InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Hello Carole"

I'm fine...this is fine... everything is fine. (camerontroubles) wrote in neeps,
@ 2017-12-22 16:23:00

Entry tags:

! journal, monte cameron

[Muggleborn Contingent]

I hope everyone's doing well for Christmas!

I've been giving it a lot of thought recently, especially in the wake of all of the letters of support that have been published lately in the Prophet, and I know there's been some debate about the exclusivity of our current movement, but I'd really like to send something to those supporters.

I was out shopping today with my mum- we're both the worst when it comes to last minute Christmas shopping- and I came across these rosette lapel pins. I bought a few, and I'm going to charm them to glow periodically and flash the word "Ally".

Even if this isn't necessarily something that the group decides is okay, I'm personally going to send these out as a thank you. Those players didn't have to stick their necks out like that for us, but they did. I can only hope more people will feel the same.

(Post a new comment)

	Monte justifiability 2017-12-22 11:59 pm UTC (link)
	Would it be possible to get one for my mate, Ernie? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Justin camerontroubles 2017-12-23 12:02 am UTC (link)
	Oh, sure! I ~~bought the lot~~ got a bunch, and I know where to find them to get more, if necessary. I'm still working on the charm, but I'm nearly there. I'll owl it to you in the morning, assuming it's ready by then. Think it's a good idea? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Monte justifiability 2017-12-23 01:51 am UTC (link)
	I do think it's a good idea. Overdue, in fact. Whenever you can get it to me, that would be great. Thanks. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Justin camerontroubles 2017-12-23 03:29 pm UTC (link)
	I never figured my idea for ally-rosettes would be a rallying cry for us to get our shite together, but I'm sort of glad it has. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Monte justifiability 2017-12-24 01:45 am UTC (link)
	Or at least others are talking about it. I'm not sure if I should break in or not. (Reply to this) (Parent)

feelingyou
2017-12-23 12:06 am UTC (link)

I think it is certainly appropriate. I may have also been speaking to Jamie about selling t-shirts and accessories at the shop and set up the funds to further our cause.

Honestly, I am all for people wearing the neon pink. My only hesitance and question I worry about is are people just wearing the color to accessorize a for the cause or to hide behind it. I hope that this will not be the case for many, but I can't in good faith stop or demand someone stop wearing a color.

I would hope that anyone wearing the color, muggleborn or not, are aware that doing so will and should provoke dialog about what is means and what they might be doing to further such our cause.

Which brings us to another issue -- we need to get better organized and I have been meeting with some other muggleborns across various industries and want to formalize a statement as well as even create a single organization to truly advocate and impact change.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

camerontroubles
2017-12-23 12:14 am UTC (link)

Thanks, Jason, I really appreciate it. I didn't want to step on any toes, but it does make me feel better that ~~you~~ people seem more open to the idea of branching out a bit.

I'll be interested to hear more about where your meetings have been taking you, as well as your thoughts on a formal statement.

By the way, I listened to the race on the wireless, and wanted to say congratulations! It was a thrilling ride.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	feelingyou 2017-12-23 03:58 am UTC (link)
	Absolutely no toes to be stepped on. This thing is ours, and I think the initial statement was to show how many of this there are -- but now it's time to invite our allies to stand with us. This is a brilliant idea. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	camerontroubles 2017-12-23 03:31 pm UTC (link)
	I'll send a few your way, now that I've got the charms sorted. Feel free to expand on the idea or to give them away. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	camerontroubles 2017-12-23 12:16 am UTC (link)
	Hear, hear! I'll be interested to see your MB designs. (Reply to this) (Parent)

justifiability
2017-12-23 01:58 am UTC (link)

Will there be people who appropriate the colour for fashion purposes? Absolutely, but that's nothing new. We can only hope that they are doing it for the right reasons and if they're not, they then have to realise that they are opening themselves up to affiliating with our message/cause.

Which, to be honest, what IS our message? Do we have one? Or are we just a loose group of similarly minded individuals?

You're right that we need better organisation and ~~while I'm note entirely sure I'm fit for the job~~ I'm finding that I have a surplus of time on my hands. I am happy to sift through whatever is sent in.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

feelingyou
2017-12-23 03:53 am UTC (link)

My person goals are as follows:

1. Create a space to allow for open and honest dialogues about actions that occurred during and leading up to the most recent wizarding war

2. Establishment of a program or system in place that better serves muggleborns. There is no reason we have to wait so long to be informed we are magical. Beyond that support systems to help navigate living in both worlds.

3. We need an updated muggle studies program at Hogwarts and it should not simply be optional.

4. Better support networks to help muggleborns succeed in ventures in the wizarding world given their initial limited capital - both monetary and social.

And then on top of that, I wouldn't even mind bringing back the term Magbob.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

left_magpie
2017-12-23 06:08 am UTC (link)

Well, I'm all for calling us MagJason, since you're our informal leader. Or MagGregor if that has a better ring to it...

I think we need the Ministry for #1 and #3 and ourselves for the rest.

