Racist Gryffindor?

[Judy]

Pippin wrote:
> 'Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those with brave deeds to their
> name"' --Hat Song, OOP ch 11.
> I  used to wonder how many eleven year olds had brave deeds to 
> their name. But perhaps I was taking it a little too figuratively. 
> Names, after all, are inherited. Perhaps Gryffindor considered 
> courage in the same way as Slytherin considered magical power -- 
> passed down in families.

Oh, I think eleven-year olds could do brave deeds.  They could stand 
up to a bully that was either picking on them or on another child -- 
I'd say Harry has a history of doing this.  They could speak up for 
what they believe in. They could try to help a wounded animal, even 
if it was so afraid that it tried to bite them.  (Don't try this at 
home, kids!) 

In Book One, we see the Trio doing a bunch of brave things, from 
standing up to Draco to battling a troll.  Obviously, trolls are in 
short supply in the world of most eleven-year-olds, but bullies sadly 
aren't. 

-- Judy, who is sorry for her previous double-post, and is wondering 
when her earlier post about Horcruxes will ever show up.  Bad 
Yahoomort!!