Censoring Mark Twain's 'n-words' is unacceptable

[TommyTooter]

Bill Cosby tried... and the black community by and large revolted against him for it.

so did a lot of his white fans when he turned oreo to make it big in hollywierd.

 

[TommyTooter]

So reading the word negro is appalling, but the celebrity leaders of black culture have no problem dropping n bombs all day?

i'm only able to socialize with low to middle income blacks and they use the word all the time and usually don't get too bent out of shape if their white friends use it too -- within reason. chris rock was right on about how it is among blacks themselves and that wasn't po' folk in his audience laughing their asses off either. that was middle and upper class black people agreeing with him with their laughter.

this is about white hypocrites banning the word. it's that bureaucrat mentality: if they set the rule in stone, they'll obey it and won't slip up when one of their black workers pisses them off. it's that lawsuit phobia. what they are doing there and with this alteration of twain's work is they are limiting the potentially positive social effects of satire by inhibiting the language of the satirist.

i don't see anybody getting too upset with people who say that a customer 'jewed them down on something'. the term jew has been a pejorative term that has been used against the hebrew-israelite people since the time of the babylonian conquest about 1500 years before jesus. instead of banning it altogether, the zionists went and rehabilitated the term in the last century and now even have the non-israeli israelites, or jews of the diaspora, as they would say calling themselves jews.

jews were the people of judah, who would probably be the n******s of the nation of israel. they were the ones that were always backsliding and being sinful, getting god pissed off at everybody because of what they were doing.

please note that i am referring to all of the people who are descended from jacob who was called israel when i speak of the nation of israel, like the native americans refer to their tribes. the state of israel is a whole 'nother thing. not all isrealites are israeli.

 

[Guyzerr]

You don't protect the children from history. It should be used as written and that's the perfect opportunity to discuss in an academic setting the problems with the words used in that era.

:homo:

The politically correct movement is a major contributor to the downfall of the free.

 

[Accountable]

This is similar to them making simplified versions of Greek literature (The Odessy, Clash of the Titans, etc) to make it easier to teach a class. They would still be selling the original version for anyone who wants to read it that way, but there would be another version for minors to study without feeling offended by their studies, regardless of whether that was the term used then or not.

It is nowhere remotely similar to simplifying Greek literature. They are not taking the word NIGGER out because it is too difficult a concept to understand. They are not editing the word NIGGER because the vernacular is different. They want to censor. Simplifying Greek literature has nothing to do with censorship. No one reads the Iliad "Sing, goddess, of Achilles ruinous anger Which brought ten thousand pains to the Achaeans, And cast the souls of many stalwart heroes To Hades, and their bodies to the dogs And birds of prey." and suggests we change the word "Hades" because some people might find it offensive.

Censorship of historical works due to modern sensitivities is more offensive than what they're censoring.

:clap Well put. Terse yet pithy.

 

[MoonOwl]

What do you think of a publisher's decision to remove the N-word from "Huckleberry Finn"?

Disapprove
92%
29310

Approve
8%
2665

From CNN's front page.

I think it's quite stupid also.

 

[TommyTooter]

What do you think of a publisher's decision to remove the N-word from "Huckleberry Finn"?

Disapprove
92%
29310

Approve
8%
2665

From CNN's front page.

I think it's quite stupid also.

we can only hope those pre-publication ratings translate into related sales figures and the edition will die on the shelves.

 

[All Else Failed]

Hey look, moderns digging themselves into a deeper hole of delusion.


The word nigger exists. It is a historical fact. The book was written during a period of time where the characters would use the term. Removing it is literally being disingenuous about history.

Buy the old one if you really must use that word.

Stop being so sensitive.

This is similar to them making simplified versions of Greek literature (The Odessy, Clash of the Titans, etc) to make it easier to teach a class. They would still be selling the original version for anyone who wants to read it that way, but there would be another version for minors to study without feeling offended by their studies, regardless of whether that was the term used then or not.

Not similar at all. The intention is not to make the literature more "simple" to teach, it is a direct action to be PC.

I agree, it's disgusting that they would censor ANY book let alone Mark Twain.

So lets deny reality and the fact that it was used at all.


what are we in the 1st grade? Nigger and negro exist. They were used.

 

[BornReady]

I think it's a marketing decision. If teachers won't use Huckleberry Finn in their classroom because they think it has offensive language then a publisher should be allowed to print a modified version that teachers will use. Publishers just print what sells.

Political correctness is not censorship. It's not censorship if someone says something offensive and everyone turns and gives him a dirty look. Now if they throw him in jail for it, well that's censorship.

I like Mark Twain but I couldn't get into Huckleberry Finn. I tried and gave up about a third of the way through. I wasn't offended, just bored.

 

[sexysadie]

I think it's ludicrious to change it.....I mean, can't we just talk to our kids like we used to in the old days?...lol. What's next?

 

[Accountable]

I think it's a marketing decision. If teachers won't use Huckleberry Finn in their classroom because they think it has offensive language then a publisher should be allowed to print a modified version that teachers will use. Publishers just print what sells.

