This was brought to my attention today by a friend of mine who, we will just say had some good points. The article in itself is fine and noteworthy, however the subject matter (for me at least) opens a hornets nest of problems.
First of all to rewrite Mark Twain is ridiculous. The literary art was written in the tone of its time. If we are going to head down this path then we will be reworking every piece of American literature to date. So because that during the time the book was written and the time that it represents they used words that we deem offensive in todays society it should be rewritten? How does this not become censorship? Once again we have narrow minded people doing what they deem to be right without thinking of exactly what the ramifications are. If we change this book then we have to change all books that someone is offended by. With that said where do we stop? and who determines what gets redone and what doesn't?
All of these questions and more should be on the lips of everyone who has read or has had a part in this matter. People can not change the past by rewriting history. That is the way things were and we should embrace that because if we start changing the written history one day they will be able to say that it never existed. Instead of being offended by the work we should use it as a measuring stick so that we can show our children and their children how far we have come or not.
This, to me, is sickening.
First of all to rewrite Mark Twain is ridiculous. The literary art was written in the tone of its time. If we are going to head down this path then we will be reworking every piece of American literature to date. So because that during the time the book was written and the time that it represents they used words that we deem offensive in todays society it should be rewritten? How does this not become censorship? Once again we have narrow minded people doing what they deem to be right without thinking of exactly what the ramifications are. If we change this book then we have to change all books that someone is offended by. With that said where do we stop? and who determines what gets redone and what doesn't?
All of these questions and more should be on the lips of everyone who has read or has had a part in this matter. People can not change the past by rewriting history. That is the way things were and we should embrace that because if we start changing the written history one day they will be able to say that it never existed. Instead of being offended by the work we should use it as a measuring stick so that we can show our children and their children how far we have come or not.
This, to me, is sickening.
