Censorship

[greenmountaineer]

Censoring Samuel Clements

Now, Huckleberry, ya’ don’t go sayin’
That word, ya heah!
We don’t talk like that no mo’
In Hannibal, Missoura.

Only black folk s’pposed
To say such things
Like bitch and ‘ho on cable TV
For white folk watchin' comedy shows.

And shanty Irish, hell!
They have their P word too;
The Jews, well, say what ya will;
Ain’t none of them ‘round heah.

The poem's title is linked to a new controversy about a recently published version of Mark Twain's classic. I don't think of or use the "n" word in conversation for all the obvious reasons, but I believe in the language arts (or any other art for that matter) there's a place for explosive words, given the purpose of the poem or prose.

What's your opinion?

Also, I'm reminded I used the words, "feckin' oirish," in one of the challenge poems, a derogatory term used by Americans you don't hear much anymore but was used back at the turn of the 19th century when Irish immigrants were viewed by many as outcasts. I have Irish roots, so I thought nothing of it. I'm wondering if I would have used it if I were Polish American? Likewise, black comics will use the "n" word in a monologue, but I don't think you'll hear that from a white stand up comic. I think I know why, but would be curious if anyone else had an opinion about it.

 

[CharleyH]

Censoring Samuel Clements

Now, Huckleberry, ya’ don’t go sayin’
That word, ya heah!
We don’t talk like that no mo’
In Hannibal, Missoura.

Only black folk s’pposed
To say such things
Like bitch and ‘ho on cable TV
For white folk watchin' comedy shows.

And shanty Irish, hell!
They have their P word too;
The Jews, well, say what ya will;
Ain’t none of them ‘round heah.

The poem's title is linked to a new controversy about a recently published version of Mark Twain's classic. I don't think of or use the "n" word in conversation for all the obvious reasons, but I believe in the language arts (or any other art for that matter) there's a place for explosive words, given the purpose of the poem or prose.

What's your opinion?

Also, I'm reminded I used the words, "feckin' oirish," in one of the challenge poems, a derogatory term used by Americans you don't hear much anymore but was used back at the turn of the 19th century when Irish immigrants were viewed by many as outcasts. I have Irish roots, so I thought nothing of it. I'm wondering if I would have used it if I were Polish American? Likewise, black comics will use the "n" word in a monologue, but I don't think you'll hear that from a white stand up comic. I think I know why, but would be curious if anyone else had an opinion about it.

Yeah, I read that piece of BS news and think it exemplifies a society going overboard on political correctness. I have no idea who proposed this idiotic change, but I am not surprised, either. In these times, nigger is a word that black people can use loosely, but that white people are too afraid to use. Once the word is overused in society, so that it becomes totally meaningless, is the day I will celebrate with bells on my toes.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

There should be an international law/agreement that published literature be left alone, particularly classics. The teaching of controvertial writings is more important. Mores and acceptability changes through the years, there's nothing wrong in learning what they were even if they're considered unsuitable to day.

 

[greenmountaineer]

.....Once the word is overused in society, so that it becomes totally meaningless, is the day I will celebrate with bells on my toes.

Spoken like a poet. When something becomes meaningless, it becomes meaningful, and with bells too!

 

[twelveoone]

Minitrue thinks doubleplusungood language is not purged enough.

 

[EroticOrogeny]

I had heard osmething in passing, perhaps on the radio, about 'cleaning up' Huckleberry Finn.
Wasn't aware of the extent to which 'political correctness' was in play. Some quite recent. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised about a bowdlerized version of Darwin's Origin of the Species with opposite conclusions.
After all, legislatures have passed laws that set pi to 3.0.

A few years back I was looking on the web for information on a broad range of geology subjects. Results from most queries were mostly on topic, but geochronology turned up a lot of 'young earth' pseudo-science, along with U/Pb etc stuff.

 

[twelveoone]

Censoring Samuel Clements

Now, Huckleberry, ya’ don’t go sayin’
That word, ya heah!
We don’t talk like that no mo’
In Hannibal, Missoura.

Only black folk s’pposed
To say such things
Like bitch and ‘ho on cable TV
For white folk watchin' comedy shows.

And shanty Irish, hell!
They have their P word too;
The Jews, well, say what ya will;
Ain’t none of them ‘round heah.

The poem's title is linked to a new controversy about a recently published version of Mark Twain's classic. I don't think of or use the "n" word in conversation for all the obvious reasons, but I believe in the language arts (or any other art for that matter) there's a place for explosive words, given the purpose of the poem or prose.

What's your opinion?

Also, I'm reminded I used the words, "feckin' oirish," in one of the challenge poems, a derogatory term used by Americans you don't hear much anymore but was used back at the turn of the 19th century when Irish immigrants were viewed by many as outcasts. I have Irish roots, so I thought nothing of it. I'm wondering if I would have used it if I were Polish American? Likewise, black comics will use the "n" word in a monologue, but I don't think you'll hear that from a white stand up comic. I think I know why, but would be curious if anyone else had an opinion about it.

It's not the word, it's the thought behind it.
They do this on a regular basis, usually some jack ass parent objects to something taken out of context.
Nigger Jim happened to be one of the better characters in the book.
Let's pull "Nigger" oh, wait there's a black guy on the book jacket, Stops thinks???????
Everything is goddamn offensive.
Everything is goddamn explosive.

I was highly offended by Poet Guy's derivative poem, but that's only because derivatives are offensive. I got over it.

Do you know there is a market for all the stuff, that was supposed to be offensive to Black People, Little Black Sambo, etc. etc,etc. Do you know who the market is? African Americans, hey this kid was pretty smart.

Jesus, What was it one time about Italian Americans being portrayed in a negative light, so the TV networks were trying to figure out how are they going to give Mob Guys names like Smith. So what's the big hit today Jersey Shore?

 

[vrosej10]

Now bear in mind, that I am a cultural studies student and about as pc as the most pc person on earth, but this is ridiculous. All literature is time contextual. Give students the original. Teach them about why that was acceptable then and why it is not acceptable now. That simple. Children are not stupid and it does no one any favours to treat them like cute little idiots. Damn this pisses me off.

 

[twelveoone]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nigger_of_the_%27Narcissus%27

I always wanted to get one of my black friends to go ask for it in a book store, just to watch the white folks squirm.

I know, I know, I'm sick,

 

[EroticOrogeny]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nigger_of_the_%27Narcissus%27

I always wanted to get one of my black friends to go ask for it in a book store, just to watch the white folks squirm.

I know, I know, I'm sick,

The censorship reported there is even stranger, using "n-word".
I think I'd find reading that irritating with every instance kicking me.

 

[Remec]

One of the articles I read about the current controversy mentioned something I had not considered (or possibly even heard of) before. It said that Twain's usage of that word had been already controversial when the book was published, but that he had chose it over other possible racial terms in use during the time the novel was set exactly because 'nigger' carries/carried with it a different sort of shade in meaning from 'darky' or just 'slave'.

 

[greenmountaineer]

One of the articles I read about the current controversy mentioned something I had not considered (or possibly even heard of) before. It said that Twain's usage of that word had been already controversial when the book was published, but that he had chose it over other possible racial terms in use during the time the novel was set exactly because 'nigger' carries/carried with it a different sort of shade in meaning from 'darky' or just 'slave'.

Interesting. I didn't know that but am not surprised. The book was published in 1883. By then, I'm guessing there was even more resentment against former slaves than at the end of the Civil War because of all the carpet baggers who, I believe, were mostly white, but there's always an interesting psychology at play when one group, once ascendant, is defeated.