Saw this on Perezhilton.com

maheard

http://perezhilton.com/2011-01-04-the-n-word-to-be-edited-out-of-new-edition-of-mark-twains-the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn

Sorry I am kinda of a moron when it comes to making things clicky but basically they are editing out the N word in the a new addition of Huckleberry Finn.

Now I am in no way, shape, or form a fan of this word. In fact I cringe when I hear it but I don't think editing it out of a book thats this old is hardly going to make a difference.

What do you think? 

dazed2confused

While i would never use the word myself, i think they should leave it in its original form.  I hate when they edit books in order to be more politically correct.  

Dyork

I don't think they should really be messing around with old pieces. But when I stopped for a second and thought about it....I read that book when I was 7 or 8. And the thought of having my kid read that is a little unsettling.

Then again at that age that word didn't stand out to me at all.

It also reminded me of that Family Guy episode where Peter is on the raft. Ha...awesome.

 

lavieboheme73

Not a fan at all of the "n" word...I think it's terrible.  But I am also not a fan of this kind of censorship, whether the book is old or new. 

The fact of the matter is, people say things we don't necessarily like to hear, and that's just the way it goes, especially back then.  At that time, people considered the "n" word a descriptive term, not a derisive one.  Editing that out will lose the authenticity of the speech of that time.

An author should not have to compromise character authenticity to avoid offending people.  That's just wrong, period.

pondering_gal

dazed2confused:

While i would never use the word myself, i think they should leave it in its original form.  I hate when they edit books in order to be more politically correct.  

This!

In general, I'm not a fan of things being "politically correct."

I've been hearing about how some journalists are trying to stop the use of the phrase "illegal immigrants," because it's "offensive." Blech.

*Not that I'm comparing the two or trying so start a debate or anything, I'm just sayin'

ead1975

I think it's a lazy way out for people who can't be bothered to parent their kids.  Seriously. I find it utterly disheartening that people are so afraid of having meaningful discussions with their children that we're censoring classic works of literature like this.  The whole point of literature is to capture a moment in time.  Just because it's distasteful by current standards doesn't mean it didn't exist, and it doesn't mean we can sweep it under the rug. 

There is absolutely a place in the world for books like this.  It's an opportunity for parents/teachers to say, "here's how people behaved in a specific moment in time, and here's why it's wrong.  Let's talk about what the modern equivalent might be."  But, no. Let's sacrifice a true learning opportunity to "protect" the children.  In the meantime, little Johnny sits in front of a tv screen playing violent video games and eating Chee-tos while mommy checks her facebook and shops online. 

 

lavieboheme73

ead1975:

I think it's a lazy way out for people who can't be bothered to parent their kids.  Seriously. I find it utterly disheartening that people are so afraid of having meaningful discussions with their children that we're censoring classic works of literature like this.  The whole point of literature is to capture a moment in time.  Just because it's distasteful by current standards doesn't mean it didn't exist, and it doesn't mean we can sweep it under the rug. 

There is absolutely a place in the world for books like this.  It's an opportunity for parents/teachers to say, "here's how people behaved in a specific moment in time, and here's why it's wrong.  Let's talk about what the modern equivalent might be."  But, no. Let's sacrifice a true learning opportunity to "protect" the children.  In the meantime, little Johnny sits in front of a tv screen playing violent video games and eating Chee-tos while mommy checks her facebook and shops online. 

 

 

This!  You are my hero, for real.