Re: The Three Golliwogs
Posted: 02 Sep 2007, 12:21
[tam]: “Tiq, it appears that you paint quite an unpleasant picture of me. I guess this can happen when people do not meet face to face. You only have my own words to go on, so fair's fair. I am really much more easy going than you portray.”
*********************************************
In some respects it could be like a red flag to a bull when Enid Blyton is criticised on a forum such as this because we tend to look upon the Blyton writings as the product of an innocent mind and if someone misinterprets that innocence then, as the author cannot defend herself, someone needs to come forward. She stuck up for herself quite well when she was alive and the record has it that her answer to those who were derisive of her works was “I take no note of critics who are over twelve years of age.” - Thank-You-Very-Much! Incidentally, my “Painting of an Unpleasant Picture” of you is only a figment. I asked “provocative” questions which were designed to make you back-track and look closely at what you had said and that’s all there is to it. My one concern as it might be for all the inhabitants of the Enid Blyton World is, as stated, to defend the author and point out any wrong impressions that outsiders may have of her works. Enid Blyton has been attacked repeatedly ever since her books first emerged yet her heritage has stood like a monument with countless aspiring authors passing by and heading towards oblivion.
It’s rather sad to think that you live in an environment where someone might take offence to a word which is spotted in a book that you own. From a lateral point of view, if they are your friends then there should be no problem, but it’s unfortunate that a word which represents prejudice is so frightening. When a parochial view of a harmless expression is carried across to England and embedded into a notice-board there is a reaction to the extent one must place things into context and that’s what one is attempting to do. Enid Blyton wrote many words that some people cannot confront but they were used innocently. An example would be the word “Darkie.” Darkie is the name of a child’s horse that was introduced into a wonderful book about farm life and it’s not really cricket for someone to enter and begin complaining to Mr. Longfield about the name of his daughter’s animal! Please America let the books retain their innocence.
There are some very highly strung individuals scattered around and also groups whose beliefs are so shaky that they will react to the slightest word or picture or action that they consider is opposed to their outlook on life. You will remember one of the more extreme instances where crowds lost control and invaded the streets with arms flailing in the air (I can almost see the strings and the invisible puppeteer above them). The reason for this outcry which resulted in the deaths of innocent people was simply that a cartoon depicting Mohammad was brought to their attention. This is a very satisfactory example of the way an attitude to an image or word or action can inflame. Notice I said that it was an “attitude” that caused the uprising. Imagine this: A riot occurs in the market place because someone apparently called out that So-and-So was a nigger. Yells and shouts spring up and a mass of humanity surges forward. When they part, there’s a dead body on the ground. The tapes are played back later and it’s found that the unfortunate person simply yelled out that So-and-So was “Bigger!” Immediate remorse, sorrow, shame and guilt could well become manifest but of course it would be too late. The word didn’t cause the death. It was the people’s ignorant and uncontrolled “attitude” that did so – attitudes which are often taught in the home. Words don’t hurt, but People do.
Forbidden words are used similarly but on a far lesser scale to the way bombs are used. First there is unhappiness with another country’s policies. Concerns are expressed. The leader talks to the other country’s leader. They cannot agree. The might yell at each other. No effect. Threats come next. No solution. They cannot cement a compromise. Finally the last resort is used - a bomb. It is dispatched and the resultant explosion and mayhem represents “Communication” and in the case of World War Two when “Little Boy” was dropped on the city of Hiroshima the Japanese sat up (those who could) and a dialogue was begun. Simple, but drastic! A perceived “evil” word is simply an infinitely lesser example of the bomb and likewise it is used to establish communication. Unfortunately you believe you can be hurt by a word and so do the Afro-American friends of whom you spoke. You remarked: “I know my friends are not offended by Huck Finn. They recognize the historical perspective of Huck Finn and other titles.” That’s great. Could “Other Titles” also include those of an English author - say Enid Blyton? If your friends could accommodate the “Word” in one author’s book, couldn’t they do so with that of another author whose books have been pointed out to you on this board as items of history - written in another country and in another era? I hope there’s no one out there who takes offence to Huckleberry Finn because of its references to the flogging of young people. A screed of comments on the pros and cons might arrive …… a complaint posted on the “Huckleberry Finn Society” notice board …… an organised book-purge. Those copies that escape can be wrapped and left high up on a shelf until the house burns down! Life can become very complicated when people with new values try to thrust them onto the old or perhaps replace them - even to venturing inside the protected surroundings of Enid Blyton Land. We could just leave them to it I suppose but we must defend the borders.
Your post was instructive - a very interesting insight into some of the slight differences that seem to exist amongst cultures and it’s rather unfortunate that the section of society you described still simmers with thoughts of the past. I suppose that happens in all countries. Referring to the end statement you made: “Verbal abuse is just as harmful as physical abuse, if not more so in some cases.” I say again that words can’t injure you. They are simply that which I described in the previous post. What may hurt is the aggression behind it. If a child yells prohibited words at its mother, the standard procedure is to punish it for speaking profanely. Wrong tack! Why shouldn’t the mother question herself and find out why the child is acting so? The words are simply representations of the aggression. Surely it is more important to fathom as to why the anger exists and then explore the relationship. If you have been conditioned into thinking a word in itself is “bad” it will naturally make you react negatively when you hear it. The enemy knows this and will use it liberally whilst he or she taunts you.
