It should be left alone. The "sanitizing" of literary classics could be the first step in censoring everything. Movies, books, video games, basically anything that can be considered "bad" for the innocent minds of youth today.
Do we change Huckleberry Finn or not?
- Thread starter Avro
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What we used to call Censoring is now called "Political correctness dontcha know:smile:
Words written are often offensive .... but ....
Rather than obliterate them, or censor them, let them stand for the reaction they receive from people who have evolved and allowed themselves to open up with curiosity to all races and what we can share both in similarities and differences.
Hiding words of scorn and taunting only seek to inflame those who know no better and haven't enjoyed the freedom of how it is to
know people of other racial roots. I enjoy the difference in those people who make up our free societies and countries and who offer
different standards and ideas with which we can agree or disagree but at least understand.
One nation built from all lands and concepts is a healthy one. E Pluribus Unum [Out of Many - One]
Rather than obliterate them, or censor them, let them stand for the reaction they receive from people who have evolved and allowed themselves to open up with curiosity to all races and what we can share both in similarities and differences.
Hiding words of scorn and taunting only seek to inflame those who know no better and haven't enjoyed the freedom of how it is to
know people of other racial roots. I enjoy the difference in those people who make up our free societies and countries and who offer
different standards and ideas with which we can agree or disagree but at least understand.
One nation built from all lands and concepts is a healthy one. E Pluribus Unum [Out of Many - One]
Look, if you want your kids to read this stuff you're going to have to sit down with them and talk about it. Explain things like slavery and what a nigger is and why things were like that even after slavery was abolished. Everyone knows you hate those little sh!ts and spending time with them that isn't exactly fun fun extreme to the edge super enjoyment factor mega 10+ sucks the goat's pecker, so you have to make a choice. Nerf the world and make up for it with a huge cash settlement so the kids won't divorce you, or take one for the team and act like a Mom or a Dad. You're choice. "Choose and parish!"
Zuul
Zuul
Gee Unforgiven, I must have a totally warped memory. I vividly remember sitting with my daughters, reading to them, and actually enjoying the process. I read them Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, and i explained what the words and concepts actually meant. I also went to their school, and had it out with a teacher when my eldest wrote a book report about Huck Finn, which offended the teacher. She refused to accept the report, because it was on a book that SHE didn't approve of.
I taught my girls to THINK, and to read virtually anything that is on a printed page. I also taught them about real racists, communists, socialists, and all of the others that want to take, take, take.
But of course, the vast majority of teachers are people that couldn't make it in any REAL field of study, (at least most of the ones that stay in the field). The are more than grateful to be overpaid for doing very little. It would be expecting far too much to expect them to actually understand what books like those two are really about. They can't see beyond the "loaded words".
I taught my girls to THINK, and to read virtually anything that is on a printed page. I also taught them about real racists, communists, socialists, and all of the others that want to take, take, take.
But of course, the vast majority of teachers are people that couldn't make it in any REAL field of study, (at least most of the ones that stay in the field). The are more than grateful to be overpaid for doing very little. It would be expecting far too much to expect them to actually understand what books like those two are really about. They can't see beyond the "loaded words".
While we can all (or, at least, most) agree that censorship is not warranted and is counter productive in this instance, let's remember that it is not unprecedented. Do some reading on the Mother Goose stories or other fairy tales. You will be surprised to learn how often they dealt with matters of death, cannibalism, cruelty to animals or to children. Many were sanitized. For example, remember this one:
Ding, dong, bell,Pussy’s in the well.Who put her in?Little Johnny Green.Who pulled her out?Little Tommy Stout.What a naughty boy was that,To try to drown poor pussy cat,Who ne’er did him any harm,But killed all the mice in the farmer's barn. (1765)
In the original, the cat was actually killed:
Jacke boy, ho boy newes,
the cat is in the well,
let us ring now for her Knell,
ding dong ding dong Bell. (1580)
Fairy tales and other children's stories or adult mythologies usually had a social context as does Huck. So let's recognize that changes have been made over the centuries. But let's hope these changes bring about good. In Huck's case, no good can come from censorship.
