So now Dr. Suess is racist! Just another example of how crazed the left is.

[Checkerboard Strangler]

The screws were put to the estate! Do what we say or you will be canceled.

“Dr. Seuss Enterprises listened and took feedback from our audiences including teachers, academics and specialists in the field as part of our review process. We then worked with a panel of experts, including educators, to review our catalog of titles,” it said.

I am sensing some contradiction.
How does "Dr. Seuss Enterprises listened and took feedback" suddenly become "screws were put to the estate!" ??
Oh right, it got run through the Trumpy filter!

Six titles out of more than sixty were pulled, that's ten percent, six titles which their company agreed might send a less than satisfying message to diverse readership. And by doing so, it's actually likely that they will expand their audience, because I know that if I saw negative portrayals of my culture I'd be inclined to stop buying his books.



Look, I am not a fan of sanitizing history any more than lots of folks but this looks more like Coca-Cola pulling New Coke off production because it was bad for their market demographic. But I realize that you're desperate, so maybe check this guy out, who might just have a valid point.

screws were put to the estate!

 

[notquiteright]

Dr Suess, really? There is nothing wrong with the Dr. or his good books. They are an excellent read and a great way to teach kids not just reading but about people and life and "all the places you'll go". The left is really crazy. https://www.foxnews.com/us/loudoun-county-public-schools-dr-seuss-racial-undertones

No one is calling ALL his books racist, however he does stereotype in a rather poor way Chinese and Africans. But then again a rather privileged white male born in 1904 would have a far different view of races than most of us today. Remember the Sambo books? Remember the stereotypes of blacks in the 30's and 40's movies?

I grew up with Uncle Tom's Cabin, Sambo, Uncle Remus, 'I don't know nothing about birthin' no babies' and the like, even my favorite movie- 'It's a Wonderful Life' has stereotypes for ethnic groups. The 40's and 50's were a different time, it's time is over...

The left isn't crazy, the Rabid Right is looking for any excuse to rant about 'the left'... ✌

 

[MaryP]

I've read Fahrenheit 451 but you havent read the thread, the OP, or the link. Dr Seuss wasnt banned. He simply was de-emphasized from the ‘Read Across America Day’. I know you're not paid to read anything but you really have to put in a better effort into your posts.

But he shouldn't have been, Vern! Pull those 6 books that people objected to, and keep Dr. Seuss in the place of honor he deserves.

 

[MaryP]

Which is a bloody shame and I wish they had just done limited print runs. I was raised on "Scrambled Eggs Super!"

Do you know what they might be objecting to? I never heard of that one.

 

[Felis Leo]

Do you know what they might be objecting to? I never heard of that one.

Yes, MaryP. There is a Muslim man named "Ali" wearing either Turkish/North Indian dress, and inuit wearing seal furs. Forgive the image size. But as far as portrayal of foreign persons is concerned, these images are extraordinarily anodyne and could probably be seen in any modern kids cartoon show without causing inordinate upset.

 

[MaryP]

Yes, MaryP. There is a Muslim man named "Ali" wearing either Turkish/North Indian dress, and inuit wearing seal furs. Forgive the image size. But as far as portrayal of foreign persons is concerned, these images are extraordinarily anodyne and could probably be seen in any modern kids cartoon show without causing inordinate upset.

I don't see the problem with either one. I guess I'm a racist.

 

[eohrnberger]

No time to click on the Youtube...can you summarize briefly please?

Paul was questioning the nominee, who had previously made public comments supporting the hormonal and surgical 'treatment' for adolescents, or younger, children for the purposes of 'treating' their gender dysphoria.
However Paul did it in both a very factual, and empathetic and reasonable manner, in spite of what some would apparently accuse him of doing.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

Paul was questioning the nominee, who had previously made public comments supporting the hormonal and surgical 'treatment' for adolescents, or younger, children for the purposes of 'treating' their gender dysphoria.
However Paul did it in both a very factual, and empathetic and reasonable manner, in spite of what some would apparently accuse him of doing.

I see, thank you.
I'm no expert, but in my own opinion I think if it were my child I'd go ahead and hold off on the hormones and surgeries until the "kid" was over 18 and made that decision after becoming a legal adult. Thank you for the explanation, I hate watching Youtubes LOL.

 

[dave8383]

Yet isn't this still being sold?



https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Tale...GE8FF0XWXTE&psc=1&refRID=N2489NAG1GE8FF0XWXTE


I loved this as a kid.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

No one is calling ALL his books racist, however he does stereotype in a rather poor way Chinese and Africans. But then again a rather privileged white male born in 1904 would have a far different view of races than most of us today. Remember the Sambo books? Remember the stereotypes of blacks in the 30's and 40's movies?

I grew up with Uncle Tom's Cabin, Sambo, Uncle Remus, 'I don't know nothing about birthin' no babies' and the like, even my favorite movie- 'It's a Wonderful Life' has stereotypes for ethnic groups. The 40's and 50's were a different time, it's time is over...

