The S (Stupid) Word

In what has to be one of the dumbest decisions in the history of publishing, a publishing house has decided to substitute the word "nigger" for "slave" and some other words for a less objectionable term in Huckleberry Finn, so that readers are not offended by them.  Two things.  Books and other artistic expressions are not subject to redaction. You take them as they are.  "Nigger" is a hateful term, but it's the one that Mark Twain used because that's the way people spoke at the time and in the context that he was writing in. Also, this is not a book that's just been published.  It's been around for a long time, and I don't think that there's been a hue and cry over it, even in the black community.

Americans are obsessed with political correctness; so much so, that they are always talking about "the n word" or some such references to this and other words that they find objectionable.  It's simply ridiculous to avoid the mere mention of the word, even when you are condemning its use.  On the other hand, it's been pointed out that quite a few black comedians use it in their stand-up routines, to make people laugh.  So, I think that, if you're writing a period piece or want to portray characters and situations truthfully, you have to use the language that is real, hateful or not.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Belgian Buggery

The Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal won't go away; instead, it keeps growing every day.  Take the story out of Belgium, where a report has been issued that details what went on, including more than a dozen suicides linked to the abuse perpetrated by priests and  a cover up that continues to this day, when a Belgian bishop suggested that a complaint be withheld until 2011, when the bishop who covered up for the offending priest will retire.  With each passing day, it becomes more and more difficult to hold that this behavior was just the work of a few rogue priests.  There are just too many cases all around the world, for anyone to believe such a thing. This is clearly a major problem which the church tried to hide from the authorities and recklessly let it continue, without any regard for children elsewhere, by transferring priests.  There is no excuse for this unpardonable sin.
Read more

The Mutiny That Should Have Been

Maybe they should have mutinied. The crew of the Bounty replica, that is. An investigation of the October, 2012 sinking has determined that the captain was to blame, for his recklessness in sailing into Hurricane Sandy's path with a 50-year-old ship and an inexperienced crew. This modern-day Bligh, presumed dead, shared the hubris and insanity of his 1789 predecessor, causing the death of a woman crew member whose last name was Christian . The poor woman had been on board just five months, when she met her untimely death. I suppose that those who believe in such things must be thinking that there's something that makes the captain of the Bounty do insane things...
Read more

Hear, Hear!

Not that it means a whole lot, but, still, the gesture has some significance. After 33 years on the throne, the Dutch queen, at 76, will abdicate in favor of her son. Not subject to election by the vote of her people, she has done the right thing by resigning, so to speak, and letting her son carry on with the royal duties. At 86, and 60 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth would do well to follow this example. Hanging on to the throne at her age and after so many years seems excessive and ungenerous. The same goes for King Juan Carlos, who has just turned 75, and has been on the throne for 37 years. His son will be 45 two days from now, so is already older than his father was when he became King. In Juan Carlos' case, he has, of late, given signs of poor judgment, that could very well be a result of his age. Queen Elizabeth and King Juan Carlos should follow Queen Beatrix 's example.
Read more