Apparently the classic novel Huckleberry Finn has been "banned" from being taught or read in many US schools because of its "excessive" use of the "N" word and rather bizarrely because of the use of such historic slang such as the word Injun (Indian)
A more "sanitized" version of the novel has been released by Professor Alan Gribben in an effort to encourage Children to access the book within the education system , a move which has sparked much debate amongst academics and the general public alike.
We live in a world that fears upsetting people.
Why oh why, oh why are books as famous and as much loved as the Mark Twain's classic banned from children in school?
Are not children bright enough to realise that historic language is just that! HISTORIC?
And are not teachers talented enough to facilitate discussions and debate about the race issues in literature?
I was bright enough not to swayed by the darker elements in Catcher in the Rye or the more colourful language in Kes............and my English teacher (Miss Betts) at our parochial secondary school certainly explored the subjects of race and language in the beautiful To Kill A Mockingbird ......and as I recall there was plenty of N words in that one!
Let us STOP being frightened of upsetting the world!
The world has coped very well , with being upset from time to time
Enough already!
Tonight I am off to Theatre Clwyd to see the intriguing
A Town Called Panic
Well said! I agree. This also goes along with educators changing history to suit their political correctness.As the old saying goes..something like...if we do not remember our past we are doomed to repeat it.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more John!
ReplyDeleteIf the powers that be would only stop trying to protect me from myself!
I couldn't believe my ears either John. Political correctness gone mad!
ReplyDeleteSounds like it would be true. God forbid, we offend anybody.
ReplyDeleteI heard that debate too. I have read the original version of "Huckleberry Finn" and do you know there's a reference to Sheffield, Yorkshire in it! Probably what the authorities were more afraid of was that Huckleberry is a free spirit who goes his own way, makes up his own rules and lives on the edge of society. We wouldn't want people like that now would we? I'd like to see them banning books that contain these highly offensive words - "banker", "Tory" and "Clegg"... oh and you could throw in "dog shit" too! (Literally)
ReplyDeleteLets not forget the banning of the movie "Song of the South" Zipidee Doo Da.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete(whoops, I almost censored myself)
ReplyDeleteOh, praise be for a blog entry with no animals! Hoorah! :-)
In the case of this particular 'offending word', its censorship functions to reinforce prejudice by locating particular identities as victims/victimless, and extends/invites 'new' possibilities for 'hate' speech.
And of course, as you point out, it's 'just history', albeit a rather sad one.
This notwithstanding, I find (as you already know) the 'reclaimation' of particular forms of speech to be quite intriguing. The use of the words 'queer' and 'cripple' by several activists within the gender and disability movements, for example, serves to illustrate the futility of acts that attempt to advance censorship.
So, is censorship an act of "hate speech" in itself? I suspect it might be. What do you think?
Nx
PS. Ironically, of course, have you not censored your blog in the same way? Oh, the moral dilemmas of blogging...!
There were a lot of books (H Finn, included) that were not exactly banned from the library, they were not accessible at the library, when my youngest went to elementary school. He knows the word, does not use the word and yes, I read it to him. They can "ban" them all they want, they are still for sale.
ReplyDeleteExcellent points John!
ReplyDeleteI think high school kids (teenagers) can mostly 'deal' with how things were in the past and can see that we have come this far because of the past. In other words, some of us have evolved and are educated enough to see that there are things in the past that 1.we shouldn't be proud of and 2.had to be changed.
However,a lot of people are not educated about issues of this sort and share their views, naturally, with their kids. Some young kids, I believe, could not 'appreciate' and 'see' how things have evolved from the past to now.....because they have parents who are racist or whatever and want their kids to feel the same way.
Little kids ARE impressionable and are not mature enough to see the difference. Some could see that difference and they are usually the ones with educated parents.
So I do think that for certain ages the `books`should be changed because it is the duty of the education authorities to consider the impact on ALL kids.
When they are older, it is their responsibility to act in a more educated manner......at least that is the hope. Can`t change everyone.
Have to remember John that not everyone has the education and beliefs that we were lucky enough to acquire and believe.
I think you hit a chord with me.
Jim
I totally agree!
ReplyDeleteI would hope that I should always have the right to read what I choose. It doesnt mean that tomorrow I would quit my job and kick off my shoes and float down the river in search of adventure. Altho??
Nige
ReplyDeletehummm
yes I do censor my blog from time to time.....but I guess I have the right to do that....apparantly Mark Twain disliked ANY censorship
"Twain himself was very particular about his words.
Mark Twain did not take kindly to editing He is quoted as saying that "the difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter"
I agree, and what does this say for the education system? mmmm not much.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with what Melodie said, changing history to suit the mind set of the time... good grief.
The use of words is intriguing isn't it.
ReplyDeleteI still laugh at my Grandson's understanding of the word 'wicked'
We were watching a programme about a fox that was kept tied up and I remarked that it was wicked, he replied 'that's not wicked its cruel'
His interpretation of wicked was entirely different to mine.
He was only small at the time, I'm sure he know knows both meanings.
Take heart! People in the U.S. are overwhelmingly against it. You can't pretend the past didn't happen. One teacher said that when well-intentioned parents call her to complain about the word, she tells them that they are not allowed to complain until they've actually read the book. No one has ever called her back.
