'Tom Sawyer' becomes politically corrected

[Supafly]

You probably read it, too. Of course, I read it at the age of 12, but translated into german. So the words '******' and 'Injun' were not in the book I read.

Now they are out of the new version.

Is that really a good idea? I mean, now they use 'Slave' instead of the first one, that is not the same.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=12562372

 

[titsrock]

It's not a good idea to "water down" someone's work without their approval. Having said that I think Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are crap books anyway. There's much better and more relevant books for classes to read.

 

[~~whimsy~~]

I remember in 6th grade we read To Kill a Mockingbird which had the word ****** in it and other themes the teacher told us about. I suppose. In junior year of high school we read Huckleberry Finn and had to get permission slips signed because it had the word ****** in it.

Frankly I found it stupid. Especially since a lot of the black kids in school were running around calling each other ******s any way. That word has lost all credibility and meaning except for those who understand what it once used to signify.

As far as taking out those words in the book is just plain silly. You are either mature enough to read this book and realize it was part of the time and culture or you needn't be reading it.

I find it sad to see how far we have come to where we can't even read a novel without having to take potentially offensive words out of it.

 

[pete rose]

Jesus christ, this is fucking disgusting.

 

[Crazy4theBrat]

Why edit the words out when the PC Police can just have a huge book burning party instead? While they're at it, they can burn any other books that don't follow their agenda.

 

[bahodeme]

I totally agree! These books were of a time period where these words & thoughts were commonplace. There are other novels that are derisive and this would be an opportunity for dicussion. Instead society has chosen to sugarcoat history. I had a discussion with my younger brother when The Kentucky Derby used to play the original version of My Old Kentucky Home and its meaning. Look, its part of history that is ugly. We can learn from it or we can forget about it & repeat tommorrow. (Not a sermon, just a thought )

 

[titsrock]

A classic is usually defined as something that withstands the test of time. I don't think these two books meet that criteria. They are more historical today than useful, imo. I would hope middle school and high school teachers work to ENGAGE students and make them INTO lifelong readers first. TS and HF, imo, tune kids out. A Catcher in the Rye tunes kids in.

 

[larss]

It's not a good idea to "water down" someone's work without their approval. Having said that I think Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are crap books anyway. There's much better and more relevant books for classes to read.

I disagree with that sentiment. I really enjoyed them, both as a kid when I first read them, and again when I read them to my kids. They still stand up as moral tales. As for the use of the word - that is how the book was written, so in my view, it should stay as is. The word is anachronistic as should be seen in that way. It was meant as a derogatory term then - the meaning has not changed, so why change the word.

 

[Rane1071]

Why edit the words out when the PC Police can just have a huge book burning party instead? While they're at it, they can burn any other books that don't follow their agenda.

Don't give them any idea's But editing someones work, isn't that censorship ??

 

[Zolf J. Kimbly]

It's not a good idea to "water down" someone's work without their approval. Having said that I think Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are crap books anyway. There's much better and more relevant books for classes to read.

how the hell are you supposed to get the approval of someone who has been dead for over a hundred years now?

 

[Ravenholm]

how the hell are you supposed to get the approval of someone who has been dead for over a hundred years now?

Well it kind of means then that the books are untouchable if the authors approval can't be given. And such actions should be boycotted. Trying to change history is a FUCKED idea so it is. It is best to continue from where we are and shape and mould the future from where we are just now. And not try to re-write what once was. I am glad the BBC are not dicks like that!. They keep the content of their old shows intact. Steptoe & Son has an episode in the boxset where the dad rented the sons room out. And he had an advert put in shops with the words at the bottom stating "No wogs" not call me stupid if I am wrong here but that means "No Gollywogs" today this would be unacceptable on TV. But it should not be censored from a show from the past. The same goes for literature!.

 

[Rattrap]

It does seem a subtle censoring step toward the 1984-esque state. I'm not at all saying that that's the next step, mind, or that there's some conspiracy of control behind it - but that settings like 1984 would have evolved, 'organically', with stuff like this.

Book burnings or bans are obvious, after all. This is cleverly but unintentionally subtle, and will go forgotten and unnoticed in short time.

Or, ya know, maybe there's a conspiracy. :dunno:

 

[pete rose]

shhhh nothing bad ever happened, fuck history shhhhhh. we need to look good in the future history books shhhh.

I really hate these people.

 

[Ravenholm]

Maybe it is a con. Maybe this is being said in an effort to get people to buy these books cos they don't sell well. People, for the most part, will be thinking if it is going to be censored then I best go and buy a copy that is already out there. Before it's too late. Hence more money for those involved.

Elementary, my dear Freeones.

 

[Kittymeow]

I think it's good for kids... I mean when you're 8 do you really need to be hearing the N word? No, you don't............

 

[D-rock]

Trying to change it would be both dishonest to the integrity of the intellectual work that was done and the historical meaning of the book. Not to mention that Mark Twain wrote it like he did to deliver a message and that was part of the reason it was even controversial in it's own time. Reality shouldn't be sugar coated especially when it's meant to deliver a point like this is. Having his work force a historical perspective today even enhances it and gives it even more meaning if it makes people look at how things were back then. Even more than that Mark Twain is one of our greatest authors and could be argued to be America's greatest author and deserves not to have his work changed.

 

[meesterperfect]

I think it's good for kids... I mean when you're 8 do you really need to be hearing the N word? No, you don't............

what's that?
nincompoop?
nitwit?
needle-nose?
oh, its ******
actually i find "the N-word" more offensive.



either ban them or allow them, but dont change them.

 

[PlumpRump]

This will be how kids experience Huck Finn, from now on.

 

[meesterperfect]

yeah , Imagine Blazing Saddles 2011.
" Awe that uppity N-Word went and hit me upside the head with a shovel"
" The Sheriff is an N-Word ?"
" Up yours N-Word.".

I can understand not calling someone that name, its not nice.
But not being able to use it as reference to something or deleting it from literature is and always will be ridiculous.

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

I can't wait until they edit Dracula and change "vampire" into "Person with health conditions brought on by exposure to sunlight."