WW Prejudice (was Re: CHAPDISC:HBP19,Elf Tails

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 157520

 
> Magpie:
> I wasn't going to reply to this, but just in case...we do all 
realize that 
> what you described is classic bigotry, right?  That Hagrid is 
asserting his 
> "dominance" by reminding Filch of his inferior circumstances of 
birth? It's 
> the same way that Malfoy responds to Hermione when Hermione makes 
him feel 
> low on the Quidditch Pitch. Whether or not Hagrid hates Filch for 
being a 
> Squib doesn't matter as much as the fact that he expresses his 
hatred by 
> going straight for "Squib."

Potioncat:
I agree, but in this case, I'd call it prejudice rather than bigotry. 
We've seen it before too. Hagrid makes a blanket statement against 
Slytherins, but he firmly supports Snape. McGonagall makes a comment 
about Muggles, but she doesn't discriminate against Muggle-born 
students. Madam Maxim takes offense at being recognised as part 
Giant. Ron calls Lupin "werewolf!" It was something like, "Get away, 
werewolf!"

My point was going to be that quite a few of the "good guys" have 
some degree of WW prejudice alive in them. It's probably true about 
most of us in the RW as well. The good guys don't generally take 
action on those feeling, but sometimes the feeling come out. 

Bigotry might be the right word in this case. In spite of the 
situation, I think Hagrid crossed the line at using the word "Squib" 
the way he did. There are lots of very valid reasons for anyone to 
dislike Filch. Being a Squib isn't one of them.