Scapegoating Slytherin (was:Punishing Draco )

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 144236

> Pippin:
> Holy Cow! And I thought the whole point was that they're 
not...except
> in the wishful fantasies of people like the Malfoys. Ron said it 
best,"If
> we hadn't married Muggles, we'd have died out." I get the distinct
> impression too many magical genes is bad news. Wizards aren't a
> viable subspecies, and apparently separating the cultures hasn't
> stopped Muggles from producing magical offspring. 

a_svirn:
If the differences had been only cultural then muggle children could 
have done magic. Muggle/wizard inequality is by no means a fantasy, 
alas. Muggleborne/ pureblood differences is a fantasy, that's for 
sure.  As for marrying muggles I don't see how that precludes them 
from being a breed apart. 
> 
 
> Pippin:
> Which is a big joke, since Marge has no idea that James was a
> wizard. She'd just like to think that lazy goodfornothings with
> criminal tendencies don't run in her family *cough*Dudley*
> cough.
> 
a_svirn:
Yes, she knows nothing about wizards but she is very big on 
pedigrees and purity of blood, isn't she? What with her breeding 
dogs and all that. 
> 
> Pippin:
> It proves that he doesn't give a brass galleon for any race, least 
of
> all the human one.
 
a_svirn:

Yeah, I'd agree with that. It doesn't make him less bigoted, however.
 
> Pippin: 
> Racism is certainly a fault line in wizarding society. It's a 
wonderful
> excuse for the character's distrust of one another. Even innocent 
little 
> Harry's dearest dream is to be surrounded by people who look just 
like him.

a_svvirn:
??!

 > Pippin
> But is it really the central conflict in the books? Suppose 
Slytherin hadn't 
> been a racist, do you think Harry, Snape and Voldie would be best 
pals? 
> 

a_svirn:
I didn't say a single word about it's being central conflict in the 
books. I only pointed out that bigotry is considered a virtue in 
Slytherin House.