In defense of considering pureblood preference racism

[Owen Cook]

No: HPFGUIDX 107112

Griffin782002 said:
Well, it does sound cruel, but there's no proof that memory charms 
can cause permanent damage (if we exclude Lockhart :-)) ). But all 
these charms was the result of wizards not being careful about their 
actions, like Bagman who was talking all the time about bludgers or 
snitches. I don't think that anyone was doing that deliberately. The 
wizards chose to go into hiding.
 
QuartierLatin1968 counters:
What you say about memory charms is not at all true: Besides 
Lockhart, we also know that the charm Crouch Sr put on Bertha Jorkins 
damaged her memory permanently. He went overboard out of anger and 
fear, it's true, but that doesn't mean that memory charms aren't 
dangerous.

Unquestionably, there's something very manipulative in the wizard 
(particularly Ministry) approach to Muggles. The Ministry seems to 
take the line "We know what's best for Muggles, and it's ignorance". 
It may be objected that wizards are a vulnerable community with 
respect to Muggles, and that Ministry manipulation is only for 
defensive reasons. Fair enough. But if the Ministry only wants to 
manipulate other beings in its own defence, then why does it also 
give itself the right to administer the affairs of centaurs, merfolk, 
elves, and so on, who might all be considered in some sense a 
vulnerable community with respect to wizards? (For example, those 
beings and beasts are all forbidden, by *wizarding* law, not their 
own, to carry wands...)
 
> Griffin782002 again:
> 
> I believe that this is Hagrid's personal opinion. And I believe 
that first there were the Muggles that turned against the Wizards. 
But some time ago, this hatred turned the other way round, like the 
noble members of the Black family, and of course L.V. But I believe 
that one of the biggest fears of the human mind is the fear of the 
unknown.

QuartierLatin1968:
A splendid point.

Cheers
~~Owen