Wizard Persecution (was: The Falling-Out of the Hogwarts Four)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 126052


Valky:
But JKR has pointed this out to be relatively laughable a situation 
in Harrys History of Magic essay on Witch burning.<
 
Lindsay: 
<snip>
How are children, or any witch or wizard of the time, who have not 
been educated, able to know the Charm to keep them from burning at 
the stake?<
<snip>
 
Alla:
I agree with Valky, because for now that is the only canon we 
have...<
<snip>
 
Betsy:
Except that it's not.  Actually, canon points overwhelmingly to 
Wizard persecution being a very real threat.

<SNIP quotes which could be found upthread>

The first quote is from Professor Binns, the second from Newt 
Scamander and the third from Kennilworthy Whisp.  All three 
gentlemen are presented by JKR as scholars; two of them are 
historians outright.  To dismiss their wording and the implications 
of their statements would be, IMO, a mistake.
 
Of course we also know that wizards and witches are hard to kill, 
and I'm sure it wasn't a complete bloodbath, but to dismiss their 
persecution as a mere annoyance is to overlook history. And yes, 
Harry's third year textbook suggests that is *was* a mere annoyance, 
but history is often watered down for children, especially if it's 
politically dangerous history.  And in the current climate of the 
WW, Muggle/Wizard relations are a political time bomb.  It would be 
very unwise to instill either an unhealthy fear or an unhealthy 
hatred of Muggles into wizarding children.  Better to whitewash the 
history for now.
 
Since we have one source in canon being contradicted by three other 
sources in canon, I think it's safe to say Harry's textbook is not 
telling the full tale.


Alla:

Good quotes, Betsy, but I don't see how these three quotes contradict 
the other one. To me the question is whether wizards and witches were 
burned  and I don't see the proof of it so far. Maybe they were 
prosecuted by different methods other than burning, I don't know. I 
just don't see the contradiction and I don't see the proof that this 
book whitewashes the history. It just talks about real witches being 
able to save themselves from fire. None of your quotes says that they 
could not do that. :)

In fact, they just say that persecution occurred. I understand where 
you are coming from, I just don't see the reason to dismiss the other 
one that fast. In fact, maybe the fact that persecution IS mentioned 
in well - known scholarly books  and at children history lessons 
points out to whitewashing of the history in the other direction.
Am I being clear? Professor Binns also teaches kids, so why is it 
more reasonable to assume that he is not telling tales and the other 
book does?

JMO,

Alla.