The left isn't crazy, the Rabid Right is looking for any excuse to rant about 'the left'... ✌

Well no...the ultra Left IS very MUCH crazy, which is why everything is all about outrage and scolding and erasing.
If the mainstream Left ever took this up, it would be a lot more like "We'd really love it if you would include something in this book that places its authorship in a more modern perspective, like maybe a foreword by one of Theodore's kids that explains that, for his time, their Dad was pretty advanced but that even their Dad did not have the ability to predict society sixty years into the future."

And guess what? That's right about the point where Giesel's estate would have probably arrived at much the same conclusion because you can't put ring lipped exaggerated caricatures of black aborigines in proper perspective.

You CAN put GWTW in proper perspective, by simply including a foreword that explains that this was an antebellum story set in a time of slavery because that's precisely what it was.
GWTW probably will not pass into oblivion because it is a much more complex story, and it stands as a historical marker that illuminates antebellum values. Society has been aware of the obviousness of GWTW for decades. They were aware of the obviousness by the simple fact that when Inferno artist Barry Shankman was hired by Ted Turner in 1989 to do the first digital color restoration of the original Technicolor camera negative, it was in extremely bad condition.
The studio (MGM) didn't feel it was worth restoring, but Ted Turner did.
The current release includes a foreword and introduction that speaks about the fact that the story contains “outdated cultural depictions.”

(L-R Buscemi, Hayes and Shankman at Stax Records)

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

But he shouldn't have been, Vern! Pull those 6 books that people objected to, and keep Dr. Seuss in the place of honor he deserves.

I can guarantee you Horton Hears a Who, Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham and the like from Dr. Seuss will never be delisted from reading festivals.

 

[vesper]

Love Dr Seuss. However...
View attachment 67321075

Actually the illustration is pretty accurate to the customs of the Bodi tribe. There is a ritual the males go through where they live in isolation for 6 months drinking a cocktail of milk and blood. The goal is to become fat which to them is a good thing. Even the head dress is an accurate depiction of one you would see today. They also rub white clay and ashes on their skin and that is also shown in the illustration.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...-tribe-big-beautiful-men-compete-fattest.html

 

[MaryP]

I can guarantee you Horton Hears a Who, Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham and the like from Dr. Seuss will never be delisted from reading festivals.

No, but Read Across America Day, which is on March 2nd in honor of his birthday, is no longer mentioning him, and that is flat out wrong. GDitall, Strangler, things are going too far.

 

[MaryP]

Yet isn't this still being sold?

View attachment 67321095

https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Tale...GE8FF0XWXTE&psc=1&refRID=N2489NAG1GE8FF0XWXTE


I loved this as a kid.

They're African American folktales, so of course they're still being printed, as are Mother Goose and Grimms Fairy Tales.

The illustration on the cover of the current edition is different from yours, though

 

[iguanaman]

Dr Suess, really? There is nothing wrong with the Dr. or his good books. They are an excellent read and a great way to teach kids not just reading but about people and life and "all the places you'll go". The left is really crazy. https://www.foxnews.com/us/loudoun-county-public-schools-dr-seuss-racial-undertones

Like many born at the beginning of the 20th century the good Dr. was raised with racist sterotypes. The books that are being retired are his early works that do not represent his beliefs in later life. Like many he evolved and his later works are still revered. I he was alive today he would certainly approve of this move by his publisher.

In his book, Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination, biographer Brian Jay Jones says that Dr. Seuss drew some “racist stereotypes in his early work.” Jones told The San Diego Union-Tribune: “As I say in the book, it’s not a great look for him. But he evolves.” By the end of the 1950s, Geisel had written Horton Hears a Who!, which is dedicated to a Japanese friend and is seen by scholars now as an apology for the earlier cartoons. He’d written Yertle the Turtle, an anti-fascist send-up of Hitler, and he’d penned a magazine story that would become the anti-discrimination book The Sneetches. “I don’t think you write a book like The Sneetches if you haven’t evolved,” Jones said.

Dr. Seuss’s later works show an evolution of values and beliefs. Those who knew him believe that if he were alive today he would have jumped at the chance to be a part of the country’s evolving dialogue about diversity and inclusion.

https://www.drseussart.com/dr-seuss-use-of-racist-images

 

[gbg3]

View attachment 67320970

A Person's a Person is NOT the message the left wants kids to understand. It ruins the absolute necessity of their RACIST and division narrative. NO, NO, NO, to a Dem, it's critical we are not all the same and are not equal - that destroys the left's needed RACIST narrative they pull out at every election when they "use" blacks for their election purposes. White Dems couldn't have an election without doing all they can in the months leading up to the election to fire up and create feelings of anger and unfairness among the black citizens of our country. This summer topped all the previous attempts as they got black citizen so fired up that the resulting loss of black lives, businesses and property was substantial. White Dems sat back and just let it happen - all in the name of winning an election. Maybe they didn't expect it to get so bad but, when it did, all those black lives lost were ignored and not talked about.

