When people go too far.
By marguicha
@marguicha (230350)
Chile
June 26, 2018 10:42am CST
Today I read something that shocked me. There is a campaign to take away from schools the books written by Laura Ingalls and in 1952 the ALSC changed the name of an award that had her name because she had written racist comments in her books.
Lately, in the US I have found another type of racism and bigotry. That is, many take away words and actions from their historic context to make the "politically correct" in actual terms. And that is absurd and dumb!
How many words from the Bible and other sacred books would be shocking to say the least if done in this modern world? And isn´t this world different according to different cultures and religions?
Would we really want a button to have a time machine take us back to the beginning? And to what beginning?
Let´s move on and let´s read Laura Ingalls´ books are they were: the product of her time. And let´s enjoy that she could depict it in such a beautiful way.
I hope that this post is read by many. Not because I want likes, but because this matter is important to me.
14 people like this
15 responses
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
26 Jun 18
I think all books and comments need to be judged by the times in which they were written. You can't change the past you can, however, learn from it.
6 people like this
@NJChicaa (127135)
• United States
26 Jun 18
I read about the name change on the award yesterday. That doesn’t really bother me. I do love the books and have since I was a child. They don’t depict Native Americans or African Americans in the best way though. I understand why some would be uncomfortable with them in a school setting.
3 people like this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
They are books that were written decades ago (almost a century ago). The books were not about Native Americans; they were about a girl going west with her family. And the books are lovely.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (127135)
• United States
26 Jun 18
@marguicha I think they are great. I bought the series for my young niece for her 1st Christmas. The fact remains that there are some things in them, though, that can rightfully make school boards or parents uncomfortable.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
@NJChicaa If school boards and parents are intelligent, they will explain to the children how it was then and how things have changed. Children have to know that in those times people did not have electricity. If they learn about history, they will learn to give thanks for what we have now.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189833)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Jun 18
She did just that too. Depicted that time in a beautiful way.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189833)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Jun 18
@marguicha .....There is always going to be someone coming forth with negativity it seems.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
@celticeagle And people will not understand how it was.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36847)
• Pamplona, Spain
26 Jun 18
I can remember seeing the Series almost in its entirety and I cannot remember any remarks like that.
Although I suppose they would have left them out of course.
I think its silly in a way and everyone is going to miss her books if they do.
In my town there are sure to be books of that kind also although I am not sure altogether.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
It was about the books. They were written at a time when Native Americans were called Indians. As I see it, that comes from a wrong idea about his trip made by Christopher Columbus.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
@lovinangelsinstead21 I remember that I I read a lot of books when I was a child where there were implicit cultural and racial remarks because of the time when they were written. A little princess is a lovely book where one of the characters, from India, was the servant of and Englishman. And in adult literature, Marguerite Duras´ book about a Chinese lover is a jewel!
2 people like this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36847)
• Pamplona, Spain
26 Jun 18
@marguicha
Rather than obliterating her books I would put a preface in them explaining why the books were written that way and I don´t suppose that would wash very well really so they will do what they will do.
I agree with Belle as the books were written in those times when things were like that and where I lived also it was like that and I can remember reading things around the house that mentioned such things.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
It is a pity. They miss so much! In this case it goes beyond a couple of people. They are changing the name of an award and they are telling that the books are racists.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
@topffer I am sorry for them. They really miss a lot. But the problem is that those people are supported by institutions. Just imagine that an award with Laura Ingalls name changed the name because of what she wrote a century ago.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42155)
• France
26 Jun 18
@marguicha They would not be supported by institutions in my country, why am I not surprised that this happens in USA
?
?1 person likes this
@akalinus (44366)
• United States
26 Jun 18
They are going too far. It is ludicrous to expect authors who wrote in past ages to adhere to the standards of today. Also, when you have to be so careful not to offend anyone, the writing becomes colorless and boring. It is like eating mush for every meal. They have banned timeless classics because of the be so careful mentality today.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
It is a shame. But worse than that, it is stupid. If people went backwards, the millions of immigrants that changed lands would have to go back to their original places. Not many of us would have been born. Semitic people share one common race. What is this thing about Native Americans and African Americans? Ex Presiden Obama is as much African American as Caucasian American.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
26 Jun 18
No matter the content, a book should never be edited. As you said, it was a different time then. It would be cruel to erase things from history only because it might be offensive today.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
We would still be in caves if nothing had changed.
1 person likes this
@stine1online (835)
• Germany
29 Oct 18
I had heard about this, too. And let's not forget Mark Twain's book being changed, too.
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
26 Jun 18
People sure don`t change the words in the movies! I agree it was that space of time and people should read how it was back then.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Jun 18
I did not know this. You can find "racism" and "bigotry" in just about any work if you look hard enough and that applies to works by non-whites.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
You can find it in every book ever written if you want to find it.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
26 Jun 18
Oh what? I agree. To me it's ridiculous. Leave the original text alone. If you need to - print a disclaimer and explain about the time it was written in.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
26 Jun 18
Many books, including the Bible, would need a disclaimer. If we read a book, we must first learn how to read.
. If we read a book, we must first learn how to read.1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
26 Jun 18
Hi Marguicha. Sometimes I do not know what is true anymore. All I want is to live in peace and live the life that I want as long as I am not stepping on anyone.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
27 Jun 18
@mlgen1037 All Empires did bad things to its colonies. But we must dwell on the good things including a mixture of bloods, cultures and, last but not least, delicate dishes that are now part of our culinary tradition
. We cannot undo the wrong but your chicken adobo comes from the Spanish legacy with an oriental touch ( the soy sauce). The word "adobo" is Spanish, as so many words in your language.
. We cannot undo the wrong but your chicken adobo comes from the Spanish legacy with an oriental touch ( the soy sauce). The word "adobo" is Spanish, as so many words in your language.1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
27 Jun 18
@marguicha Yes, moving on is better than moping around on the past. Maybe for some reason I am still mad for how what Spain did to us but in a way made us what we are. Unless things were altered in history. We will never for sure.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
27 Jun 18
@marguicha Yes, and that dish is really delicious. I love it to bits. And yes, they have a strong influence on us. My grandmother is good in Spanish and would speak to us with it when she is mad. 
@snowy22315 (208906)
• United States
27 Jun 18
Political correcteness is an admirable goal, but it goes too far sometimes.