And I am a bit hesitant on #2. I think if we do that, we need to be prepared for Muggle families that basically abandon their wizard children. If you give them a year's notice, they can't get the help they need nearly fast enough.

I'd rather see School for First Years start 4 weeks early, and be orientation and 'Magic and you', etc.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

neeples
2017-12-23 09:12 am UTC (link)

Gregor McGregor the MagGregor. Has a nice ring.

We'll need the ministry for a lot of our ideas but if we're a more organized group it's easier to get them to the table.

I'm with you on #2, in that I'm not sure we'll be allowed to legally with the statute, and we won't have a support system in place for families that don't take it well. Just as starting points.

I really like this First Years coming early, or some level of Orientation program even if it isn't at Hogwarts. I was stuck on how to get that and Gregor's suggestion sounds better to me than just let's say an afterschool club. Also need something set up during the school (though it will be up to school admin and these are just suggestions) such as a buddy system with older muggleborn students.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	left_magpie 2017-12-23 03:04 pm UTC (link)
	Were any of you lot wee poor churchmice like I was? Or were you all Lottery Winners and Contessas? Did you ever hear of an organization called "Big Brothers"? It sounds a lot like what you're talking about. Sort of an "adopt a muggleborn" system. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

camerontroubles
2017-12-23 03:38 pm UTC (link)

Bit of a step up in the churchmice category, but nowhere near the Lottery or Titled tier. Our dad's a lorry driver, and mum works at a shop.

It really would have been nice to have a support system going into all of this, and agree that it would have been the absolute culture shock that much easier to handle. And not only for the children, but for the parents as well. I don't go around nearly as often to mine as I should, but that's mostly down to not being able to really relate to them anymore, and that's just tragic.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

feelingyou
2017-12-23 05:01 pm UTC (link)

The family issue is a constant struggle for me and mine. My family has tried to be understanding, and supportive -- doing remarkably well -- but even if they are there comes the problem when family friends ask about what Jason has been up to. They know Jason is a successful professional athlete, but anyone not family gets some strange story about how I travel a lot, seeing the world, and that I'm happy. Or the topic is avoided all together.

Which is a relative place of privilege when it comes to my non-wizard family and me.

That being said my mom has some serious reservations and concern about the lack of substance and quality of a Hogwarts education. Where as my father is more fascinated by the physics of magic.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

left_magpie
2017-12-23 09:32 pm UTC (link)

So, like PFLAG, but for parents and friends of muggleborns? Like one of those anti-drinking societies for the families of the alcoholics?

P-Mag? Maybe get a place in London where Muggles can go, read the Daily Prophet, meet with fellow Muggleborn's parents and share their issues, send and receive owls, exchange money, have a textbook (and kettle and hand-me-down robes) swap board, play canasta, meet girlfriends, that sort of thing?

(Reply to this) (Parent)

feelingyou
2017-12-23 04:55 pm UTC (link)

Before muggleborn came of fashion and before the Statute of Secretary, children born to non-magical families were called magbob. It was seem as a good thing and children born of non-magical families were thought to be more gifted.

But language is a funny thing and evolving out of situation.

I can also yield to your point about the complexity of point 2. Not every family was welcoming. However, nearly all magic reveals itself by age seven. There is still a gap there.

I do like the idea of an orientation.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

neeples
2017-12-23 09:20 am UTC (link)

So it seems our tenets so far (broadly taken from Jason and added a few thoughts of my own, please add your own input too):

1) Education
- Of incoming muggleborns, better orientation and adjustment help especially in those early years
- Of the wizarding population about all things muggle (Muggle Studies needs an overhaul)

2) Incorporation
- From the early years (Orientation program for first years)
- Easier trading between muggle and wizarding currencies
- Some kind of entrance into the workforce (summer shadowing, intern spots, what have you) to allow us a chance compared to wizardborn who live in a very insular and interconnected society and for who the value of family and social connections can be substantial

3) Valuing a muggleborn viewpoint
- Ideally some kind of subdepartment that deals in muggleborn affairs. And run by one too. If we want all these changes there will probably need to be an office for it
- make sure offices that deal in muggles actually have muggleborn on staff (obvious but somehow not to some people)
- encourage the hiring of muggleborn - I admit I'm still mulling over the how on this one

4) Building a community
- This is more on us but I mean a more solid muggleborn network. Of course this is more of the beginnings of a movement but I've really enjoyed being able to get to know my fellow muggleborn in all of you. There's something to be said for a shared experience and struggle and I figure if us Irish can have our days and get togethers, and the Scots seem to do it regularly too, then maybe the Muggleborn can. Even if it's just a day or a festival that celebrates and promotes our work to each other so we can find one another when the pink is no longer there.
- And maybe through starting with something like this it'll start to create a more connected support network for some of the other points. Right now we sort of stumble into each other rather than find other muggleborns on purpose. I know as a young player I would've really loved to hear more about being a muggleborn in this league, and I'm sure that's the case for many an industry.

Obviously as we get new people from non-quidditch corners there will be more to add that doesn't occur to us but...thoughts? Did I miss any or miss the mark significantly?

