CHAPDISC:HBP19,Elf Tails

Mike mcrudele78 at yahoo.com
Mon Aug 28 18:01:10 UTC 2006


No: HPFGUIDX 157539

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Eddie" <harryp at ...> wrote:

> <snip> 
> If you replace "Squib" with any other well-known racial slur 

Mike:

But why should we? Where do you or Magpie get your basis for 
pronouncing "Squib" is a *bigoted* or *racial* slur? Mrs. Figg calls 
herself one, both to Harry and to the court during Harry's hearing. 
Ron told us in CoS that "-- it's not funny really -- but as it's 
Filch." It was Filch calling himself a Squib that prompted Harry's 
question in the first place. Is it derogatory, maybe, but so is 
calling someone an *idiot*. And what makes you so sure that Filch 
wasn't responding to the *sneakin'* part of "sneakin' Squib"? Also 
notice how Squib is capitalized like it is a proper name. Which other 
bigoted or racial slurs have you noticed being afforded the dignity of 
being treated as proper names?

IMO, it is irresponsible to pronounce something bigoted, or worse, a 
racial slur without some very strong *proof* of what you propose. 
Sensitivity to prejudice is admirable, accusing another of prejudice 
without conclusive justification is reprehensible. That is another 
lesson that children should learn.







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