Schools throughout the country have begun to ban the use of Huckleberry Finn because of the use of the word ******. If schools and government can edit the text of historical text then what prevents the limiting modern free speech? Did the Nazi's not do this as well?
Nothing. Once you start playing with an author's words for the sake of "political correctness" what ever that should be in any certain time, anything goes. It can be a word, a phrase, a scenario, or even the plot. Especially when taking taking a great Clement's classic depicting a particular era, the words that he uses exemplifies the time of which he writes. His descriptive speech demonstrates how slaves were treated in dehumanizing ways. When it comes to history books, new information can come forth on events in our past and can be added to new additions, but it has to be factual information. Not just the opinion of some committee in one state.
Though they are different the ultimate point is that to change a book which reflects historical content can easily lead to editing historical fact. What's to stop editing out other historical content?
How are they different? What is the problem with the way an illiterate 11 year old runaway on the Mississippi in the 19th century who had been trained by his society to think of Jim not only as a ******, but as a thief? Why shouldn't the original language be preserved so that modern children cannot only enjoy a classic as it was written, but grow with Huck as he learns that his attitude about Jim is wrong. Huckleberry Finn, as it was written, is a story that tells us about the fight against bigotry and hatred in the heart of an individual. It is a story of enlightenment and the triumph of friendship and honor over hatred and bias. The only people who could read that book and be offended by the use of ****** in it are those who cannot think. Can you think, or are you going to prove yourself to be one of the people with small minds?
I despise censorship but what about the Thanksgiving with the Indians bullshit? And the Founders were all fine Christian men and this nation was "founded on Christianity" bullshit? That was all made up shit. BTW, Huck Finn is a fictional character. How is he "historical"?
Huck Finn is one of the great literary pieces and whitewashing it is a huge disgrace. I doubt the school board even knows the context of what Clemens even meant at the time.
Huck Finn is historical, however Mark Twain is not. Neither is the language implemented throughout the book. The use of the word accurately represents the country in 1884. If you change the text you change history. For the same reason Truman required documentation of liberated concentration camps, so history could not be rewritten