(Reply to this) (Thread)

feelingyou
2017-12-23 06:49 pm UTC (link)

As for building a community, I have been having a few long discussions with Mary Cattermole about starting a foundation to not only build community, but to have a way to start to fund efforts.

The difference between this any of the other charities already in existance would harken back to your point about having it be largely muggleborn operated and funded.

The leading name is the Uplift Foundation -- but I am definitely interested in getting other smarter and more politically inclined people at the table.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

left_magpie
2017-12-23 09:25 pm UTC (link)

the only way a government can encourage something is to pay for it. Usually, this takes the form of tax incentives or set-asides. 1/4 of all government contracts should go to muggleborn-owned and operated businesses, tax credits for having x% of your staff being muggleborn, that kind of thing.

We could make a reasonable case for some sort of "career day", because muggleborns have to choose NEWTS and OWLs to allow them to get a particular ministry job without knowing what those jobs are and what they do.

Oh, and loans to start businesses (or guarantees on loans), like the small business association but for muggleborns. But we can do that ourselves and have more control.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	feelingyou 2017-12-23 09:53 pm UTC (link)
	I think this reflects very well while I tend to be the idea guy or face of most things, while other smarter and more informed people actually make it work. I will fully yield higher level planning to others and do what I can to assist, but I am somewhat out of my league when it comes to the details of bureaucracy. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	left_magpie 2017-12-24 01:18 am UTC (link)
	Ok, as your political advisor, I'm going to advise you to never express this sentiment again, because it doesn't come across nearly as well as you meant it to. Halfway between Stan Rogers and William Shatner. And not in a good way. View on YouTube View on YouTube (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	feelingyou 2017-12-24 01:35 am UTC (link)
	It's all word mash at this point. [GREGOR] Full disclosure and perhaps your advisement this political game is exhausting. Not to mention broom races and store openings, plus holidays. And for as much I have been reading, I only just barely know what I'm doing. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

left_magpie
2017-12-24 01:52 am UTC (link)

[Jason]
I am here to keep you from seeming full of yourself, same as in the tower. You can thank me later. And yeah, I really don't expect you to have been writing pithy sayings on broom back during the race. And I am still your sometime coach, so don't slack on that either.

We're all feeling our way around things. But seriously, "I'm an ideas man, the rest of you peons can implement it" is not the best look for you...

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Jason/Gregor

feelingyou
2017-12-24 02:03 am UTC (link)

No I can see how that came off wrong ... but it's not entirely wrong.

I think this the basis of my first custom broom -- Wouldn't it be cool if X? And then other people helped guided me to that answer. There is probably a better way to describe it.

I think bottom line is that sometimes I get my head caught up in the impossible, and I need people to keep me grounded. Who would have thought a flyer with his head caught up in the clouds?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Jason/Gregor

left_magpie
2017-12-24 04:08 am UTC (link)

Given how I you helped me with the broom skates, I know you're not just tossing off ideas and leaving the doing to other people. It's a good thing you know how to take expert help. I'm gonna chalk it up to broom racing tiredness, because I've heard you say all the "I just hope I can help the team" cliche stuff to the quidditch press.

But I think you did a great job with the pink stuff, and now we have to make another short plan that advances our goal.

Do we want to meet with the Minister to discuss this? After that radio speech, I think we could talk to him.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Jason/Gregor feelingyou 2017-12-24 05:46 am UTC (link)
	Funny you should mention the Minister. I had an interesting conversation with Percy Weasley the other day, after Angeline decided to tell me the what. We might have an in to the Minister already. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	justifiability 2017-12-24 01:53 am UTC (link)
	If I learned anything from History of Magic, you have to be aware of the goblins. How are they going to react to muggleborns edging into the banking business? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	left_magpie 2017-12-24 01:57 am UTC (link)
	You learned something from the History of Magic? Speaking of courses that could use an overhaul. I dunno, maybe we could ask them? Maybe they could set up special accounts and rates for muggleborns. Maybe we work with them? It's not like they have historical memory of us excluding them from power or anything. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	justifiability 2017-12-24 02:06 am UTC (link)
	That Goblins are almost as bad as the French. It won't hurt to ask, certainly, but it's possible that they won't differentiate us from the next wizard. Which is almost refreshing in a way. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

left_magpie
2017-12-24 04:00 am UTC (link)

They may not be used to dealing with the banking habits of the poor, or the recently formerly poor. We want to help them offer services to people who start with nothing, but who have he ability to become high-paying life-long customers.

But yeah, I don't actually want to set up a rival bank. I remember Binns saying "The Goblin Wars can also be called the Banking Wars, and sometimes they literally were two banks at war with each other."

Where am I? Did I fall asleep?

(Reply to this) (Parent)

justifiability
2017-12-24 02:04 am UTC (link)

Addressing your points of Education and Community, I think we should reach out to the Hogwarts administration and offer to make individuals available to families when having to navigate Diagon and Platform 9 3/4 for the first time during this coming summer.

That is a basic first step and should certainly be expanded upon, but it requires little investment capital, beyond time.

(Reply to this) (Parent)