New Version of Huck Finn Elilminates N-Bombs

[Mott the Hoople]

Wow. Can't believe this.


New edition purges 'n'-word from 'Huck Finn'

For years, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - arguably Mark Twain's greatest novel - has been disappearing from classrooms because many school districts consider it racist.

Why? Mainly because Twain uses the "n"-word 219 times.

Bans of the classic tale about a 13-year-old's journey down the Mississippi with a runaway slave didn't sit well with Twain scholar Alan Gribben. Rather than have it go unread, Gribben and NewSouth Books decided to sanitize it for 21-century tastes.

In their upcoming edition, the "n"-word vanishes from the book's 1830s Missouri vernacular. Replacing it is the safe, non-controversial "slave." ("Injun" also is expelled.)

Literary purists will be appalled, of course. But so may casual readers. There's a strong argument to make that the elimination of the word neuters the novel.

"The word is terrible. But it's a linchpin of this book ... It lays bare the inhumanity of slavery through the power of satire." says the Washington Post's Alexandra Petri. "... If we keep updating things to reflect our current sensitivities, where do we stop?"

On the other hand, a politically correct "Huckleberry" removes a hurdle for public school English departments.

So what do you think? Is this a reasonable price to pay to get kids to read a classic?


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/hottopics/detail?entry_id=80299

Not only is it not worth it, it's piss poor pedagogy.

Fuckin nitwits. There was a method behind Twains madness. Huckfin is filled with characthers who are crooks, theives, drunkards, ignoramouses, skalleywags, conmen, murderers and villains galore! The only heroic and moral character in the whole fucking book was "Niger Jim" and that was Twains point. Freaken nitwits!

I mean if their so concerned about the use of this word then they shouldn't teach it at the high school level but to bastardize a masterpiece like that is profane!

 

[Mott the Hoople]

This is a prime example of the PC police being out of control.

It is but understand, if you were a racial minority with a very long history of institutionalized prejudice, descrimination and flat our violence against you then you would be sensitve too about a work like "Niger". To me this isn't about being PC, I understand why African Americans are sensitive to the word Niger and find it offensive. Only a first class moron wouldn't understand that. This is an example of piss poor teaching. Twain called Jim "Niger Jiim" for a satyrical reasons that was scathing indictment of southern racism. The fact that this isn't being taught to students frustrates the hell out of me.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

We live in a conservative school district and none of those five were banned.

I live in a liberal one and none of those 5 are banned.

Books are challenged by the ideological extremes of both sides from liberals who are hypersensitve about a racial epithet in a literarly masterpiece to knuckle dragging conservatives who think Harry Potter and LOTR promotes devil worship.

When I was a kid in high school I used to ask my librarian at school which books were on the banned list figuring they were probably good reads. From Carlos Castenadas and Ken Kasey to Joe Heller and J.D. Salinger I never went wrong. LOL Great reads all.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

It is but understand, if you were a racial minority with a very long history of institutionalized prejudice, descrimination and flat our violence against you then you would be sensitve too about a work like "Niger". To me this isn't about being PC, I understand why African Americans are sensitive to the word Niger and find it offensive. Only a first class moron wouldn't understand that. This is an example of piss poor teaching. Twain called Jim "Niger Jiim" for a satyrical reasons that was scathing indictment of southern racism. The fact that this isn't being taught to students frustrates the hell out of me.

I understand the history behind the word. But Twain clearly was being satirical and providing a parody of the South. As you stated, Jim was the only moral character in the book. The objection to the book due to the use of the word is absolutely a PC issue. Instead of discussing why Twain did it, they just want to get rid of it because it might 'offend'. This book should be read and should be discussed by students of all skin pigmentations. As you stated, it is more a failure of HOW it is being taught than a should it be taught.

If these same people who are working against the book did the same to rap artists etc... who use the word over and over again (which kids of ALL races hear and sing along to) then I would lend more credence to their being 'offended'. It is because Twain was a white guy that they are 'offended'... yet it is that same white guy that was actually standing up against the stupidity of racist behavior by use of his satire/parody.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

So what you are saying is that you are back on the site to spout off more of your 'reich-wing' this and 'reich wing' that bullshit?

Fucking idiot.

Oh come on SF. I've been to school board meetings and you hear far more from religious leaders and those affiliated with them who want certain literature they don't approve of pulled from public libraries then you do from liberal PC activists by far. Don't take my word for it either. Go to a school board meeting and you'll see what I mean. Not that the looney left isn't as bad but you'll see far more of the reich wing at those meetings then the looney left. At least that was my experience.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

your the idiot you clown. The right is much more about telling people how to live thier lives. Does the left do it at times sure.

