Soap Box
Okay, I’ve really put a lot of thought into this and I have to say that the news of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn being edited to replace the word “nigger” with “slave” outrages me.*
I understand people are offended by this kind of language and these books are heavy on the language, no doubt, but censorship is not the answer.
Alan Gribben, the editor of the new editions, is basically erasing an important part of history. Being offended by “The N-Word” is not something to harp on, it is the day we are no longer offended by that word that we have a problem. Sugar-coating history will do nothing but a giant disservice to today’s youth. They need to know how bad it was and be outraged so they never, ever repeat it. What is next Mr. Gribben? Edits to books on the Holocaust to make the concentration camps less horrendous?
Censorship breeds ignorance. Being offended breeds results. Be morally outraged every now and then. Don’t let history repeat itself by making excuses for the past. Aim to be better. Banning books is easily one of the stupidest and most ignorant things entire communities are doing to our youth.
Feel free to disagree and start a lively debate, opposing view points are one of mankind’s true gifts. All I ask is that you be your own censor, don’t let someone decide for you how to view the world.
For another opinion, the editor defends his actions here.
*The new addition will also replace “Injun Joe” to “Indian Joe” and swap out “half-breed” for “half-blood.”