 

[iguanaman]

Have you ever seen a National Geographic?
Did you know that a lot of black humans walk around with big plates in their lips?
I'm assuming that maybe some white ones probably do it too, I see these younger kids these days with shit in their ears that looks like dinner plates.
What is the problem here exactly in your opinion? What is wrong with that picture?

I think we should let children read redneck cartoons instead. They are funnier and more accurate than Dr. Seuss.

 

[gbg3]

mmmmm, why is the left responsible for this group but the right is not responsible for nazis, white supremists, proud boys or their elected representatives and former president's actions? I need to understand the disconnect that allows you to feign outrage about this while ignoring everything the right and their elected politicians do practically daily. There is clearly some sort of underlying condition involved here. I know the constant lies and spin from the right dont help this condition so it requires effort on your part to understand that. Its an effort I've always found lacking. Speaking of lies. the fox article says:

But folllowing pressure from activists, Loudon County Public Schools is reportedly dropping the annual Dr. Seuss celebration.

But I easily found this:
A Virginia school district will no longer celebrate Theodor Seuss Geisel A.K.A., Dr. Seuss, during ‘Read Across America Day’.....

Read Across America Day, typically celebrated on March 2 also marks the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The school district says they will no longer connect Seuss’ birthday to the reading awareness day.

Virginia school district cancels Dr. Seuss celebration, citing ‘racial undertones’ in his books | CBS 17

Sure this isnt the biggest lie in the world from the right but it is part of consistent trend. Honestly, why do you continue to believe what these liars tell you and whip you into a constant state of outrage? do I need to list the asinine and disgusting lies a large percentage if not majority of conservatives have believed over the years?

It very much IS a Dr. Seuss celebration and was originated to coincide with his birthday for a reason - because of his huge contribution to children reading!!!
Read Across America Day in the United States (timeanddate.com)

 

[nota bene]

Right I don't think there are any limits. They are going to push this as far as they can!
How much damage can they do before the mid election? More than we would care for.

Perhaps "sanitizing" Dr. Seuss will be the final straw.

Sigh, or not.

 

[iguanaman]

It very much IS a Dr. Seuss celebration and was originated to coincide with his birthday for a reason - because of his huge contribution to children reading!!!
Read Across America Day in the United States (timeanddate.com)

And that's all the more reason for his wife and publisher to protect his legacy for the future. Like blackface performers, pictures of "little black sambo" are vestiges of a racist past and like Dr. Seuss we have evolved past those insensitive stereotypes. Rather than explaining all that to tomorrow's children they chose to stop publishing those offending books. Why that is a problem or any of your business for that matter is a puzzle to me. Also why does the Right want to stain the good Dr.s name by drawing attention to racial "fopahs" of his early years? He more than made up for these in his later works too.

 

[vesper]

It very much IS a Dr. Seuss celebration and was originated to coincide with his birthday for a reason - because of his huge contribution to children reading!!!
Read Across America Day in the United States (timeanddate.com)

My kids loved those books as did their children. Out of 6 grandchildren 4 are avid readers. The two who are not, one has dyslexia but never gave up and is now in college, and our youngest was having difficulty in transitioning from picture books with just a couple of sentence to read like Dr. Seus, to chapter books. But for her last birthday Grandma Vesper bought her an entire series about something she had interest in and I am happy to report she and either her mother or her father at bedtime have her read a paragraph then they read a paragraph until they complete a chapter at bedtime. Now she looks forward to reading time because she can't wait to learn what happens next! A shout out to @Josie our elementary school teacher because months ago she told me the series I chose was very good.

 

[Vern]

But he shouldn't have been, Vern! Pull those 6 books that people objected to, and keep Dr. Seuss in the place of honor he deserves.

well Mary, supposedly it wasnt just the 6 books. I'm not sure because I dont really care. I was addressing the usual conservative lies Putting the conservative insurrection and trump's attack on democracy as a 10, where do you put this on a scale to 1 to 10? I put it at a .1.

 

[Vern]

It very much IS a Dr. Seuss celebration and was originated to coincide with his birthday for a reason - because of his huge contribution to children reading!!!
Read Across America Day in the United States (timeanddate.com)

Yea, that was obvious. Whats your point?

 

[Vern]

You're correct Dr. Seuss books weren't banned. But they had the stigma of racism applied to them. To which I say I'm done with white guilt. I give at the office every week in federal income taxes.

Da comrade, books not banned. They are simply de-emphasizing it being about Dr Suess and focusing on reading. I really cant believe conservatives and russians pretending to be conservative are really upset about this. But they do what Fox and their russian supervisors tell them to do.

 

[Common Sense 1]

Perhaps "sanitizing" Dr. Seuss will be the final straw.

Sigh, or not.

I hope but I think they are just starting!