S.P.E.W. Term XVII, Activity #2: The Logistics of Freeing House-Elves

[mandyloo.livejournal.com]

By popular demand, I bring you our next activity- a discussion!

Activity: The Logistics of Freeing House-Elves
Dates: Now until 11:59 pm July 12, MST (5:59 am July 13, UTC)
Points: 10 points for first comment, additional comments 2 points each, up to 30 points. Points for bonus items if you have them.
Details: Hermione was adamant about winning better working conditions, fair wages, and time off for House-Elves. But it takes more than wanting something to make it happen. How would you convince a house-elf that they needed to be free? How would you convince the Ministry that their freedom was necessary?

Initial comments (for 10 points) must be at least 4 sentences long. Additional comments should be at least 2 sentences.

Ideas for talking points:
~ What exactly should we change for House-elves?
~ How would you go about talking to this with the house-elves?
~ How would you bring this up with the Ministry?
~ How would you promote this with the general public?
~ Feel free to reply to others' initial comments when making your later comments. But please be polite! No bashing other people's ideas, but you don't have to agree with them either.

~ Sign each comment with your Name/House! Failure to do so means no points for you!

~ Remember, you must be on the roster to get points, so be sure to sign up before the activity ends!

kilobites , silvertigerx - you will each get +5 bonus points for suggesting this activity, if you participate! :)

Comments

[whitestar.livejournal.com]

I think maybe it's not so much freeing the house elves as creating a better working situation for them. Requiring masters to not be abusive, decent living quarters and time off to visit family and friends. After they've adjusted to this change in the way that they are treated I think they may begin to see that there is more to life than slavery. Give them a taste of freedom while they are still slaves, then they won't be as frightened of it when they are given the option of being free.

The Ministry would have to pass a law to make sure that "house-elf rights" are followed. I think masters would be less hostile to changing living conditions as long as it didn't mean they'd lose their servants. Those who already treated their house-elves well wouldn't need to worry about the law.

Whitestar//Ravenclaw

[los-york.livejournal.com]

I like your idea about giving them a vacation for the elves. It's like another view of freedom for them and a nice thing for the masters to do for their elves. If they do it more, the elves might not leave.

Olivia//Gryffindor

[cyyt.livejournal.com]

I agree that house-elves should be given a some sort of benefits/better life. But somehow... I wonder if they'll accept all of that.

There should be laws to protect house-elf rights nonetheless.

Candice//Gryffindor

[prongsy.livejournal.com]

This is the best approach yet. Ease them into freedom and see how that takes until they start to want it for themselves. I like this!

Beth | Gryffindor