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12-22-2003, 07:49 PM
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[img]http://www.snitchseeker.com/images/news/poa_hermione_80.jpg' align='middle'> Harry Potter and Human-racism - Summary:
Betterhumans.com has an opinion piece on Harry Potter, Hermione and, "human-racism". Article: Monsters in the Media Popular books, movies and television shows are some of the few places addressing human-racism and the citizenship of nonhumans
The Christian right has been very upset with Harry Potter. Its constituents allege that Hogwarts celebrates witchcraft and juvenile disobedience. But they have missed an even more important reason to burn Rowlings' books: Her radical opposition to human-racism.
As an example, Harry Potter's friend Hermione becomes obsessed with elf rights when she discovers that elves are enslaved throughout the wizarding world, forced to work without pay, denied clothing and treated as subhuman. Yet elves are nearly as intelligent as human beings, if somewhat simple-minded in their slavish, magic-enforced commitment to their lives of service.
Hermione starts the Society for the Promotion of Elf Welfare, S.P.E.W., and tries to raise the consciousness of her classmates at Hogwarts. But her abolitionism meets with the same opposition that the opponents of slavery met 200 ago. "They're happy that way." "They aren't human."
Once Hermione is sensitized to the human-racism in the treatment of elves she begins to recognize it in the discrimination suffered by her werewolf and half-giant teachers. Then she makes a much more fundamental connection—human-racism against intelligent nonhumans is connected to the aristocratic racism against "muggles" (non-magical humans) and "mudbloods" (magical people with non-magical parents) central to Lord Voldemort's fascism.
Refusing to recognize the basic dignity of intelligent nonhuman persons on racial grounds is only one step removed from the belief that some humans are biologically superior to others. Antifascist leader and school headmaster Albus Dumbledore also makes the connection when he grants elves rights, hires nonhumans and reaches out to the despised giants, counseling "we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."  | |
12-23-2003, 08:28 PM
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#51 (permalink)
| | Hippogriff
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,632
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At the end of the day, thier books. y'know? I mean why dont people take other kids books to pieces, im sure if you looked hard enough with a fine tooth comb you can find something wrong with The Famous five or something. Honestly some people in the media have nothing better to do then ruin peoples perceptions of a Childrens book. Its pathetic.
"Oh look! Im reading ootp, I guess i'll just join Satan then and kill things"
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12-23-2003, 08:30 PM
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#52 (permalink)
|   cookie loving Slytherin Crup
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: VA
Posts: 2,355
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Quote: Originally posted by karen_ginger@Dec 23 2003, 03:05 PM
[COLOR=purple]it is quite sad what people have nothing better to do than look for things wron with the harry potter books. its very sad. But the author of this article's not looking for anything *wrong* with HP...she/he's looking for something good...to use against those attacking the series.
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12-23-2003, 09:07 PM
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#53 (permalink)
| | Hippogriff
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New England
Posts: 3,378
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I did read the article very thoughouly before I posted what I did. And I did say, in that post, that I didn't want to nitpick with the 'one line' I disagreed with. I also didn't want to start a religious discussion or argument. I said that. I merely wanted to express my oppinion. Take it, or leave it. :flowersmile: with my appoligies for oppening a can of worms...
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12-23-2003, 09:20 PM
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#54 (permalink)
| | Ashwinder
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: dreamland
Posts: 1,525
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ok???
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12-24-2003, 05:57 AM
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#55 (permalink)
| | Gnome
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malfoy Manor...
Posts: 85
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>  I Agree, can't a wonderful book just be a wonderful book...Ignorant people spend so much time analyzing things they forget what's really important...Kinds are actually reading someting that's not filled with smutty trash... So Harry and "The Gang" are Whiches and Wizards...If someone doesnt want to read about it then, words of advice are...DONT READ IT!!! TELL YOUR KIDS NOT TO READ IT!!! Gee, how much controversey do you think there will be when people actually find out that the Wizard of Oz, is about a WIZARD!!!
