Posted by Eric Abraham on July 19, 2001 at 19:19:45 from 199.240.138.87:
In Reply to: Re: books for my grandson posted by Eric Abraham on July 19, 2001 at 14:25:39:
A quick follow-up -- Just think of the kids who have not been allowed to read "Huckleberry Finn" because one of the main characters has a name that is REALLY politically incorrect at present. Instead of explaining the historical context of the name, either in the book itself as an explainatory preface, OR (most importent) parents and teachers taking upon themselves to present a bit of cultural as well as political history, the book is simply not made available. And if you just rewrote the book and called him "Jim", we would loose most of the political and historical meaning and the entire point of the story. Like translating Swallows and Amazons into American vernacular. Huck Finn and Jim were among my primary role models at age 10. I wanted to float down the Mississippi (see the water, boat connection!) and play (remember, I was 10 at the time) at freeing Jim from slavery. There is not a more anti- slavery book around and because of a name which is not popular, we loose the message, the book is banned. Slavery is still rampant in parts of the world, a lesson we STILL ignore. We ban "Mein Kamph" (sp?) for its preaching of hate, and I am not sure even that should be banned; but, again, read and taught IN CONTEXT with the culture and history of the time, so we can understand why such things were written and that now and in the future we can avoid the consequences of such ideas.
Great books have the power to eternally influence young minds to great good in the world. Bad books have no power as long as great minds have the knowledge to recognise them for what they are.
A quick note - HA! Wait until I get my soapbox. Is there room on the corner at Hyde Park? Do they still allow that there?