Round table discussion toward improving Muggle-Wizard relations

[kira_cho]

Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge would like to welcome all of you in this round table discussion toward improving Muggle-Wizard relations

Comments

[quiet_watcher]

Name: Blaise Zabini
Occupation: Student, Hogwarts, and student reporter for the Daily Prophet
Location: Hogwarts, UK

Question/Concern:
How can purebloods and Muggleborns be better made to understand each other? With such vastly different backgrounds, can the cultural barriers between the two be breached? For example, purebloods always reach first to magic for their answer, and Muggleborns for a physical answer--can the two be reconciled?

[androgynous88]

For example, purebloods always reach first to magic for their answer, and Muggleborns for a physical answer--can the two be reconciled?

...as in hexes vs. punches?

I don't know, Zabini. Even the Muggleborns in Ravenclaws are unlikely to throw punches. We're more likely to sabotage notes instead.

[quiet_watcher]

Hexes vs. punches are the most blatantly obvious example.

You rather sound like you're describing a Slytherin, Li ... are you sure you were Sorted into the right House?

This extends beyond simple fighting techniques, though. Purebloods will reach for their wand first, to experiment, to fix things and find solutions. Muggleborns, however, are more likely to rely on physical, solid things. Two totally different paths of thinking, influenced by two totally different upbringings.

And sometimes, the two apart are not enough, yet no one is willing to ask the other for help. Or cooperate if another is asked. Thus the divide seems unbreachable.

[androgynous88]

Why of course, Zabini. The question is, are you?
Which is why I said notes, instead of body parts.

So what do you propose then, having a pre-Hogwarts Wizarding school?
...which is actually not a bad idea. Wizarding school in China starts at seven, IIRC.

[quiet_watcher]

Whoever said we'd do something so dreadfully obvious as that?

Really, blood is too messy.

Perhaps. Either the two sides need to be given a similar upbringing, to foster better understanding, or contact needs to be severed completely. Which is impractical, especially for the very few clever ones that might (might) figure out how to make magic on their own.

Oh, and the messes that untamed magic might create.

[androgynous88]

...when you put it like that.

Not to mention hard to scourgify from white robes.

Hm, somehow I imagine that Muggles in the UK will be more unwilling to let their children go even earlier than 11...Sometimes communism is a good thing, really.

Maybe if we call it "a tutoring program for the gifted"?

[lilian_cho]

Maybe if we call it "a tutoring program for the gifted"?

I don't know about the value system in the UK, but American parents would totally go for that.

"Gifted," instead of "special."
...because "special" doesn't mean special special, you see.

[quiet_watcher]

They never do look the same. And white must be impeccable if one is going to wear it.

Gifted, bright, whatever ... stick with a simple lie, however. They're easiest to keep uncorrupted.

[somigliana]

Well, Blaise, I think that things have already improved vastly in the last few decades.

Marriage between purebloods and Muggleborns seems to breach the gap quite nicely. My parents have learned to manage.

I think the answer is to appreciate the diversity that life has to offer.

[quiet_watcher]

But it is hard to appreciate what you cannot understand.

While some do manage to make it work, people in general are too idiotic to try. So others have to do it for them.

There is also the fact that fear is bred in the seething cesspool of misunderstanding and the unknown.

[somigliana]

Well, it seems that that is what we're doing today. And hopefully there will be less misunderstanding afterwards, don't you think?

Are you frightened of Muggles, Blaise?

[quiet_watcher]

No.

Are you frightened of magic, Priscilla?

[somigliana]

No, Blaise, I'm not.

I might be wary of wizards that tend to use their magic indiscrimanatly though.

[quiet_watcher]

And what of the Muggles (I do believe there was that nasty one named Hitler, that lived during Grindelwald's time) that use their power indiscriminately?

Is it any wonder that the wizarding world wishes to stay apart, with prejudices such as his and others?

[somigliana]

I think you need to study your history, young Blaise. I'm sure I heard the Weasleys talking about Hitler being under some... Imperial Spell or something. So it was Gridelwald that actually had the "nasty Muggle" under his control.

*raises eyebrows*

[quiet_watcher]

And the Weasleys know everything. *is skeptical*

And it's the Imperius Curse.

So you are going to blame all the bad men in Muggle history as being backed by a wizard or witch? Yes, that makes so much sense. It's never your fault for your own destructive ways.