Salazar & Slytherin(was Re: Draco and Slytherin House (was: Harsh Morality)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 121666


Nora:
We didn't see any hints of outrage amongst the Slytherin team when 
Draco uses 'Mudblood', while the Gryffindor reaction is BOTH "don't 
say that about our house member" and "dude, that's just not right"--
it's categorically unacceptable.  I think noting who will say that 
word and who won't is a shorthand for a whole big set'o'attitudes.
 
Betsy:
In some ways this is an unfair example though.  We have two teams 
that are almost fanatically competetive with each other.  We have an 
exchange of insults that quickly spiral into personal attacks (and 
it's Hermione, interestingly enough, who gets in a particularly 
cruel dig) and then a truly nasty name is used.  Immediately words 
are exchanged for wands and fists (and it's the Gryffindors who have 
two burly beaters leaping onto a small boy two years their junior), 
Flint protects his Seeker, Ron curses Malfoy, it backfires, Ron 
spits up slugs, and the Slytherins laugh.  When exactly were the 
Slytherins supposed to stand aside and scold Draco for using a bad 
word?


Alla:

Ummmm, the moment Draco said that word? How about Flint saying 
something for example? How about ANYBODY in the Slytherin team? 
Surely, they don't think that competitiveness is a justification for 
racism or (as I consider it a stronger parallel) antisemitism for 
example.

Betsy:

And I would be shocked, remembering my own school days, if there 
aren't a slew of Muggle jokes that are shared where teachers and 
Muggleborns aren't listening, and in every single house.

Alla:

Since we are not privy to those , I prefer to think that they 
don't exist, but of course we don't know.


Betsy:
The use of 'mudblood' *is* shorthand for a set of attitudes.  But do 
you really think Slytherin is the only House with such attitudes?  

Alla:

Actually.... yes. Since I don't see ANY student from any other House 
using this word. Does not mean that it is a complete picture, but 
that IS the picture so far.


Betsy:

(Out of curiosity - has any Slytherin other than Draco been heard to 
use that word?)  


Alla:


Well, we did not hear many Slytherins actually speaking didn't we? 
Let good Slytherins talk more next books, if they exist, please 
JKR. :o) 


Betsy:
And so, we wait with eager hearts for HBP!  It's the very lack of 
positive traits that have me skeptical of our view of Slytherin.  
Our stereotypes of the other Houses have been broken (or my 
stereotypes anyway) through the introduction of characters like Luna 
Lovegood and Zacharias Smith.  A similar thing must be done for 
Slytherin if the Sorting Hat's advice will ever be followed.  But 
the thing is, we know much more about Slytherin than we ever knew 
about Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.  So it will take more than just a 
jolly reluctant-Slytherin turning up.  There needs to be someone who 
is a Slytherin to his or her core that can demonstrate to Harry et 
al that Slytherin ain't that bad.  Or at least that there's hope for 
that House, anway. 

Alla:

I have a feeling that Theo will be Slytherin from core to core, just 
more independent thinker than many and that is what IMO we need for 
Slytherin, someone not to follow the croud.


Just my opinion,

Alla