I’m a liberal democrat horrified by the current Dr Seuss drama and normalization of censorship

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're a "liberal Democrat" like I'm the Queen of Sheba. Primarily, you need to learn what exactly censorship is.

That’s just rude?

I am a registered Democrat. Maybe you’re right that I’m not on the very farthest of the left at this point, because if this is what they want, I disagree.
But to do away with all potentially hurtful stereotypes portrayed throughout our history of literature and media is a slippery slope. How is this line about Chopsticks more hurtful than all of the “dumb blonde bimbo” tropes. Is Legally Blonde next to be shelved? (I’m trying to be lighthearted, about something that really does scare me for the future).

Before you go about being butt-hurt, how about you actually read what happened? The decision wasn't made by "the left" or "progressive Democrats" or whatever group you're trying to vilify. It's a business decision in all likelihood, made by Dr. Seuss Enterprises. And not for saying that a Chinese person eats with chopsticks, but for racist imagery.

https://apnews.com/article/dr-seuss-books-racist-images-d8ed18335c03319d72f443594c174513

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please include links, people.

This story has multiple headlines on Fox News. That’s why troll op is glomming on to it.

The Dr. Seuss foundation says it will stop publishing several books due to racist stereotypes. It’s pretty stupid and I think the backlash will be pretty significant. That said, this is not due to the government action but because of people with power listening to an increasingly shrill and insane minority. They don’t seem to have any moral compass of their own so they just follow the Twitterati.

I’m OP, not a troll. Before posting here I mentioned this article to my husband (a conservative) and how it bothered me, and he said “well this is exactly what you voted for! You voted to affirm behavior like this”. Which made me very angry, and I turned here for a discussion. As a democrat, I am afraid of the influence this extremely loud minority has. I do not support pulling books from shelves, or re-writing history, or large tech companies silencing opposing or even offensive participants. It just seems like society is going to a weird place, and the corporations are perhaps in a place to censor on behalf of the government, which can claim it has no influence?

[Anonymous]

What is the alternative here? Make laws requiring publishers publish all Dr. Seuss books until the end of time? This would actually be much worse, would it not?

This seems like a simple business decision- declining to create products that alienates a large customer base. If you have strong feelings about it, write the publisher and promise to buy 10,000 of the obscure Dr. Seuss books if they continue to publish them. Otherwise, there isn't anything else to be done.

[Anonymous]

You must be pretty privileged if this is what keeps you up at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're a "liberal Democrat" like I'm the Queen of Sheba. Primarily, you need to learn what exactly censorship is.

That’s just rude?

I am a registered Democrat. Maybe you’re right that I’m not on the very farthest of the left at this point, because if this is what they want, I disagree.
But to do away with all potentially hurtful stereotypes portrayed throughout our history of literature and media is a slippery slope. How is this line about Chopsticks more hurtful than all of the “dumb blonde bimbo” tropes. Is Legally Blonde next to be shelved? (I’m trying to be lighthearted, about something that really does scare me for the future).

Cancel culture isn't a thing. I'm so sick of hearing about this. Recognizing that maybe some things that have occurred or been said, but should not have, is. I don't know why it is so difficult for people to admit that. People who do choose to recognize it are not "canceling" (are you 12?) it, they are changing behavior. You don't want to do so? That's your choice.

And "Censorship" is not what you're talking about here.

And FTR, I had not heard of anything about Dr. Seuss until you posted it, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please include links, people.

This story has multiple headlines on Fox News. That’s why troll op is glomming on to it.

The Dr. Seuss foundation says it will stop publishing several books due to racist stereotypes. It’s pretty stupid and I think the backlash will be pretty significant. That said, this is not due to the government action but because of people with power listening to an increasingly shrill and insane minority. They don’t seem to have any moral compass of their own so they just follow the Twitterati.

I’m OP, not a troll. Before posting here I mentioned this article to my husband (a conservative) and how it bothered me, and he said “well this is exactly what you voted for! You voted to affirm behavior like this”. Which made me very angry, and I turned here for a discussion. As a democrat, I am afraid of the influence this extremely loud minority has. I do not support pulling books from shelves, or re-writing history, or large tech companies silencing opposing or even offensive participants. It just seems like society is going to a weird place, and the corporations are perhaps in a place to censor on behalf of the government, which can claim it has no influence?

You are “scared?” Of what exactly? What about this instills fear?

