I agree, but I think you shouldn't forget that racism is the same as well. America is not more racist... you do know neo-nazi's and white power music were pretty much born in Britain (and a couple other Euro countries), right? We still had old school klansmen when the UK was giving racism a make over.

 

Racism has existed in both societies.

However Rural and Southern America have traditionally been its strongholds. Pennsyltucky (mid-state Pa. for those less informed) for instance has more klansman than any other state.

The South's racism is a holdover from their insular, religious, university system in the 1820's-60's, and the natural conflict that existed between the freed slaves and the poor whites.

 

Adding my two cents: It all depends on the circumstance. Everything changes from state to state. For example: A few years ago New York state tried to change the legal driving age to 18, when in other states they can get thier permit when they are 15. And no, I'm not going to say all school systems in the USA fail, but aren't we one of the stupidest, most obese nations in the world?

Racism? Its so ingrained in the society I don't even think the word applies anymore.

17th century Christianity? It probably depends on where the person lives. Although I can say I've recieved a 'F' on a quarter grade for not standing for the pledge (because I was pissed off, feeling particularly un-patriotic, and didn't like the way everyone stressed the "Under God" part. The grade was changed after I complained, but it's the principle of the thing!).

Where I attend school now, the teachers don't care that you are coughing up blood all over your desk. They only care when you get that blood on the text book and then make you pay to replace it. How do you learn from a teacher who doesn't give a damn? Study your bloody textbook, of course! And Social Services? They are so weighed down by useless, unfounded cases that the people who actually need their attention are overlooked.

And yes, the goverment is corrupt as hell.

In truth though, I think America has an "aquired taste". I like to just say "The world itself is fucked up, we're all just the consequences."

Note: I'm annoyed at the moment, so I'll probably regret this later. That and my views are probably really biased and not thought out at all. *shrugs* Oh well.

 

I'm not denying this, but I just get kinda annoyed with the 'America is different from ___' anecdotes I read a lot, and worse, it's usually Americans saying it. I dunno how ip meant it, but I just came off a US vs UK thread about game ratings and the stereotype that Americans are prude over at the Elder Scrolls forums.

And I was between my 7th and 8th vomit today, cuz I'm sick... so... I hope what I said made sense, cuz I've not been feeling well lately.

 

Most things would be the same I'd think.

Unforgivables would probably be ok if they were used in self defense, a la our gun laws.

Probably more muggle contact, purebloods would still be purebloods that discriminated against everybody who wasn't part of their little group. Slytherin would be the same. Voldemort was halfblood and the hat wanted to put Harry in Slytherin, so I doubt Slytherin was as anti-mudblood as we're led to believe.

No Draco slash (thank God), since the Malfoys would be fundamentalist Christians.

Dark Arts taught the same way they are in Durmstrang, with context to know when they're appropriate and when they're not (Think martial arts).

Education would be the same, private schools between the two countries are probably pretty close performancewise. Same with elementary schools, the real problems come in public middle and high schools.

Dudley would probably get shot for beating up the wrong person's little brother.

 

What I meant about racism is that the American society today is totally obsessed by it.

Hell, take Gio and Chuck for example. I found it incredibly funny and unusuall that guys who have no clams writing a story about raping a guy through his nostrils or beastility smut, felt the need to put *** when writing the word 'nigger'... Even though the word don't mean shit in reality, the racial tensions are so bad in US at the moment that people are afraid to even say the word in fear of being labeled as racists... Or that's at least the way I see it from the sidelines.

So, I'm not saying that Americans are racists by nature or some shit like that - the tension is just a consequence of putting so many different cultures in one place and trying to make them live together. America is far from the worst regarding this issue - God knows there are countries that had tried to solve these problems by means of civil war.

 

O, I see... that makes sense. I'm not quite sure how PC the UK is about race... but they just banned smoking in pubs and stuff with no exceptions, so I'm guessing 'muggle' UK is as PC in most ways as the US, and by extension, wizarding communities wouldn't be that different... imo.

I think the dark arts wouldn't be so accepted as people think though... maybe looser rules on what counts, but I don't see them teaching it. But... I guess we can't know.... unless... *goes on a witch hunt*



*returns, grabs pilgrim hat, leaves again*

 

The wizarding world is MUCH less PC than the muggle world. Slavery, Mixed Races (Hagrid), People with "disabilities" (Lupin), blatant racism against "unpure" people...

I think in the US the dark arts would be like guns. If they're illegal then only the criminals will have them (since they don't care about them being illegal) and the regular citizens will be defenseless.

 

I'm not saying that the wizarding world is PC, I meant the real 'muggle' worlds have relatively the same amount of political correctness, so the wizarding world in the US is likely equally (not greater than) as behind in the US as the Brit wizarding one.

The dark arts would have more lax laws, I agree, but I dont think it would be taught in a class really. Guns are legal but I dunno anyone who learned to shoot in school. Do they do that down south or somethin?

 

I live in New England, and at many schools (and colleges) there is a program called ROTC which I would equate to pre-auror training while you're still in school. Legalized DA if you will. You learn combat tactics with paintball guns and learn how to use the basic rifle used in combat (M16 I believe).

 

If only I had known of this... *adds another entry on my list of regrets in life*

Such a long list...

 

If you live your life without regrets it wasn't much of a life...