ReplyDeleteI saw this on the news too. Its madness. I loved Mark Twain when was little - I wanted to live like Huckleberry Finn. I'm not at all racist (although thats thanks to my Dad who is everything "ist" and I just wanted to grow up the opposite of him!!). I was incredibly impressed when I started my South Yorkshire comprehensive school in 1972 and discovered that Barry Hines (author of Kes) was my English Teacher - he was brilliant. Sadly, he has Ahlzeimers these days bless him. xxx
ReplyDeleteWhile I can't comment on the books (although ridiculous), I read clip about how Chick-fil-a is funding a right-wing church group that is about hate (mainly for gays/gay marriage) than family values. And while I thought it valiant of the company to value their workers enough to be closed down on Sundays, I didn't know that they'd be congregating on that day to gather up rocks to throw at gays. Hate will should never be a family value, but seems to be high on the list.
ReplyDeleteAfter going through the Target Store boycott six months ago, I am exhausted at the idea of another fight for equality, especially that they should have gotten the message from their predecessors. Sadly, and most upsetting, I will miss their waffle fries.
Well said, you old poof.
ReplyDelete(P.S. - That last comment was directed at John, btw)
ReplyDeleteIt saddens me to think it is "OK" to "rewrite" a published Author....YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. When did it become OK? I dont care HOW vulgar, "politically" incorrect, or offensive. IT is completely in error to "REWRITE".
ReplyDeleteJust an added comment: I think it is perfectly OK for adults to read whatever they want. I don't think it is for young, uneducated children. Have to start somewhere adjusting the insanities of the past and moving forward, not holding on. I call it evolving.
ReplyDeleteJim
Thomas!
ReplyDeleteI take exception to that word!
"old"
Well, it infuriates me when I see something like this banned.. People are so afraid to hear such words as N.. BUT I wonder what words are used in the teachers lounge or in parents homes. I'll bet the F word is used liberally and other foul language.Now kids today have made other words they use that mean N or white trash. Or how about turning on the TV in the afternoons and watch soap opera actors in bed with each other.. Now that is good role modleing.. YIKES~! that would be a no..
ReplyDeleteI have this book and I read it to my children growing up ~PLUS I have the movie "Song of the South"... Zippity Do Dau, my oh my what a beautiful day...
Is the town of Hannibal Missour going to be shut down because of all this.. the birth place of Mark Twain.. Good Grief what is going on here in America..I live here and I think this is really a dumb idea..plus all the politics that are going on in our country.. I'm joining the tea party..
Thanks for the post.have a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now.from Iowa USA
John, I couldn’t agree more. This is a classic and I should never be changed or banned for any reason. If parents don’t feel their kids are old enough to read it that is understandable and that’s where parenting comes in. This is Footloose in real life. We are so regulated we can’t make decisions as human beings thus taking away our accountability and creating a cutlure of folks who think everything is owed to them.
ReplyDelete(...I will not get on my soapbox, I will not get on my soapbox... )
ReplyDeleteThis is a subject that makes me rabidly angry.
I pulled my son out of public school over this and other issues of sanitized, homogenized, dumbed-down education. He is now in a school that encourages children to think and debate and grow as human beings. So far this year in English (8th grade) they have read Huck Finn, The Curious Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Good Earth, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Animal Farm. In history right now they are studying the struggles of various groups of people to overcome legal and social oppression and segregation. They do not shy away from the grittier bits of history, and instead look at cause and effect, and what (if anything) we've learned.
I don't understand how people can believe we can raise children wrapped in sterile cotton wool and then throw them, fully grown and ill-equipt, into reality.
(taking a deep breath and kicking away the soapbox.)
Katie in MN
Well said, John. I read somewhere (can't remember where or who said it, dammit)that it's impossible to give offence, only to take it.
ReplyDeleteOh dear! If Mark Twain were around he would be having apoplexy! Bigles has been sanitised, Enid Blyton's works also sanitised - and many more - all in the name of 'PC' by some over-zealous, righteous person(s) who believe we need protecting from our own right to choose and read what we wish!
ReplyDeleteI received a long-coveted, leather bound, collector's edition of Huckleberry Finn (complete with the early illustrations and the missing chapter Twain once removed for "Life on the Mississippi") for Christmas, and the first thing I did when I heard about the current "editing" going on was to pull it off the shelf and make sure all the bad words were still in there. :-) I let out a hefty sigh of relief when they were! I adore this book. Mark Twain is one of my heroes for writing it and having the audacity to actually publish it. It took him eight years to finish it and work up the courage to publish. He was a master craftsman of words and used every one of them thoughtfully, carefully, and intentionally. He knew exactly what kind of hornets nest he was stirring. Clearly, he considered it necessary.
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about all the controversy is it will probably cause more people to pick the book up and read it, which would be a great thing. Huck's journey is one from unconscious bigotry through awakening awareness of the injustice to a full and conscious rejection of inequality and hate.
It's the same journey the entire world is still engaged in today. I know in my life, I'm forever waking up a little bit more every day. It never ceases to amaze me how cunning, deceptive, and deep prejudice can be.
Great post! Thanks for the discussion.
Dia