Slytherin's Reputation was Re: CHAPDISC: DH, EPILOGUE

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 185590

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> Alla:
> 
> You know, Pippin, it is funny. Couple weeks ago I had a conversation 
> with somebody about how unfair it is to judge the group of people by
 stereotyping and response I got was the one I did not expect, but the
 one I fully understand. Basically what my friend was saying is 
> stereotyping maybe unfair, but that is how our mind works and it is 
> often a simple survival instinct.

Pippin:
Funnily enough, I think the books agree  that prejudice is a normal
response to a dangerous situation. But normal doesn't always mean good. 

It's normal to flee from danger, too, but that doesn't mean that
running away is right. That's the link between courage and tolerance,
IMO. It takes courage to practice tolerance, not only because you 
have to stand up to your friends but because you might be putting them
in danger. 

That's scary, but the alternative is a world where everyone has to
live in isolated little groups. Because everyone in the Potterverse is
dangerous. They're all capable of hurting people who haven't given
them a reason. 
 

Alla:
> In short, if Slytherin was judged simply because everybody else
looked  at them and said, oh wait they sound funny and look funny,
let's  ostracise them and be prejudiced against them, I will be the
first one  to say, how dare they.

Pippin:
But not even the Slytherins are prejudiced that way. Oh yes, they make
fun of Hermione's looks, just as the Marauders made fun of Snape's,
but behind that for both groups was a genuine  and not entirely
unfounded fear that they would lose their place in the world. 

Snape certainly had good reasons to dislike Harry based on what he
knew of James. But his prejudice kept him from noticing any of the
ways in which Harry was not like James. Perfectly understandable, IMO,
but if we don't think that was okay, how can we think it's okay to
hate Slytherins?

Pippin