Political Correctness and Censorship
Posted: Tuesday, August 24, 2010
by Grace O'Malley
I once remember hearing "If you resist reading what you disagree with, how will you ever acquire deeper insights into what you believe? The things most worth reading are precisely those that challenge our convictions."
Interesting concept isn't it?
When the story of the publisher changing the title Joseph Conrad's book The Nigger of the Narcissus to something less "offensive" hit, I became incensed. How dare they. What right do they have to redo any writings without the permission of the author?
I do not care how you slice it or dice it, it is wrong. If you find something offensive about what you read, do not read it. If a company wants to publish or reprint another's work, do it. But do not "clean it up" for the sake of someone's sensibilities. Let's stop trying to re-write history people. We do not live in Orwell's 1984. If we continue on this road, there will be nothing left to ponder or debate, as we will all be regurgitating the sameness of each other.
The most interesting book of all time is full of contradictions: love & hatred, laughter & tears, acceptance & condemnation, bigotry & forgiveness, drama & comedy. It will make you think. It is both action packed and soothing to the soul. If we took out all the sections that MAY offend another, the pages would now be blank. What a crime that would be. Can you imagine a world where the Bible no longer existed? Where the information was never shared and discussed? Whether you agree with the contents or not, that book more than any other has had a huge impact on the world. Who is to say that your words or mine may not impact another as strongly?
An author will have poured his or her soul into the creation of their written word. It is THEIR choice on what to change before the public is allowed to share and no one else's. While you don't have to accept the meaning or idea behind what is published, you do have to accept its existence. Books, stories, poems and essays are the water needed to sustain a fertile mind. Having to censor oneself as not to offend is futile and close minded. And that leaves the world with a wasteland; deplete of knowledge and growth.
"We have a natural right to make use of our pens as of our tongue, at our peril, risk or hazardThink for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too."
Voltaire
Interesting concept isn't it?
When the story of the publisher changing the title Joseph Conrad's book The Nigger of the Narcissus to something less "offensive" hit, I became incensed. How dare they. What right do they have to redo any writings without the permission of the author?
The most interesting book of all time is full of contradictions: love & hatred, laughter & tears, acceptance & condemnation, bigotry & forgiveness, drama & comedy. It will make you think. It is both action packed and soothing to the soul. If we took out all the sections that MAY offend another, the pages would now be blank. What a crime that would be. Can you imagine a world where the Bible no longer existed? Where the information was never shared and discussed? Whether you agree with the contents or not, that book more than any other has had a huge impact on the world. Who is to say that your words or mine may not impact another as strongly?
An author will have poured his or her soul into the creation of their written word. It is THEIR choice on what to change before the public is allowed to share and no one else's. While you don't have to accept the meaning or idea behind what is published, you do have to accept its existence. Books, stories, poems and essays are the water needed to sustain a fertile mind. Having to censor oneself as not to offend is futile and close minded. And that leaves the world with a wasteland; deplete of knowledge and growth.
"We have a natural right to make use of our pens as of our tongue, at our peril, risk or hazardThink for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too."
Voltaire
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)I'm wondering if the title was changed out of political correctness or because in today's world that title suggests that the book has a racist agenda? Perhaps the publisher wanted the title to reflect, in today's world, more accurately what the book is actually about. I don't know, I'm just suggesting.I understand your argument, Grace, and mostly agree with you, but I don't think there's any part of me that can grow from reading that word.According to the publisher it was changed for political correctness. Which is great, provided they have approval from the author in my opinion. Since the author is deceased and the book was written over 100 years ago, why is it okay to change the title? If the term Romeo became appalling to a certain sector of society would it be permissible to change the work of Shakespeare to R-Word and Juliet? . If that book had been written today I would be astounded. I am curious to find out the ideas of others in what situation it is okay to censor a book because of a current societal climate. I appreciate your giving me your input Jennifer. It is discussion like this that helps me grow as a person.Grace
Another great article, Grace. I personally think political correctness gets a bad rap. Everyone is against political correctness until it's their sensitivities being offended. (i.e. someone wants to build a mosque or someone says something that is disrespectful about THEIR child.) Some people, usually the people in the majority, have less to be offended about, but they still get offended occasionally. I do think that society would be better off if people were more respectful of others.
Censorship is a bit different than political correctness, though.I agree, that censorship is different. Or it should be. Too often any more the lines are beginning to cross. What a shame that will be for artists of all kinds. As for being respectful, I think I'll respond to that in an article tomorrow :)Thanks for the comment Bruce. It's always nice to hear from you and see your smiling face.Grace
I agree. If somebody has taken the trouble to pour their hearts out, then they should be able to express themselves freely.Thanks for coming by and commenting Carol. It's appreciated.Grace
I am in perfect accord with your views in this article- Thank you- Always- EllaThanks Ella, always nice to hear from you.Grace
Right on Grace. I have been known to skip over an article or two... ok, or three, but that is not the point. The point is if people are not allowed to express themselves, then how are we to gauge where we stand as a people. You can not speak out against something that is not allowed to be represented in the public domain. Now if a publisher does not wish to publish or a buyer does not wish to buy they have that right to do, or not do so. You also may encounter the wrath of those that you have offended as Voltaire so elegantly put it. Free speech however is a very complicated matter not to be taken lightly. Thanks for a wonderful, thought provoking article.Oh big, big hugs David! Encounter the wrath, but allow expression. Thank you so much for your input.Grace
This is a great article, Grace. I've often felt that we have taken "politically correct" to unrealistic extremes. Do you remember when The Color Purple came out, and was criticized for being too racist?No one seemed willing to acknowledge the reality of the time period it was set in. Trying to "clean up" history surely guarantees we will repeat it.Thank you Joyce! I do remember when that book and movie were all the talk. Life changes and so do social moires. It would be nice if more remembered that.Grace
You hit the nail on the head here. PC has gone overboard. Anymore it seems we can't talk to anyone about anything without fear of reprisal. Heck I've had to attend a number of classes on how to talk to co-workers, that is above and beyond the sexual harrassment ones. I don't see it getting any better either.Wow, I'm glad I work independently then. Not sure I could stand to take a PC class over and over. Thanks for stopping by Abe, it's appreciated.Grace
I'm oppose to political correctness. It was created by communist to spread it in the united states from a sneaky level that your view point is a disrespect to other and you must be shut up to make up for the past. This is criminal . It has influenced Disney, or may be it's greed too, not to reissue song of the south on dvd in spite of the fact gone with the wind is out. It screwed up the broadway revival of flower drum song and I think annie get Your gun. Time warner has pulled its classic cartoons out of cartoon network,inspite of the fact they have modern edgy adult cartoon late night, b out of fear of offending parents. They no longer premiere any more third reich film classics or even later german film out of fear of offending people because of the houlocost . The demos use it to try to stop people from critisizing their sneaky conservative policies. the republicans now use it to avoid critisizm . This is madness and it's wrong.
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