[HPforGrownups] Re: a lot of Names, interrupted with a lot of Traitors, Lily's Crush, McG/Hooch

[Kemper]

No: HPFGUIDX 154994

> Carol wrote:
> > Thank you, BTW, for presenting your own views this time around rather
> > than attacking mine--or worse, my character. I still don't agree with
> > you, as I think JKR is, so to speak, grasping at dates rather than
> > viewing history with a critical eye. (You're right that she seems
> > unaware of persecutions other than the "medieval witch burnings" and
> > the Salem Witch Trials.) You have not, however, presented a believable
> > case for that particular date, which is almost as well known as 1066,
> > 1216, 1492 and (to include an American one) 1776.
> >
> > Carol, who would appreciate not being called arrogant or having
> > presumptions she never made attributed to her
> >
>
> I'm sorry, it was not meant to insult you or attack your character.
> But I simply don't agree that that particular date is well known and I
> would like some solid evidence that it is, especially in the UK.
>
> Matthew Hopkins is a very well known historical figure so I do think
> it rather odd you would think she would not be familiar with him while
> she would be so familiar with what happened in Salem, that she would
> know more than that there were witches there, but even would know the
> date when these things happened. That is very illogical.
>
> There may very well be a good reason for that date, but the one you
> mention? Sorry, I don't buy that.
>
> Gerry
> 

Kemper jumping into the row:
What if you are both right?
I don't doubt that JKR knows about the Witchfinder General.  I also don't
doubt that she knows of William Stoughton (sp?).

Even though the Salem witch trials had no RW historical relevance (and,
really, what witch trial ever was?), it is famous.  But in the WW, it may
have seemed relevant because just a few years earlier, the Witchfinder
General (the son of a Puritan) was hanging Muggle woman, having accused them
of chit-chatting with devil (apparently there were no interesting men to
talk to in that part of England).  When the WW saw that another Puritan,
witch hating community, sprang up in the English Colony of Massachusetts,
the MoM (or whatever the historical equivalent was then) thought it might be
a good idea to pass and implement the Statute of Secrecy passed in
1692.  Much like the US quickly passed the ironically named USA PATRIOT Act
in 2001.

Kemper, drinking some of Pippin's iced-tea, though with a little something
extra to make it a Long Island


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