Huck Finn Gets Some Changes

Bearfootfarm · #41 01/06/11, 10:41 PM

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What publisher is going to republish the old version when the new one is so 'acceptable'?

A good one?

Trixie · #42 01/07/11, 12:08 AM

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Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

A good one?

Where do we find those?

Have you really looked at what is being published today?

I read a lot - a lot. Not much heavy stuff - mostly whodunits. I've read all the Agatha Christie, Nero Wolfe, Ngaio Marsh, etc., and I'm now reading modern ones. You cannot imagine the amount of politically correct stuff in books today. Every white person, except the hero/heroine of course, is a racist. Sex is a must - no matter who or where. Abortion is the first and only option when confronting an 'ill timed pregnancy'. Liberal politics is good - conservatives are the scourge of the earth. Illegals are the new heroes.

I even found some 'Christian Mysteries' at a thrift store - I was thrilled. I thought maybe I could actually read a mystery that would just be a story about a murder and someone solving it - you know - the body in the library type. Fat chance.

Also, publishers are getting fewer and fewer and many are owned by foreign corporations. Think they care whether we retain our past or not?

Wish I could get in that library in Detroit and save all those books ----

tinknal · #43 01/07/11, 06:33 AM

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Originally Posted by Txsteader

Beck did a good program tonight on this topic.....and the fact that Congress skipped the 3/5 clause when reading the Constitution today, because it was 'offensive'.

By removing the parts that are 'offensive', we take away the opportunity for our children to ask 'why?' (why is that in the Constitution?, why can't we say the 'n' word?) and the opportunity for us to teach our children about our mistakes.

Is a part of the Constitution that has been Constitutionally repealed still part of the Constitution?

Not looking for a fight, just wondering what folks think.

Txsteader · #44 01/07/11, 07:55 AM

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Originally Posted by tinknal

Is a part of the Constitution that has been Constitutionally repealed still part of the Constitution?

Not looking for a fight, just wondering what folks think.

Absolutely, it's still in there.

As Beck pointed out, by leaving portions such as the 3/5 clause in the document, we better understand the purpose of the 13th amendment. The 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment. If we removed the 18th amendment, the 21st amendment wouldn't make sense.

And it is also a valuable lesson of our history.

Jenn · #45 01/07/11, 07:56 AM

I love Georgette Heyer romances and mysteries. My Jewish mentor (an avid reader- 2-5 books at a time PLUS active duty Colonel PLUS knitting deployed and spinning knitting even loomwork at home PLUS a family) opened my eyes to Heyer's harsh (period, I excuse her with) antisemetism. Imagining what it was like for my Jewish friend to read the books I so love helped me see how I just don't get it, at least not until someone joggles my mindset.

Trixie · #46 01/08/11, 02:11 AM

I've never read Georgette Heyer, although I buy them for my daughter. I have to ask her about that - not doubting it's there - just how she felt about it.

I would say your friend, and most others, are strong enough that kind of thing isn't going to destroy them - they won't melt like a sugar cube at some harshness aimed at their group.

If that were true, Southerners would have just gone away by now - we have been degraded in every way possible by movies, TV, books, etc., and still are.

One of my son's black high school buddies was at the house one time - we had just bought our first VCR and we were all watching a movie. There was something derogatory said about blacks in the movie and the young man said, 'Man, now that's just cold' and broke up laughing. He knew who he was.

I think to have assumed he needed protection from something like that, would have insulted him and hurt him greatly.

texican · #47 01/09/11, 12:53 PM

One of my favorite liberal editorial cartoonists, Pat Oliphant, had a 'panel' on this one.... can be seen at http://imgsrv.gocomics.com/dim/?fh=d...d794188e283f6d

texican · #48 01/09/11, 01:04 PM

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Originally Posted by Trixie

I've never read Georgette Heyer, although I buy them for my daughter. I have to ask her about that - not doubting it's there - just how she felt about it.

I would say your friend, and most others, are strong enough that kind of thing isn't going to destroy them - they won't melt like a sugar cube at some harshness aimed at their group.

If that were true, Southerners would have just gone away by now - we have been degraded in every way possible by movies, TV, books, etc., and still are.