Yes, corporations have this much power, and as I said, they are run by cowardly and vapid people with no moral compass of their own. This is not new and manifests in many harmful ways. I personally find that more scary than this “weird place” society is in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please include links, people.

This story has multiple headlines on Fox News. That’s why troll op is glomming on to it.

The Dr. Seuss foundation says it will stop publishing several books due to racist stereotypes. It’s pretty stupid and I think the backlash will be pretty significant. That said, this is not due to the government action but because of people with power listening to an increasingly shrill and insane minority. They don’t seem to have any moral compass of their own so they just follow the Twitterati.

I’m OP, not a troll. Before posting here I mentioned this article to my husband (a conservative) and how it bothered me, and he said “well this is exactly what you voted for! You voted to affirm behavior like this”. Which made me very angry, and I turned here for a discussion. As a democrat, I am afraid of the influence this extremely loud minority has. I do not support pulling books from shelves, or re-writing history, or large tech companies silencing opposing or even offensive participants. It just seems like society is going to a weird place, and the corporations are perhaps in a place to censor on behalf of the government, which can claim it has no influence?

You should divorce your husband. What a jerky and disrespectful repsonse. It's a shame you have to lean on an anonymous web site for support because your husband refuses to provide any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please include links, people.

This story has multiple headlines on Fox News. That’s why troll op is glomming on to it.

The Dr. Seuss foundation says it will stop publishing several books due to racist stereotypes. It’s pretty stupid and I think the backlash will be pretty significant. That said, this is not due to the government action but because of people with power listening to an increasingly shrill and insane minority. They don’t seem to have any moral compass of their own so they just follow the Twitterati.

I’m OP, not a troll. Before posting here I mentioned this article to my husband (a conservative) and how it bothered me, and he said “well this is exactly what you voted for! You voted to affirm behavior like this”. Which made me very angry, and I turned here for a discussion. As a democrat, I am afraid of the influence this extremely loud minority has. I do not support pulling books from shelves, or re-writing history, or large tech companies silencing opposing or even offensive participants. It just seems like society is going to a weird place, and the corporations are perhaps in a place to censor on behalf of the government, which can claim it has no influence?

Good thing that this is not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please include links, people.

This story has multiple headlines on Fox News. That’s why troll op is glomming on to it.

The Dr. Seuss foundation says it will stop publishing several books due to racist stereotypes. It’s pretty stupid and I think the backlash will be pretty significant. That said, this is not due to the government action but because of people with power listening to an increasingly shrill and insane minority. They don’t seem to have any moral compass of their own so they just follow the Twitterati.

I’m OP, not a troll. Before posting here I mentioned this article to my husband (a conservative) and how it bothered me, and he said “well this is exactly what you voted for! You voted to affirm behavior like this”. Which made me very angry, and I turned here for a discussion. As a democrat, I am afraid of the influence this extremely loud minority has. I do not support pulling books from shelves, or re-writing history, or large tech companies silencing opposing or even offensive participants. It just seems like society is going to a weird place, and the corporations are perhaps in a place to censor on behalf of the government, which can claim it has no influence?

If Trump were President, what would he do to stop this? Sure, he would tweet about it and turn conservative cancel culture against the publisher. But what could he really do to stop it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please include links, people.

This story has multiple headlines on Fox News. That’s why troll op is glomming on to it.

The Dr. Seuss foundation says it will stop publishing several books due to racist stereotypes. It’s pretty stupid and I think the backlash will be pretty significant. That said, this is not due to the government action but because of people with power listening to an increasingly shrill and insane minority. They don’t seem to have any moral compass of their own so they just follow the Twitterati.

I’m OP, not a troll. Before posting here I mentioned this article to my husband (a conservative) and how it bothered me, and he said “well this is exactly what you voted for! You voted to affirm behavior like this”. Which made me very angry, and I turned here for a discussion. As a democrat, I am afraid of the influence this extremely loud minority has. I do not support pulling books from shelves, or re-writing history, or large tech companies silencing opposing or even offensive participants. It just seems like society is going to a weird place, and the corporations are perhaps in a place to censor on behalf of the government, which can claim it has no influence?

If Trump were President, what would he do to stop this? Sure, he would tweet about it and turn conservative cancel culture against the publisher. But what could he really do to stop it?

OP’s husband, like most conservatives, muddies the water between government action and corporate and social action to keep weak minded people like OP confused and “scared.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please include links, people.

This story has multiple headlines on Fox News. That’s why troll op is glomming on to it.