Your single because your an asshole

Hey that's not fair! You're married to a hottie and you're an asshole too! ;-)

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

Oh come on SF. I've been to school board meetings and you hear far more from religious leaders and those affiliated with them who want certain literature they don't approve of pulled from public libraries then you do from liberal PC activists by far. Don't take my word for it either. Go to a school board meeting and you'll see what I mean. Not that the looney left isn't as bad but you'll see far more of the reich wing at those meetings then the looney left. At least that was my experience.

read his posts nitwit.... he is back to calling everything reich-wing and gestapo etc...

That is what I was commenting on. The stupidity of comparing the right to nazi's is pathetic.

 

[Topspin]

Hey that's not fair! You're married to a hottie and you're an asshole too! ;-)

I was talking to superfreak, but hey I know your feeling raped by the big 10 showing what pussies they are.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I understand the history behind the word. But Twain clearly was being satirical and providing a parody of the South. As you stated, Jim was the only moral character in the book. The objection to the book due to the use of the word is absolutely a PC issue. Instead of discussing why Twain did it, they just want to get rid of it because it might 'offend'. This book should be read and should be discussed by students of all skin pigmentations. As you stated, it is more a failure of HOW it is being taught than a should it be taught.

If these same people who are working against the book did the same to rap artists etc... who use the word over and over again (which kids of ALL races hear and sing along to) then I would lend more credence to their being 'offended'. It is because Twain was a white guy that they are 'offended'... yet it is that same white guy that was actually standing up against the stupidity of racist behavior by use of his satire/parody.

...and that's a teachable moment. That's the shame of it all. I can think of no better educational tool to bring up a discussion of race in this nation then a reading of Huckfinn. That's the real loss here.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

read his posts nitwit.... he is back to calling everything reich-wing and gestapo etc...

That is what I was commenting on. The stupidity of comparing the right to nazi's is pathetic.

Ehhh water off a duck, he's just being Topper. It's like Dixie ranting. I try not to take him to seriously.

The point being though both extremes are bad about challenging literature. I'm just saying that in my experience the rightwingnuts are worse about it then the looney left or I should say, they do it more often then the looney left.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I was talking to superfreak, but hey I know your feeling raped by the big 10 showing what pussies they are.

See? I told you you were an asshole!

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

Ehhh water off a duck, he's just being Topper. It's like Dixie ranting. I try not to take him to seriously.

The point being though both extremes are bad about challenging literature. I'm just saying that in my experience the rightwingnuts are worse about it then the looney left or I should say, they do it more often then the looney left.

I don't take him seriously... I just mock his stupidity. (and YES, I did notice that you used the 'reich' wing as well)

 

[Damocles]

Another portion of actual history is dealt a heavy blow and yet another reason to actually have conversations about racial relations with new generations is buried under historical revision and political correct neospeak.

 

[Cancel 2018. 3]

Thi is awful. I blame the social conservatives, not the liberals.

 

[DamnYankee]

Books are challenged by the ideological extremes of both sides from liberals who are hypersensitve about a racial epithet in a literarly masterpiece to knuckle dragging conservatives who think Harry Potter and LOTR promotes devil worship.

You confuse fundamentalist Christians with Conservatives. My kids have single handily pushed J.K. Rowling's wealth past the Queen with copies of her books, DVDs, special addition DVDs, Halloween costumes, and trips to the movie theater.

 

[Topspin]

this shit is hillarious, most of you conservatards were fine with Texas trying to rewrite evolution into christian bs rant but you go nuts trying to blame liberals for erasing the n word.
You fuckers love reading it and saying it.

 

[DamnYankee]

this shit is hillarious, most of you conservatards were fine with Texas trying to rewrite evolution into christian bs rant but you go nuts trying to blame liberals for erasing the n word.
You fuckers love reading it and saying it.

Cite.

 

[SmarterthanYou]

Thi is awful. I blame the social conservatives, not the liberals.

 

[cawacko]

this shit is hillarious, most of you conservatards were fine with Texas trying to rewrite evolution into christian bs rant but you go nuts trying to blame liberals for erasing the n word.
You fuckers love reading it and saying it.

I love it. There was nothing better than walking the hallways in high school having a black guy say to me "what's up n-bomb".

Damn straight. Don't F with me!

 

[Damocles]

this shit is hillarious, most of you conservatards were fine with Texas trying to rewrite evolution into christian bs rant but you go nuts trying to blame liberals for erasing the n word.

Link up to anybody here suggesting that or just shut up and quit Brown Shirting all over the board.