RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn

RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid

Message

Elisabella -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/7/2011 11:44:07 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: FatDomDaddy No they don't...this is a book in the public domain. This is a money grab aimed at white guilt and black racial profiteers even better...the original will still be printed then? Hopefully their "money grab" fails and they're bankrupted.

RapierFugue -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 4:17:05 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Elisabella quote: ORIGINAL: FatDomDaddy No they don't...this is a book in the public domain. This is a money grab aimed at white guilt and black racial profiteers even better...the original will still be printed then? Hopefully their "money grab" fails and they're bankrupted. Well yes ... and no. If that's their game (and it seems likely it is) then brace yourself for a round of them trying to convince educational establishments and the like that such a version is a “good thing”. I have no doubt that technique would fail in the UK, but having seen some of the decisions Boards of Education have made over the last few years in the US, I am more than a little worried that they may succeed.

DomImus -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 7:25:06 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: RapierFugue Lightening the tone somewhat, lest we all get too bogged down in the rather depressing nature of this wanton act of vandalism, I was listening a while back to an interview with Mel Brooks concerning one of my favourite films; “Blazing Saddles”. Mel was explaining the various N-word references, and said the following (from memory): “To start with, I had a few of those references and gags in it. I felt uncomfortable with their use, because hey, I’m not black. I could “own” all the Jewish gags and references because, believe it or not, I’m Jewish, so I'm capable of saying what is or isn't offensive to a reasonably well-adjusted Jew. But as I’m not also black, I didn’t feel comfortable with passing those gags. So I got Richard Pryor in to re-write the script. We started with about half a dozen n**r references and gags from my script and he shocked me by, instead of removing any, adding in about another 50, including one of the other black characters calling Bart “a shifty nr”, and expanding and making more “offensive” the “the sheriff’s a n*r!” scene. I was very surprised, and asked why he was adding instead of removing. He said “coz this shit is funny, motherfucker!”. When I asked if some people might be offended, he said something that will stay with me for all time; “when I called you a “motherfucker” just then, did you think I was insulting you?” ... I replied no, of course I didn’t, I just thought he was joking with me. “That’s the point, man. If shit’s funny then it’s funny, and nothing any tight-ass cocksucker says will make it not funny. Laughing is where we’re most honest – start thinking about whether or not shit is offensive, rather than just funny, and you end up with a motherfucking Swiss stand-up set. Fuck that, and fuck any motherfucker says different.”“ :) While there is some truth to Pryor's remarks it's really still an "eye of the beholder" thing. Pryor did not speak on behalf of the entire black community. His was only the opinion of one man. As much as I agree with him either the word is offensive or it is not. If it is, then everyone* should stop using it. If it is not then let's cease this stupid charade.

barelynangel -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 7:26:39 AM)
~~FR~~ You can try and erase the past, but it doesn't mean it doesn't exist, it only breeds ignorance. angel

MercTech -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 7:35:08 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: GreedyTop wait.. Disney did a movie of Huckleberry Finn? Nope, it was done by MGM and released in 1960. I had to go look for it as I remember going to see that movie in the theatre. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053571/ I can't read a thread like this without thinking of my Grandfather. After hearing a KKK stump speaker on the steps of the courthouse I asked him who were these "niggers" the guy was so mad at. (This was in 1963) My Grandfather said, "Nigger is just redneck mispronunciation of 'Negro' which is Spanish for 'black'. It takes someone really ignorant and mean spirited to try and make that a bad word." Cecil Price, the speaker, certainly did meet the description of ignorant and mean spirited... as well as certifiably sadistic. Actually, I can't swear to certifiably but I still have scars where he hit me with his billy club for climbing up on a fence to get a closer look at the horses. Stefan

kdsub -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 8:43:25 AM)
Perhaps Twain himself could settle this argument with his own words on the subject. The Brooklyn Public Library considered banning the books due to their "coarseness, deceitfulness and mischievous practices." A librarian there wrote to Twain asking him to defend his books. Twain responded: "I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' & 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, and it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, & to this day I cherish an unappeased bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean sweet breath again on this side of the grave." Butch

ThatDamnedPanda -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 8:45:53 AM)
Do you not see the irony in what he is saying? You might want to read it again, and consider Twain's nature as you ponder it.

kdsub -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 8:52:54 AM)
Panda I'm not trying to apply his words to any side in this discussion...just posting his words on the subject for consideration. Why don’t you bless us with your translation. Butch

calamitysandra -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 8:55:40 AM)
Butch, reading what you quoted, and considering what is known about Twain, I can feel the sarcasm ooze from this letter.

RCdc -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 9:00:42 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: eihwaz It's a commercial decision intended to increase the potential market for the work. Oh I get that. But for me as an artist, it's wrong. As a normal human being... it's wrong. Know what it really is? Selling out.

Aylee -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 9:01:11 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kdsub Panda I'm not trying to apply his words to any side in this discussion...just posting his words on the subject for consideration. Why don’t you bless us with your translation. Butch I am not Panda, but I would translate thusly: If Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer are so bad for children than you had better ban the bible as well because it is much worse.

tazzygirl -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 9:07:37 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kdsub Perhaps Twain himself could settle this argument with his own words on the subject. The Brooklyn Public Library considered banning the books due to their "coarseness, deceitfulness and mischievous practices." A librarian there wrote to Twain asking him to defend his books. Twain responded: "I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' & 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, and it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, & to this day I cherish an unappeased bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean sweet breath again on this side of the grave." Butch Wow... chuckles... dripping

DomKen -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 9:13:43 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kdsub Perhaps Twain himself could settle this argument with his own words on the subject. The Brooklyn Public Library considered banning the books due to their "coarseness, deceitfulness and mischievous practices." A librarian there wrote to Twain asking him to defend his books. Twain responded: "I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' & 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, and it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, & to this day I cherish an unappeased bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean sweet breath again on this side of the grave." People tend to forget that Clemens was an atheist and thought very poorly of christianity.

kdsub -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 9:21:12 AM)
I was lucky enough to know his cousin Cyril Clemens back in the late 60’s who loved to share his personal family correspondence with Mark Twain. I don’t think the man ever just said what he meant without using sarcasm. Sometimes I believe he used his sharp tongue to say what he really meant while hiding behind sarcasm. Otherwise at times it is hard to know his true feelings. So rather then interpret him it is just best to quote him and let others decide what he was really saying. Butch

kdsub -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 9:27:37 AM)
Despite how I feel in the thread I thought his own words on the subject would be interesting.

ThatDamnedPanda -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 12:30:57 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: kdsub Despite how I feel in the thread I thought his own words on the subject would be interesting. And you're right, it is interesting. I enjoyed reading it, and I'm glad you posted it. I just don't think it says very much about where Clemens would have weighed in on the discussion we're all having here, that's all. I think it speaks a lot more clearly to where he stood on religion, and perhaps on censorship in general.

AlwaysLisa -> RE: The Cleansing of Huckleberry Finn (1/8/2011 12:35:48 PM)
Sorry MercTech.... Disneys version of Huck Finn Made in 1993.

Page: << < prev 5 6 7 8 [9]

Collarchat.com © 2025

Terms of Service

0.046875