House Elves & Slavery - plus Goblin thoughts

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 126583


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at y...> wrote:
I
> want to take this opportunity to re-enforce a point I have been 
making
>  ad nauseam in addressing the House-Elf issue.
> 
> I agree that more human meddling is not need, and further agree 
that
> we should just let the house-elves get on with doing what they do
> best. I need to add that I don't see 'no problem'; indeed I do see 
a
> problem, I do see something that needs to be fixed. But that thing
> that needs fixing is not the Elves, it's the wizards.
> 
> Wizards need to enter into their agreement with house-elves with 
the
> same sense of honor and commitment that the house-elves bring to 
the
> arrangement. Sadly, as humans are inclined to do, we see a 
weakness or
> a flaw in the House-Elves attitude and nature, and we exploit it to
> our advantage. House-elves are unwaveringly loyal and obidient, and
> that opens the door to abuse, exploitation, disrespect, and
> mistreatment by wizards.
> 
> When wizards become as honorable as elves, the problem will be 
solved.
> 
> Just saying it again (...and again ...and again...)


a_svirn:

What you are saying, Steve, in essence, is that humans must take 
pains to be generous and fair-minded masters rather than cruel and 
abusive ones. Either way they should still stay masters and elves 
should still stay slaves. You may be right IF indeed the flaw is in 
the elves' nature. It seems highly unlikely though that they 
have "evolved" to their slavery all by themselves. I for one think 
that their "nature and attitude" has been ruthlessly tampered with. 
So I'd say that the "thing that needs fixing" is whatever magic was 
used by wizards to ensure their "sense of honour and commitment". 
Incidentally that is why Hermione's attempts to trick elves to 
freedom are doomed at best and potentially dangerous at worst. Even 
were she successful in her endeavour she couldn't offer them the 
real freedom, until the binding charms were lifted. As the things 
stand now she can only succeed in making them powerful enemies. 


>I think at the
> core of the many Goblin rebellions, was the Goblin trying to point 
out
> to wizard how hopelessly and ridiculously misguided the wizards 
were
> in trying to bring anything and everything into their dominion and
> under their control. 
> 

a_svirn:

What a way to describe a rebellion! Talk about understatements

a_svirn