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WhittyBitty · 08-12-2009, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica

Shumeeta raised an eyebrow. "But that's just the mindset we've made!" she said. "We're comfortable with the fact that they don't want wages, so we don't do anythin' about it. The truth is, humans don't want to do anything about it, because the present social setup is all for them and their benefits."

"You say house elves are servants, an' that in itself is a strange statement. A race that has beings with magic enough to survive on their own, are called "servants" and forced to work. They aren't given any chance to live their own lives an' do what they want, because they are YOUR servants. I ask you who gave you the right to make an entire race your 'servants'? That's worse than slavery! With your mindset you are not ruining the life of one, but endless!"

She had to go back now, but Shumeeta didn't think she had said enough. "Just imagine how hurtful it would be that, every time you even accidentally think bad of someone who has abused you, you have to go punish yourself! That's what is happenin' with house elves! Most of them have still to come out of their shell an' make an effort to stand up for themselves, even when they want to. If they're mistreated, all they can do about it is to mistreat themselves even more! I don't call that life - I call it a miserable existence."

"The truth is that house elves really do need change. Some of them may not want it, because they're scared and opressed. House elves are a race with a lot of intelligence an' they really don't need humans to survive. If it's work they can like, they can live in their own colonies and continue to work. But they should be given the freedom to think as they like. They're peaceful creatures an' I really don't think they'll make any trouble for anyone if they were allowed to live as they want to. We need to stop takin' house elves fo granted because they are not our eternal servants - in a sense, they are a people with a culture of their own!"

"If you tell house elves they can work, but they're not allowed to punish themselves, em sure no house elf would even want those orders to be reversed. That goes a long way to show that house elves really are in need of change. That's why Dobby is so famous - by challenging his day's social setup where house elves had not even the little importance they have today, he became the vehicle of great happenings. Without his assistance, Harry Potter might have been the Boy Who Unfortunately Died."

"Maybe fo now, house elves are not strong enough to demand change fo themselves, but if we speak up for them, show them we care, they'll be sure to join in because they need and deserve it. I am definitely waitin' fo the day when house elves will fight for house elf rights." She smiled at everyone and left the podium.

"No, I say this because I know cases where that has happened. They don't want money. And I say servant in the sense of domestic staff, not as in one of people who are to be dominated over. There is a difference. And they don't want to live their own lives. You say that this is all a result of abuse, but it's really just how they are as creatures. It's in their natures. Just like it's in the natures of Werewolves to attack people. It's what they do, not a result of anything humans do to them."

He listened to everything else she had to say and didn't really know what else to add other than a few more points. "Well, if that's the case, how come S.P.E.W never was successful? It was started as a campaign for House Elves and look how that turned out. And I'll add that the House Elves that were tried to be freed in that case were treated with great respect and fairness by the Headmaster. Yet they still wanted to work. They were seen as cooks just like any school would have. Only difference is that they didn't want to get paid for it."

"I don't see any substantial proof that House Elves act in any way other than that which comes natural to them. And that goes for the self-injury aspect too - as unpleasant that is. It's just how they are as a magical creature and I see no real concrete evidence that says for a fact that they are brainwashed through abuse."

08-12-2009, 07:56 AM	#50 (permalink)
WhittyBitty Honeydukes Mod Alley Proprietor Wrackspurt Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 237,588 Hogwarts RPG Name: Aurora Bay Hufflepuff Sixth Year Diagon Alley Proprietor: Honor Abrams Leaky Cauldron x12 x9	House Elves Happy with the Way Things Are #3 ♥s her SS family \| Wifey is MINE \| Naughty Niffler \| ❄ Bookish & Cat-Approved ❄ \| Soodley ♥ Quote: Originally Posted by Jessica Shumeeta raised an eyebrow. "But that's just the mindset we've made!" she said. "We're comfortable with the fact that they don't want wages, so we don't do anythin' about it. The truth is, humans don't want to do anything about it, because the present social setup is all for them and their benefits." "You say house elves are servants, an' that in itself is a strange statement. A race that has beings with magic enough to survive on their own, are called "servants" and forced to work. They aren't given any chance to live their own lives an' do what they want, because they are YOUR servants. I ask you who gave you the right to make an entire race your 'servants'? That's worse than slavery! With your mindset you are not ruining the life of one, but endless!" She had to go back now, but Shumeeta didn't think she had said enough. "Just imagine how hurtful it would be that, every time you even accidentally think bad of someone who has abused you, you have to go punish yourself! That's what is happenin' with house elves! Most of them have still to come out of their shell an' make an effort to stand up for themselves, even when they want to. If they're mistreated, all they can do about it is to mistreat themselves even more! I don't call that life - I call it a miserable existence." "The truth is that house elves really do need change. Some of them may not want it, because they're scared and opressed. House elves are a race with a lot of intelligence an' they really don't need humans to survive. If it's work they can like, they can live in their own colonies and continue to work. But they should be given the freedom to think as they like. They're peaceful creatures an' I really don't think they'll make any trouble for anyone if they were allowed to live as they want to. We need to stop takin' house elves fo granted because they are not our eternal servants - in a sense, they are a people with a culture of their own!" "If you tell house elves they can work, but they're not allowed to punish themselves, em sure no house elf would even want those orders to be reversed. That goes a long way to show that house elves really are in need of change. That's why Dobby is so famous - by challenging his day's social setup where house elves had not even the little importance they have today, he became the vehicle of great happenings. Without his assistance, Harry Potter might have been the Boy Who Unfortunately Died." "Maybe fo now, house elves are not strong enough to demand change fo themselves, but if we speak up for them, show them we care, they'll be sure to join in because they need and deserve it. I am definitely waitin' fo the day when house elves will fight for house elf rights." She smiled at everyone and left the podium. "No, I say this because I know cases where that has happened. They don't want money. And I say servant in the sense of domestic staff, not as in one of people who are to be dominated over. There is a difference. And they don't want to live their own lives. You say that this is all a result of abuse, but it's really just how they are as creatures. It's in their natures. Just like it's in the natures of Werewolves to attack people. It's what they do, not a result of anything humans do to them." He listened to everything else she had to say and didn't really know what else to add other than a few more points. "Well, if that's the case, how come S.P.E.W never was successful? It was started as a campaign for House Elves and look how that turned out. And I'll add that the House Elves that were tried to be freed in that case were treated with great respect and fairness by the Headmaster. Yet they still wanted to work. They were seen as cooks just like any school would have. Only difference is that they didn't want to get paid for it." "I don't see any substantial proof that House Elves act in any way other than that which comes natural to them. And that goes for the self-injury aspect too - as unpleasant that is. It's just how they are as a magical creature and I see no real concrete evidence that says for a fact that they are brainwashed through abuse." __________________