You have GOT to be kidding. You're saying the publisher should be able to edit a classic work of literature simply as a marketing decision? So if a publisher decides that the Diary of Anne Frank is too graphic then they should be allowed to unilaterally edit out the "ugly" bits? When publishing an art history book, should they be allowed to put a pair of running shorts on Michelangelo's David as well?

 

[sexysadie]

I think it's a marketing decision. If teachers won't use Huckleberry Finn in their classroom because they think it has offensive language then a publisher should be allowed to print a modified version that teachers will use. Publishers just print what sells.

Political correctness is not censorship. It's not censorship if someone says something offensive and everyone turns and gives him a dirty look. Now if they throw him in jail for it, well that's censorship.

I like Mark Twain but I couldn't get into Huckleberry Finn. I tried and gave up about a third of the way through. I wasn't offended, just bored.

The book has become what it is because of how real it portrays that point in time. I agree, some of the words in Huck Finn are not politically correct anymore, but you can't erase history. Besides, is it ever a good idea to hide things from our children? I mean really....we've come a long way, or so I thought....we no longer refer to the male member as a wee wee...it's now a penis...and a woman has a vagina...and we go out of our way to be honest with them about sex and so on and so on...but when it comes to the 'n' word we choose to draw the line? Why? IMO...as vile as the word has become it should not be taken out of this book or any other book...unless you think it best to have a childs very first experience with this word....be in a rap song?

I think to change this word now is to change a big part of history not to mention set a precedent for others now and in the future to ban words or even whole books that they may find offensive.......are we moving backwards here?

 

[Accountable]

The book has become what it is because of how real it portrays that point in time. I agree, some of the words in Huck Finn are not politically correct anymore, but you can't erase history. Besides, is it ever a good idea to hide things from our children? I mean really....we've come a long way, or so I thought....we no longer refer to the male member as a wee wee...it's now a penis...and a woman has a vagina...and we go out of our way to be honest with them about sex and so on and so on...but when it comes to the 'n' word we choose to draw the line? Why? IMO...as vile as the word has become it should not be taken out of this book or any other book...unless you think it best to have a child's very first experience with this word....be in a rap song?

I think to change this word now is to change a big part of history not to mention set a precedent for others now and in the future to ban words or even whole books that they may find offensive.......are we moving backwards here?

I agree wholeheartedly. Ignorance and groupthink, pretending unpleasant situations don't really exist, is what promotes bigotry - exactly the kind of bigotry Mark Twain exposes in his books. Education, enlightenment, and critical thinking erases it. Editing this classic will result in exactly the kind of behavior this PC crowd is trying to prevent.

 

[sexysadie]

I agree wholeheartedly. Ignorance and groupthink, pretending unpleasant situations don't really exist, is what promotes bigotry - exactly the kind of bigotry Mark Twain exposes in his books. Education, enlightenment, and critical thinking erases it. Editing this classic will result in exactly the kind of behavior this PC crowd is trying to prevent.

I agree, if you were to read the whole book and still think that it's racist, then you should open it up and read it again because you clearly didn't understand it at all.

 

[edgray]

I loathe the word but removing it is just absurd.

 

[BornReady]

You have GOT to be kidding. You're saying the publisher should be able to edit a classic work of literature simply as a marketing decision? So if a publisher decides that the Diary of Anne Frank is too graphic then they should be allowed to unilaterally edit out the "ugly" bits? When publishing an art history book, should they be allowed to put a pair of running shorts on Michelangelo's David as well?

lol I knew I would get this reaction. But yes, once the copyright has expired on a work of art then people should be allowed to modify it and market it in any way they choose. To say otherwise would be censorship and I oppose that. Notice I didn't say they should modify Huckleberry Finn. Personally I thought the book rather boring and teachers should use something more likely to capture the interests of modern students.

I think Mark Twain would be more likely to roll over in his grave because of my opinion of his book than because a publisher wants to modify a couple words. Does that mean I shouldn't be allowed to say Huckleberry Finn is boring? But so as not to disparage Mark Twain too much, I repeat I really do like him... just not that particular book.

 

[Accountable]

The running shorts bit as well?

 

[BornReady]

lol Accountable, you're doing a good job of making me look foolish! Not that I need much help with that. Yeah, I see what you're saying. :surrender

 

[Abcinthia]

You don't protect the children from history. It should be used as written and that's the perfect opportunity to discuss in an academic setting the problems with the words used in that era.

I completely agree. We can't white wash history, however unsavoury it is to us in modern times. And as you said, it would be the perfect time to discuss that era and the words used.

I just hate people changing wording in books because of modern day word changes (eg the change of the words gay, queer etc) or modern values. Leave them as they are and use them to educate.

 

[skyblue]

tell me something......theres alot of footage about ww11.....should the swastika and hitler salute be deleted from them because its deemed offensive these days?

 

[sexysadie]

I guess the movie 'roots' will be banned and burned next?