Ding, dong, bell,Pussy’s in the well.Who put her in?Little Johnny Green.Who pulled her out?Little Tommy Stout.What a naughty boy was that,To try to drown poor pussy cat,Who ne’er did him any harm,But killed all the mice in the farmer's barn. (1765)
In the original, the cat was actually killed:
Jacke boy, ho boy newes,
the cat is in the well,
let us ring now for her Knell,
ding dong ding dong Bell. (1580)
Fairy tales and other children's stories or adult mythologies usually had a social context as does Huck. So let's recognize that changes have been made over the centuries. But let's hope these changes bring about good. In Huck's case, no good can come from censorship.
It is very true gopher, much has already been 'sanitized'. Compare some original Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes with todays versions and there is quite a difference. That doesn't make it OK
You crack me up.
This is all very dreadful. Our heritage will be totally destroyed, just like when they burned all those Beatles records.
I read Adventures of Tom Sawyer when I's 10...Great book...Still have it...Think I'll keep it , just the way it is..
Maybe Give it to me son, I will ..Lets him read it..
Maybe Give it to me son, I will ..Lets him read it..
I read Adventures of Tom Sawyer when I's 10...Great book...Still have it...Think I'll keep it , just the way it is..
Maybe Give it to me son, I will ..Lets him read it..
I agree- I think it was actually Huckleberry Finn that caused more of a stir. Silly what upsets some people, yet we can be subjected to modern music (comprised mainly of the "F" word) eminating from vehicles at 3000 decibels in a public place. If perhaps you did get pulled over for it - God help you if there was a copy of "Huckleberry Finn" in the vehicle.
I have an idea. Why don't we take all of the references to whales out of Moby Dick? We can have Ahab hunting jellyfish or sea slugs instead.
We should change Huck's first name to Hank so that there will be no gender issues that make children freak right out.
Old story, while binge drinking on the lower mainland, we pulled round a curve right into a ride inspection. Being pissed up pretty good, it being day two or three of that specific binge, we thought this was going to be it. Rolled down the window of the van and the cop yells at us about the fcuking music being too god damned loud. 3 in the morning people are trying to god damn sleep and if he hears that god damn music again we all were going to jail. We said sorry and we're on our way. Once again, we drank to our outrageous luck and success at fcuking up without too much inconvenience to the rest of the planet. 3.2 kilowatts saved our freedom loving asses once again! Tip O' the hat to JBL!:canada:
Old story, while binge drinking on the lower mainland, we pulled round a curve right into a ride inspection. Being pissed up pretty good, it being day two or three of that specific binge, we thought this was going to be it. Rolled down the window of the van and the cop yells at us about the fcuking music being too god damned loud. 3 in the morning people are trying to god damn sleep and if he hears that god damn music again we all were going to jail. We said sorry and we're on our way. Once again, we drank to our outrageous luck and success at fcuking up without too much inconvenience to the rest of the planet. 3.2 kilowatts saved our freedom loving asses once again! Tip O' the hat to JBL!:canada:
Enjoyed all the comments here pro and con and oh so colorful - gave me hope for our future when people are able to vent on forums
and get out their honest feelings instead of stuffing them down into our interior "courtesy dictator of wordsmanship"..
What remains for me - as our modern solution to cohabitation of earth the planet is our continued acceptance of building armies and weaponry to utilize in aggression rather than protection.
I continue to hope however and it goes without saying I honor those who have been in battle for us, it is only I wish one day it will not be a solution.
and get out their honest feelings instead of stuffing them down into our interior "courtesy dictator of wordsmanship"..
What remains for me - as our modern solution to cohabitation of earth the planet is our continued acceptance of building armies and weaponry to utilize in aggression rather than protection.
I continue to hope however and it goes without saying I honor those who have been in battle for us, it is only I wish one day it will not be a solution.