a sandwich

[Bruce Alan Wilson]

No: HPFGUIDX 178879

Carol:
"Just out of curiosity, I'll ask again a question I've raised several
times that has yet to be answered. What would freeing the House-Elves,
who want to work for wizards, accomplish? Maybe the MoM or Harry or
some influential person or organization could suggest offering freedom
to any House-Elf who wants it, but freedom would have to mean
something other than a set of clothes, disgrace, and unemployment.
Maybe if individual House-Elves had the option of retaining their jobs
without fear of being fired and with token wages and the right to wear
clothes, a few unusual Houes-Elves would choose that option. Those who
were happy with the status quo would not. And abused House-Elves would
need some sort of recourse, perhaps a law that forced their masters
either to treat them well or to free them. But a freed House-Elf would
still be homeless, Knutless, and unemployed."
The parallel between House-Elves and enslaved humans is not perfect, of course,
as House-Elves aren't funny-looking humans, but a different species.  IMHO,
House-Elves are more like highly intelligent dogs with hands.  (I've known some
Border Collies, for example, who seemed nearly as smart as House-Elves.)
That being said, I've read some things about the situation in Morocco that might
be applicable.  Morocco is one of the few countries that still has chattel
slavery; they believe that as slavery is sanctioned by the Koran, that they
cannot abolish it altogether (remember, the King of Morocco is a direct
descendant of the Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam)--but they CAN regulate it.
The law, from what I read, is very strict on how slaves are to be treated;
severe mistreatment will result in the government confiscating the slave, fining
the masters, and the ex-slave getting a large portion of the fine to start his
new life.  Also, anyone wanting to sell a slave must give the King right of
first refusal, and the King has declared that he will free any new slave he
acquires.  This sounds a bit like the scheme Carol is suggesting for the WW.



Bruce Alan Wilson

"The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man.  Other forms of
transport grow daily more nightmarish.  Only the bicycle remains pure in
heart."--Iris Murdoch



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