Wizard supremacy (was:Re: Nel Question #4: Class and Elitism)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 125973


>>Betsy:
>Oh, I was just agreeing with Jim that if the WW was revealed, it 
wouldn't take long for suspicion and distrust to set in and 
eventually for some sort of conflict to breakout. It doesn't go 
towards my argument, but it does set out that a war would probably 
occur.<

>>Jim Ferer: 
>War, no, but widespread persecution and public distrust.<
<snip>

Betsy:
Sorry, I should have been clearer that I agreed with you about 
suspicion and distrust, and then *I* took that senario further to an 
all out war.  (Not that I'm saying war would be the only outcome - 
but it was convenient for the old Wizards vs. Muggles set up I was 
going for. <g>)

But, you've got me thinking. Because while there'd be public 
distrust, etc., wouldn't various goverments see an advantage to 
wooing wizards to their side?  After all, wizards do have their 
strengths and I can imagine that the country with the most loyal 
wizards would have a distinct advantage over those countries who've 
driven their wizards out.

And if you wanted to keep both your Muggle population and your 
Wizard population happy, would it not be wise to help felicitate the 
Wizards going into hiding?  And could this be what happened in 
1692?  After all, there's the suggestion in PoA that the Prime 
Minister knows about the existence of Wizards.  And Hogwarts is 
haunted by both a Friar and some nuns, IIRC.  Which makes me wonder 
if perhaps the Pope, at the time (when my admittedly creaky 
historical knowledge *thinks* was a time when the Catholic church 
pretty much ruled Western civilization), also knew of the existence 
of Wizards.  So maybe, in JKR's world, there's an understanding 
between Wizards in power and Muggles in power.

It's pretty much pure speculation based on teeny-tiny amounts of 
canon, but when has that stopped anyone? :)

Betsy