The Dr. Seuss foundation says it will stop publishing several books due to racist stereotypes. It’s pretty stupid and I think the backlash will be pretty significant. That said, this is not due to the government action but because of people with power listening to an increasingly shrill and insane minority. They don’t seem to have any moral compass of their own so they just follow the Twitterati.

I’m OP, not a troll. Before posting here I mentioned this article to my husband (a conservative) and how it bothered me, and he said “well this is exactly what you voted for! You voted to affirm behavior like this”. Which made me very angry, and I turned here for a discussion. As a democrat, I am afraid of the influence this extremely loud minority has. I do not support pulling books from shelves, or re-writing history, or large tech companies silencing opposing or even offensive participants. It just seems like society is going to a weird place, and the corporations are perhaps in a place to censor on behalf of the government, which can claim it has no influence?

If Trump were President, what would he do to stop this? Sure, he would tweet about it and turn conservative cancel culture against the publisher. But what could he really do to stop it?

+1 Plenty of this was happening while Trump was President and all he did was bitch about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please include links, people.

This story has multiple headlines on Fox News. That’s why troll op is glomming on to it.

The Dr. Seuss foundation says it will stop publishing several books due to racist stereotypes. It’s pretty stupid and I think the backlash will be pretty significant. That said, this is not due to the government action but because of people with power listening to an increasingly shrill and insane minority. They don’t seem to have any moral compass of their own so they just follow the Twitterati.

I’m OP, not a troll. Before posting here I mentioned this article to my husband (a conservative) and how it bothered me, and he said “well this is exactly what you voted for! You voted to affirm behavior like this”. Which made me very angry, and I turned here for a discussion. As a democrat, I am afraid of the influence this extremely loud minority has. I do not support pulling books from shelves, or re-writing history, or large tech companies silencing opposing or even offensive participants. It just seems like society is going to a weird place, and the corporations are perhaps in a place to censor on behalf of the government, which can claim it has no influence?

If Trump were President, what would he do to stop this? Sure, he would tweet about it and turn conservative cancel culture against the publisher. But what could he really do to stop it?

OP’s husband, like most conservatives, muddies the water between government action and corporate and social action to keep weak minded people like OP confused and “scared.”

+1000

[jsteele]

The original line that OP quoted was actually pretty offensive. It was apparently revised in 1978. Here is the original text and drawing:



According to Wikipedia:

"The book has received only one textual revision. In 1978, Geisel agreed to a slight rewording, renaming the character who appears near the end of the story a "Chinese man" instead of a "Chinaman".[14] He also agreed to remove the character's pigtail and the yellow coloring from the character's skin."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're a "liberal Democrat" like I'm the Queen of Sheba. Primarily, you need to learn what exactly censorship is.

That’s just rude?

I am a registered Democrat. Maybe you’re right that I’m not on the very farthest of the left at this point, because if this is what they want, I disagree.
But to do away with all potentially hurtful stereotypes portrayed throughout our history of literature and media is a slippery slope. How is this line about Chopsticks more hurtful than all of the “dumb blonde bimbo” tropes. Is Legally Blonde next to be shelved? (I’m trying to be lighthearted, about something that really does scare me for the future).

You say "they"- it is literally the Suess family doing this. Not "libs" nor the government. It is a self taken action.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please include links, people.

This story has multiple headlines on Fox News. That’s why troll op is glomming on to it.

The Dr. Seuss foundation says it will stop publishing several books due to racist stereotypes. It’s pretty stupid and I think the backlash will be pretty significant. That said, this is not due to the government action but because of people with power listening to an increasingly shrill and insane minority. They don’t seem to have any moral compass of their own so they just follow the Twitterati.

I’m OP, not a troll. Before posting here I mentioned this article to my husband (a conservative) and how it bothered me, and he said “well this is exactly what you voted for! You voted to affirm behavior like this”. Which made me very angry, and I turned here for a discussion. As a democrat, I am afraid of the influence this extremely loud minority has. I do not support pulling books from shelves, or re-writing history, or large tech companies silencing opposing or even offensive participants. It just seems like society is going to a weird place, and the corporations are perhaps in a place to censor on behalf of the government, which can claim it has no influence?

If Trump were President, what would he do to stop this? Sure, he would tweet about it and turn conservative cancel culture against the publisher. But what could he really do to stop it?

OP’s husband, like most conservatives, muddies the water between government action and corporate and social action to keep weak minded people like OP confused and “scared.”

+1 They don't seem to understand what "Free Speech" means in this country.