[Buildityrit]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Other points have been addressed, but



The pure blood concept existed because some people believe that folks should stick to their own kind. One of the reasons for magic folk to think this way is because warlock and witches have been persecuted by Muggles for generations. Therefore some wizards may consider them to be untrustworthy. Of course this DOES NOT apply to all wizards, as some are very fond of muggles, as seen by the fact that there has been a Minister of Magic for quite some time.

And if Hermione could be a really, really long suppression of the gene, then ANY muggle may be carrying such genes. So to push them down is silly because the greatest witch or wizard of the age could come from two muggles. If there is a caste-like system in Harry Potter then what happens when in your described 'lowest caste' muggles produce an amazing wizard? Do they jump castes... isn't that not supposed to be allowed?
Within a thousand years, the requisite combination of genes would have worked its way into the general pop enough to show up in unexpected places. That's not unexpected.

But the original question remains unanswered - if, as you said, this was a realistic portrayal, the magical people would completely dominate the non-magical ones. In such a case, if I wasn't born a wizard, would there be any hope of justice for me?

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

The fact is that Rowling has been adamant the the book is about the idiocy and silliness of discrimination as seen by the fact that Hermione is the most powerful student in Hogwarts in her class (and perhaps beyond). It's a sign to show how dumb it is that to those like the Malfoys she is considered a "mudblood" and beneath them when she will be far more powerful than Lucious if she lives to his age.
Hermione is the most powerful - but still Harry is the "chosen" one. Not very nice, is it?

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

The caste analogy, furthermore, is ludicrious. No house is below any others. The fact that one is for the intelligent folk, one for the brave, one for the hard working and loyal, and one for the ambitious doesn't mean she was going for an Indian caste system. And, as pointed out, you completely stereotype, mistakenly, Slytherin house. It is ambitious, not necessarily evil. Slughorn is NOT evil. The hat wanted to put Harry in that house as well (and recall HARRY chose his house in the end, not the hat).
Oh COME ON!

There is very definitely a Persian-type caste system here.

Gryffindor>Ravenclaw>Hufflepuff>Slytherin

And Harry got to choose because he was a borderline case. There are people on whose head the hat had to descend but an inch before pronouncing its verdict. What choice did they have?

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Recall Dumbledore's constant words that it is our ACTIONS not our ancestry that define who we are.
Actions and realities speak louder than words, IMO.

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

The "ultimately unjust world" would be the one if Voldemort took over. However, a vast majority of wizards do not agree with Voldemort, who wants to basically create your caste system.
My position is that at some point of time, people like Voldemort will win, if not through force then through politics (like Hitler), and that the muggles are screwed, because the most advanced technology of the muggles is but a toy to the magical. I'm saying that when one group has so much power over another, it is inevitable that it will one day be exercised.

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

In fact, Rowling makes it clear that the enemy wants a caste system, while the current structure is not one and folks like Dumbledore want to keep the structure as it is and not revert to a caste system.
Agreed. My point is that a caste system may be justified if the magical people actually are superior - which they are. Such systems (racism, casteism, sexism, etc.) are wrong only if the people being discriminated against are being wrongly discriminated against. If they're actually inferior, is discrimination bad? That's on open question, and one humanity has not yet had to face. It cannot be faced by denial, as by Rowling.

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

It seems that you simply want to see India in places where it isn't. You are trying too hard.