tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6694092506511551308.post9047156819174112665..comments2023-04-12T10:45:21.979-04:00Comments on Deathday Letters: Twain Rolls Over in GraveShaun Hutchinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01480241164653893038noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6694092506511551308.post-56053916872716561032011-01-07T14:53:09.576-05:002011-01-07T14:53:09.576-05:00My mom once tore the sex scenes out of one of the ...My mom once tore the sex scenes out of one of the Clan of the Cave Bear books that I was reading. When I discovered what she'd done (as it was 1. obvious and 2. I'd already read the book..twice...so I knew what was missing) I was A. horrified she'd defaced a book simply to keep me from reading something and B. amused to the point of peeing my pants she thought that would stop me from reading stuff like that. I just started hiding the books I was reading from her if I thought she wouldn't like them.<br /><br />You know, kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. Did I know it would be a bad idea for me to act like the characters in that book...sure. I was a smart kid. Reading those scenes wasn't going to make me frantic to go find some Neanderthal to go make out with....anymore than reading the N-word in Huckleberry Finn made me run out and start using it.<br /><br />I've been reading a lot of dystopian novels lately...just finished Matched by Ally Condie in which their society chose 100 of the best poems, stories, history lessons, paintings, etc, and destroyed all the rest. I'm sure you can guess what type of art they kept. This type of censorship and control over what societies are exposed to seem to be a common thread in these novels.<br /><br />People laugh and think we'll never get that bad....but it starts slow. Taking a book and removing a few offensive words. What's next? Removing the book itself?<br /><br />History is there to learn from. Erasing it teaches no one anything.Michelle McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6694092506511551308.post-71288784354605916072011-01-06T11:24:34.514-05:002011-01-06T11:24:34.514-05:00Matthew - I suppose that's what's people a...Matthew - I suppose that's what's people are hoping for. People seem willing to sweep the nastiness of life under the carpet rather than deal with it.<br /><br />Abby - You're so right! I was so curious when I was a kid. If anyone had told me NOT to read something, I would have found a way to read it. The sad part is that by whitewashing Huck, they'll make it more likely that kids will find the original and not understand the context. I mean, I know kids are smart, so I don't want to not give them enough credit, but its our jobs as educators and role models and parents to make sure that the edgy stuff kids read is contextualized.Shaun Hutchinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01480241164653893038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6694092506511551308.post-33913523705315172562011-01-05T19:50:25.818-05:002011-01-05T19:50:25.818-05:00Awesome post! You expressed my thoughts on this ex...Awesome post! You expressed my thoughts on this exactly. What really gets me is how so many parents don't understand that banning (or changing) books will only make kids more curious about those books and compel them to lie to their parents about what they're reading. <br /><br />I make it a point to read whatever my kids are reading so I know what they're being exposed to, and I will admit, there are books I haven't let them read--yet. They're still pre-teens and some of the stuff that's out there would seriously traumatize them at this age. But that's <i>my</i> job, as their mother, to protect them from those things until they're ready, not the job of some school board, much less a book publisher. <br /><br />Okay, I could go on for days about this, so I'll shut up now. <br /><br />Again, great post, Shaun! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! :)Abby Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543937393055900844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6694092506511551308.post-36105660592501890052011-01-05T14:52:54.128-05:002011-01-05T14:52:54.128-05:00This is ridiculous. I know, let's just pretend...This is ridiculous. I know, let's just pretend that things like rape and murder and incest don't happen. Then no one will do them anymore!<br /><br />Come on people.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6694092506511551308.post-53017298438722925772011-01-05T13:56:48.450-05:002011-01-05T13:56:48.450-05:00Eric- I wish more parents were like you. People ...Eric- I wish more parents were like you. People seem to see censoring books or removing them from circulation as a viable alternative to explaining to kids what certain things mean. It doesn't make sense to me. Not only does it disregard the great works of fiction being censored, but it treats children like idiots and tells them it's okay. <br /><br />I don't know, this just really burns me up, but I'm glad there are awesome parents like you out there fighting the good fight.Shaun Hutchinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01480241164653893038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6694092506511551308.post-82442818872625217362011-01-05T13:29:21.094-05:002011-01-05T13:29:21.094-05:00I guess I should be surprised at this, but I'm...I guess I should be surprised at this, but I'm really not. More and more, it seems like we have to be too politically correct and overly sensitive in everything we do.<br /><br />Yes, it is repugnant to use those particular words in any way. But as you say, they are reflective of the time. And we can't ignore the accurate history of humanity - no matter where we look. Instead of altering what we find distasteful, we should be learning from it.<br /><br />As a father, I've had to deal with these kinds of questions with respect to my own sons. And rather than soften the blow, I told them the real truth. I then went on however, to explain why such things are wrong and why it is beneath us to behave in such a manner.<br /><br />Thanks for bringing this to light, Shaun. It's tragic, but hopefully people will read what you've written here and avoid this book like the plague.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07823808700523297184noreply@blogger.com