[For some time I wanted to write an in-world essay about an event that occurred in the wizarding world in 1777, I also wanted to write a piece, a fan-headcanon piece, on what would Thanksgiving be like in Ilvermorny. The following is a Thanksgiving special article on the 1777 debate that occurred; I will fo into what it is, a few headcanon elements about it and other times, and my place in the debate as if I was there or simply choosing a side in an in-class reenactment of the debate after many students turned in their paper.]
After witches and wizards came to America in 1620, and by the time of the Revolution, many witches and wizards lived a long life within the new world, and how do they respond to a No-Maj war to be independent? A Debate.
1777: the American war of independence took place against the British soldiers, the culture, the religion, to be independent anew from that and into a new state of the population with new ideas. George Washington was among the No-Majes that led them to fight for freedom. As for Wizardkind, Elizabeth McGilliguddy, 15th President of the Magical Congress, responded with a debate entitled "Country or Kind".
The state of Washington is known for an event in 1892, when, the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) was positioned in the state, where, perhaps unrelated, a revolution led by Big Foot; a sasquatch, led against the Magical Congress after Irene Kneedander, head of the Department of the Protection of Magical Creatures, attacked a Sasquatch when it got angry. A story, perhaps, for another day, this led to a battle between them and MACUSA, in fear f being noticed, left to another state.
The Purpose of the debate was the idea of Intervening in a war that they may have no part of in the first place. Interventionalist vs Anti-Interventionalist.
"Country", is the nation of America itself. The belief that, as witches and wizards are also living and had lived in the land for so long, it is as much as their land as much as the No-Maj.
"Kind", is simply as is, or as sounds to be, people, or mankind, or wizardkind. "kind" or rather Kinship, is the relation of similar blood, origins, or characteristics. In this case, the witches and wizards, on this side fear being discovered by others that are not within their kinship.
"Country" is the Interventionalist while "Kind", or Kinship, is an Anti-Interventionalist.
Now, they never fought in the war in the end, after a message to the Ministry o Magic, by the President, was sent for help, which they declined and, perhaps the most genius reply they got in return from the President was "mind you do". Perhaps a callback to Benjamin Franklin's motto, "Mind your own Business". While they never fought, they did help the neighbors and celebrated Independence Day secretly.
But, the question is: Did they not fight? I am saying that perhaps they did do more of intervening than not. It is a question of what is official and written from secret and acted. I believe that the Wizardkind did in fact take part in the battle than what the President, and history, knew. Isn't it odd that the Continental Army had the famous red and blue colors that were used years earlier by Ilvermorny's founders Isolt and James? Apparently, both Isolt Sayre and James Steward, primary founders of the school, lived to be over 100-years-old. Taken into account that Isolt arrived in America in 1620 and, depending on the source of either MinaLima or Mugglenet, the school was founded at some point between 1620-1640. MinaLima suggests 1627 and Mugglenet suggests 1637. As is also known that Albus Dumbledore was born in 1882 and was murdered by the plan in 1997, if he hadn't need to die, he would still be alive. With that, my thought is that James and Isolt lived in the time of the war in 1777 and died in that war. I think she worked with the No-Majes to win the war and gave inspiration which is why the colors are used. George Washington took the school's colors as a symbol and meaning in origin, or so. Now I am not sure if James would be alive, I think the thought that he passed away and affected Isolt to help No-Maj Kind is an interesting theory.
In this idea, and thought, and theory of her Intervening, she is "country". While this is a theory, it is not known who fought in the war. While George was fighting for Independence, Wizards in America did a similar outing to his in the 1670s with the then-to-be President Joshia Jackson against the Scourers.
Where do I Stand thou?
To me, it is about the safety of one kind or another, it is not about the nation vs the people. At least not entirely, it was at first. Then I heard or rather read, Grindelwald's Speech, and I thought about who is the most likely to be in danger. Wizardkind is far more powerful than any Non-Magicals. Wizardkind is far more of a threat than Mankind. The Laws that were created is to protect wizardkind, which is a certainty through and through. BUT. Why? Wizardkind is far more dangerous than it should be protecting Cant-Spells. In fact, I would be an Auror because they need to be protected from the dangers that wizardkind is.
Yet Mugglekind is not so far from being destructive all the same.
Yet, furthermore, Where I stand in the Great Debate of 1777 is an Interventionalist, perhaps Ironically. I am on the side of the country to protect them. Course I am not an Auror but it gives reason. But perhaps moreso a reason also is simply I was born and bred in American culture and love American history so much that, from that angle, its story makes me an American, giving my side of the debate further meaning.
To secretly fight in the war alongside the wizarding equivalent to London's Nightingale or Americas Tubman, would be an interesting experience.
And while it may be an Independence Day Day and Subject, We should give loads of Thanks to the woman who gave No-Majes an Identity.
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