well, i've been slack about writing a response to this but it's been running around in my head. you do much toward convincing me. i can put myself into a frame of mind where wizards are the oppressed minority and thus have a reasonable amount of anger against their oppressors. and some, as it seems sadly natural at this point, would take this to an extreme and, in doing so, become worse than the oppressors.
one thing that's different - that mucks up the analogy - is that wizards are more powerful, that they have abilities and powers that muggles don't and they know things that muggles don't. most minorities and oppressed people in our world are also disenfanchised, have little money and power. that dynamic is missing from this situation.
and draco, maybe his big problem is that he is a bit of a racist, but this - as you point out - doesn't break down as a question of race. he's worried about bloodlines and such when really muggles can be born to wizards and vice versa. clearly he and his people feel threatened and they're looking for someone - some group - to blame.
and jkr herself supports your point by giving us some really nasty muggles who have horrible reactions to wizards (yeah, dursleys). yes, like i said, you're very convincing. now, to tackle the israel/palestine analogy...
Re: well yeah.
Date: 2003-01-27 06:17 pm (UTC)one thing that's different - that mucks up the analogy - is that wizards are more powerful, that they have abilities and powers that muggles don't and they know things that muggles don't. most minorities and oppressed people in our world are also disenfanchised, have little money and power. that dynamic is missing from this situation.
and draco, maybe his big problem is that he is a bit of a racist, but this - as you point out - doesn't break down as a question of race. he's worried about bloodlines and such when really muggles can be born to wizards and vice versa. clearly he and his people feel threatened and they're looking for someone - some group - to blame.
and jkr herself supports your point by giving us some really nasty muggles who have horrible reactions to wizards (yeah, dursleys). yes, like i said, you're very convincing. now, to tackle the israel/palestine analogy...