is an interesting one, but a bit ironic, 
considering Hagrid's limited magical skills (or permitted use? Not 
clear on that.)  What 'magical solutions' has he got to offer, pray 
tell?  But 'we' are better off left alone, because 'we''ve got 
something the Muggles would envy.  It's not the only time Hagrid 
compares Muggles unfavorably to Wizards.  (Wizards, you know, 'our' 
kind of people.)  We should be afraid of Muggles? Bah!  Whether or 
not fear is admitted as a factor, it may well be so.