One of my son's black high school buddies was at the house one time - we had just bought our first VCR and we were all watching a movie. There was something derogatory said about blacks in the movie and the young man said, 'Man, now that's just cold' and broke up laughing. He knew who he was.

I think to have assumed he needed protection from something like that, would have insulted him and hurt him greatly.

I'm reminded of a "horror/slasher/sci-fi" movie (had something to do with sharks, I think), where the bad sharks escaped from their tanks, and started devouring everyone on the ocean bound site... the only black guy made a funny statement... paraphrasing... Everybody knows it's the "Brother" that always get 'it' first... And then, I believe he was one of the several folks that actually survived.

beaglebiz · #49 01/09/11, 03:21 PM

for anyone interested, there is a book called "Finn", about Huck's pa, that I found to be a great read.
here is a link to the book
http://www.amazon.com/Finn-Novel-Jon...4604417&sr=1-1

Oldcountryboy · #50 01/10/11, 05:32 PM

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Originally Posted by shanzone2001

Because you think it is an image to glorify, or so that you can have it as a reminder of how poorly blacks were treated?
Just wondering why you asked...

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Originally Posted by Trixie

What part of Little Black ----- teaches anything about how 'poorly blacks were treated'?

I have a copy (somewhere) and plan to keep it. I keep it because it is part of my childhood, because it is as it was written, because a lot of politically correct people seem to want to destroy it.

Mainly, so I can show my grandchildren the book had nothing whatsoever to do with black people being treated poorly -

It was a part of my childhood also. But that was so long ago that I don't remember what the book was all about. I do remember the book being one of my favorites when I was little. And I loved eating at -----'s resturaunt cause they had a little statue of him out in front. I enjoyed -----'s resturant like most kids enjoyed McDonalds in the 70's and 80's.

Jenn · #51 01/12/11, 11:28 PM

Back to OP- had an epiphany while watching Jon Stewart do a bit on this. (Black guy says n----- few times as needed for story while JS unable to say it). We should print the books with "n-----" in place and let kids say 'n-word' if reading out loud.

But to change it to slave- well I'm reading Faulkner now, stories set WW2, and he uses n----- all the time and it sure doesn't mean slave in that book!

wyld thang · #52 01/13/11, 12:20 AM

I always liked the ----- story, I remember something about chasing a tiger round and round a tree till they made butter???

sancraft · #53 01/13/11, 12:11 PM

I was mortified when I heard they were tampering with Twain's works. I read the book and and Tom Sawyer and so did my daughters. They are two of our favorites. The book reflects the era in which it was written. That would be lost by changing the word. Wh-re is used in the bible. I guess they will be going after that next. Sheesh.

Trixie · #54 01/13/11, 03:11 PM

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Originally Posted by wyld thang

I always liked the ----- story, I remember something about chasing a tiger round and round a tree till they made butter???

Yes, ----- was about an Indian boy who chased the tigers - or they chased him - round and round the tree - turned into butter and his Mother made pancakes for him.

Not sure how that attracted the attention of the politically correct crowd, but
go figure.

Don't you just think of a 2 year old when you hear someone say 'n-word'???

TheMartianChick · #55 01/13/11, 05:23 PM

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Originally Posted by Trixie

Yes, ----- was about an Indian boy who chased the tigers - or they chased him - round and round the tree - turned into butter and his Mother made pancakes for him.

Not sure how that attracted the attention of the politically correct crowd, but
go figure.

Don't you just think of a 2 year old when you hear someone say 'n-word'???

That was one version... The other was depicted as Little Black -----...a little pickaninny-type character.

Trixie · #56 01/13/11, 06:07 PM

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Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

That was one version... The other was depicted as Little Black -----...a little pickaninny-type character.

That one must have been before my time, as the one I know he was Indian.

Did the 'pickaninny' (by the way, why isn't that racist?) version have him chased/being chased by tigers?

Cornhusker · #57 01/13/11, 06:25 PM

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Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

That was one version... The other was depicted as Little Black -----...a little pickaninny-type character.

I remember Little Black ----- when I was a kid, but that was a hunnerd years ago or so.

tinknal · #58 01/13/11, 08:40 PM

Actually, I think ----- got the tiger to chase his own tail around the tree.