XxLady DracoxX
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12-24-2003, 05:59 AM
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#56 (permalink)
| | Gnome
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malfoy Manor...
Posts: 85
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 I cant Spell...I meant to say Kids***...Sorry Guys...
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12-24-2003, 10:15 AM
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#57 (permalink)
| | Poltergeist
Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 17,599
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Isabella Thompson
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I totally agree with Emma. People should find better things to do in their time.
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12-25-2003, 12:47 AM
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#58 (permalink)
| | Bowtruckle
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 233
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The world is a very wacky place. Burning Jk's books just gives her more publicity and more money becuase they have to pay for the books to burn. So I say heck let them burn her books just as long as they pay for them and they don't try and get there grubby little "God is everthing all powerful and doing anything other than be a mindless brainwashed worshipper all day makes you satanistic" hands on my copies of the book.
I love Hp not only because there good books but because she makes ufn of the world and sort of addresses some of the (word is on the tip of my tongue but I can't get it out Urgh!) problems - nope not it- dung of he world? Just look at Rita in book four, Jk is making fun of Tabloids writers and paparazi (sp?). Book 3 sorta just tells people that the Justice system can make mistakes. And Book 5 was showing the Bias of media/ suppresion of information. I mean you don't have to analyze stuff to find what Jk is trying to say in her books. It right under your nose.
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12-26-2003, 05:42 AM
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#59 (permalink)
| | Ramora
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Somewhere NOT near you
Posts: 356
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> I can't believe this! Half of these people who are saying these kind of things about Harry Potter haven't even read the books! It is such a stupid thing to say. I mean have the even loked under the section, it is FICTION! Oh for peeps sake! | |
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12-26-2003, 06:06 AM
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#60 (permalink)
| | Guest |
I THINK THAT IS JUST RUBBISH. > | |
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12-26-2003, 06:20 AM
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#61 (permalink)
| | Snidget
Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Never Neverland
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Curse Breaker | DivaDivaDiva ||Candy Cane Mama||
Well I, like many other people dont just read a book.
I READ a book, meaning after ive read it and enjoyed it i go back and reread it again to learn from it you know weather its non fiction or fiction
I think that JK but all those things in her books to reflect our human society. Bcuz lets face it weather you want to admit or not, this world is just like muggles against purebloods, elves slaves and wizard masters
And with everything moving so fast we are dealing more and more with people we arent used to, and its good for kids to read about racism, and classism at a young age so they can learn from it and better themselves
I dont think the author of the article was attacking Harry Potter, i dont know where you got the idea from i think som of you are alittle sensitive about that, i think that the person was taking a more of an "adult" look at it, bcuz i think the books are more than kids books, and bravo to Jk for putting noteworhty adult subjects in books that alot of children read.
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12-26-2003, 06:23 AM
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#62 (permalink)
| | Troll
Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 5,038
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Quote: Originally posted by Marcella_Riddle@Dec 23 2003, 10:04 AM
Unless a book claims God doesn't exist, then it has nothing to do with religion.
Harry Potter does not offend Christianity, in my eyes. I'm with you.
That's crazy!
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12-29-2003, 06:39 PM
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#63 (permalink)
| | Hinkypunk
Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Louisiana
Posts: 870
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Quote: Originally posted by Hestia_Jones@Dec 23 2003, 03:08 PM
At the end of the day, thier books. y'know? I mean why dont people take other kids books to pieces, im sure if you looked hard enough with a fine tooth comb you can find something wrong with The Famous five or something. Honestly some people in the media have nothing better to do then ruin peoples perceptions of a Childrens book. Its pathetic.
People do, in fact, give a critical look at a great deal of children's literature. No genre goes untouched. If you were a huge fan of something else, you would notice it. I know I hate it when people take the wrong message from some of my favorite writers. Don't go away with the impression that Harry Potter is the only story that gets attacked, because you'd be dreadfully wrong.
And Zymurgy, I'm glad you posted the article no matter what can of worms it opened. I think the article is great. I just wish others would read the entire thing and think about it before posting their comments.
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