 

In reality, people who are robbed and have guns to "defend" themselves, have a higher percentage to get killed, than those who don't have guns. Statistically guns only create a false sense of security.

 

It's certainly food for thought! I'd have personally attempted to reframe the question as 'What if the HP series had been written somewhere other than the UK?' because that'd give more possible answers.

I don't think that's too likely but you never know. The issue here lies in trying to balance out the use of magic to tame the wilderness that was America and if this would free up time for people to study other things? I'd imagine that things would balance out and you might see a Wizarding America with a heavy focus on Nature magic and probably potions as there'd be more emphasis on the fact ingredients were everywhere. More emphasis on tutors and such I'd think as opposed to what we now consider traditional schooling..

Again this goes back to potions and being more surrounded by wilderness for the first several hundred years. I don't know that we'd see so much 'muggle' science, but we'd likely discover that many of the famous American scientists were wizards. Perhaps potions and a few other things would have seemingly incongruous 'scientific' items mixing with traditional ones? I.E. You'd see bunsen burners being used in potions and perhaps stainless steel pots would replace cauldrons?

No instead project the traditional view of Dutch and 'pilgrim' clothing. Expect to see lots of buckles! Perhaps more Amish type clothing?

I'd like to welcome Agents J and K to Parent's day... No really, the Men in Black and 'aliens' would likely be the cover story for Wizarding America.

Ehh.. this not quite so unlikely as everyone things I'd say. Like Australia, America got many of its earlier immigrants as criminals. I'd imagine there'd have been quite a few of them wizards. Dark Arts might have become normalized over the years. Its hard to say. Perhaps there are still 'unforgivables' as in cannon but in America there are lesser forms of the curses which to Wizarding Britain would seem just as evil but are not considered so here?

*cough*bullshit*cough*

This might be even more likely to have happened of America due to our tradition of individualism and 'manifest destiny' --I'd imagine that any relatives would have been heavily into religion though and would have attempted to bounce him into a real-life 'St Brutus hospitalization type deal with 'boot camps' for bad kids, etc. Thus defeating the whole point of placing him with family.

Then again they might have just let him run wild too...there are many latch-key kids with parents who 'love' them and look at how they get treated...

Eh... No. Check out Rorschach's Blot's Time warp story for the most likely result of THAT happening. The first chapter especially!

All quite possible I'd imagine. OTOH its quite likely that they'd be hidden in Amish settlements, or that the Amish or (more likely now that I think about it) the Quakers are actually American Wizards.

Would Wizarding America have been contacted to ratify the current constitution? Maybe they were actually offered a shot and decided to separate themselves and retain the old Articles of Confederation? Maybe they fled emasse to Canada because they didn't like the Constitution? Don't get me started on the courts--chances are Wizarding courts would be just as hide bound as their British counterparts.

What I'd like to have seen was more speculation on the creatures found in this country. Maybe the Dodo bird was a magical animal and had imperious like powers on muggles and that's why they were hunted to extinction? Or perhaps they and the buffalo have powerful properties in potions? Is the marijuana trade financed by Wizarding America for its potions properties? Maybe the reason Hemp is no longer used in paper and clothing is because a pureblood somewhere along the way decided to restrict it to Wizarding society?

Are tiny 'Sasquatch' the replacement for house elves? How did we really get a man on the moon? Does the influx of immigrants into this country mean there is also a huge vampire, werewolf, veela, etc? I think I already addressed UFOs earlier. Are their 'mechanical' sticks* that people use instead of brooms for things like Quidditch? Is there a Quidditch (that is not the same as the one we know) and a sport like Quidditch that is called a different name? Maybe flubber-basketball?

Ideas go on and one...

What are yours thoughts on this?[/quote]

I think we've barely scratched the surface of this discussion and would have more fun if we opened it up (without seeking perfection) and allowed other regions to participate. For instance I already mention Austrailia, I'm curious about Japan and about what kinds of impact Wizarding society could have on South American culture and Africa myself.

--bornagainpenguin

*Think of Skuld from Ahh my Goddess Ovas when she and her sisters fly. Skuld has a mechanical stick type thing, Urd uses a 80's style vacuum and Belldandy uses a traditional broom.

 

It would be intersing to see if the old purebloods were christains or not.

On another note:

That law about sex with the lights on is pretty bad. But here in Toronto, you can still get arrested for blasphmy.

 

Actually yes there is a variant of Quidditch in America called Quodpot that involves an explosive quaffle that needs to be put into a basket before it blows, if you put it in your teams basket you get a point if you are holding it when it explodes you are out of the game.

Yes it was a magical creature called a Diricawl that had the ability to vanish like a Phoenix, so muggles only thought they hunted them to extinction.

Both of these mentions are from those books JK Rowling wrote for charity, anyone who writes fanfiction should keep them as references for just these occasions.

 

O.O While I was at school, you people where busy... and after reading over your posts, I do feel like an idiot. A fourteen year old idoit, thus meaning that I am still learning stuff, so you can't really expect me to know any better. For all I know, I could still be having un-true crap shoved down my throat and not even notice. You all have good points. Everyone. And I do admit that my opinons are biased. What can I say, I haven't lived where you do, so I again don't know better.

 

No harm done... it takes a great man to admit he was wrong... or a small man getting ganged up upon

 

Both are true I guess.