Every culture has a language sprinkled with expressions that are frowned upon and the stupidity of it is illustrated by my hinting of the word “Spade” as being a little dubious. From the feedback it seems as if it could be looked upon as unacceptable these days. “Spade” is a harmless word and God forbid that anyone would think otherwise. Some years ago it was a fairly derogatory term directed towards dark people and this probably came about because of the full black image portrayed on the playing cards. There’s a fellow who goes under the name “Moonraker” who contributes to this message-board and he seems to be the fount of all knowledge. Don’t go to Wikipedia, just wait for him to post. I waited because I knew that he would explain the “Spade” connection and he did. Basically it was one of those silly fashions that seem to come and go but one doesn’t run around calling black people “Spades” just as you don’t go around yelling out “Honky” to white people. It shows you how futile it is to worry about name-calling but you would probably disagree and that is your right. As for using the word “Spade” at the beach, or anywhere - no problems. I can think back to a TV comedy which screened in Britain many years ago. It was called “Love Thy neighbour”” and it was a good example of how people can laugh at their prejudices and take a completely opposite stance to the current way of thinking. A black couple lived next door to a white couple and the white man resented it. He abused the black man and got abuse back in his face. He used all the words that Americans may not like and the black man gave as much in return. The white man usually lost the battles of wit because he was an unarmed opponent and to add to that, the black man’s wife was more gorgeous than his. All in all I think everyone liked it that way. Some might say it was patronising but others could remark that it eased tension between the races when they realised that, with the right approach, you can laugh at anything. I would imagine you’ve never dared to watch American programmes such as “Amos and Andy” or “All in the Family!”
I do not except you to agree because it’s not all that easy to suddenly throw off baggage accumulated over countless years and your situation is of course quite different from mine. You’re there and I’m here. Looking at it on a wider scale I would hate to think of the reaction from some of those conservative countries in the East to things that are seen and discussed on this and other message boards throughout the world. We have representatives from those places who contribute to this forum and they have already felt the iron curtain of censorship falling down onto their computers. The world is changing. The internet and related technology is expanding so rapidly that, not only can we live on each other’s doorsteps, but we can also enter a house anywhere in the world through web-cams. Cultures are suddenly thrust together and quite brutally so. The English might clash with the Americans, culture-wise, on a tiny point which could be a bit depressing because the two countries are so close in their attitudes to life but it’s not the end of the world. I go back to the point I made in the last post - A whole race can’t be offended. It’s only individuals who “allow” themselves to be offended. You made a very apt point and here it is: “You have all given me much food for thought. Intellectually, I agree with much of what you have to say. Functionally I am not so sure.” “Functionally” is the keyword. Believe me, I can understand your point of view.
I very much welcomed your reply for which I thank you and your observation is valid: “I guess this can happen when people do not meet face to face. You only have my own words to go on, so fair's fair.” Yes, and vice-versa, and I “do” believe you are much more “easy going than I portray.”
“Tiq, I agree that a book deserves a better life than just sitting wrapped up on my bookshelf. PM me with your address and it is yours. I will be out of town for a few days, so my response might be a bit late.”
Thanks “very” much for that and it’s really kind of you to offer it to someone whom you thought was out to get you. I don’t know how to PM (I think it means Private Message and I may not be registered for it) so my address is: c/o Tumbledown Cottage, By the Wobbly Dum-Dum Tree, Dingley-Dell …… but in all seriousness I have to admit I was kidding a little. I had a look and dug up five copies of the dreadful book so everything’s all right in that department. What you might not know however is that hardened members of the Society exist and they would be very receptive. Other than that you could use a profitable way to dispose of it by offering it on the “eBay” auction network. A copy sold just a few days ago for a good price and you might as well make some money from something that sits incognito on a bookshelf and looks all forlorn. Thank you again for the kind offer.
Broadly, Enid Blyton represented a world of innocence which could be fast disappearing and her Fans would rather hold true to her memory than change anything to suit the new. (I’m going to have to look at that word “Fans” because I’m sure there’s some connotation attached to it)! Thank you for your incisive contribution.
*****************************************
[ Anita Bensoussane]: “Heh - such a coincidence! While I was typing my previous message, my daughter was playing with a hand-held electronic game in which, every so often, the character receives presents. Just as I submitted my previous message, an image flashed up on my daughter's game and she said, "I've got a spade as a present!"”
This tells me I’m not the only one who experiences baffling coincidences. So many come my way that I’m now logging them!
********************************************
[Kate Mary]: “Incidentally, the word 'spade' has been changed to shovel in the recent editions of the Faraway Tree stories.”
Do you mean to tell me that the censors thought “Spade” would be misinterpreted? If that’s the case then: “Goodnight All!!” I find that unbelievable and, once again, I would need proof! You’re quite right – shovels and spades do differ. I had always looked on them as having basically the same function.
[Kate Mary]: “OK, I know spade has a relatively little known and rarely used slang meaning, but it is just that - slang. The word has a true and legitimate meaning and use, if persons with brains the size of walnuts want to snigger at that, why should we change the texts of old books to suit them?”
A very good point!!! I wish I could use those emoticons - I’m limited to exclamation marks! (Like tam, “I am not a techie.”)
*********************************************
In some respects it could be like a red flag to a bull when Enid Blyton is criticised on a forum such as this because we tend to look upon the Blyton writings as the product of an innocent mind and if someone misinterprets that innocence then, as the author cannot defend herself, someone needs to come forward. She stuck up for herself quite well when she was alive and the record has it that her answer to those who were derisive of her works was “I take no note of critics who are over twelve years of age.” - Thank-You-Very-Much! Incidentally, my “Painting of an Unpleasant Picture” of you is only a figment. I asked “provocative” questions which were designed to make you back-track and look closely at what you had said and that’s all there is to it. My one concern as it might be for all the inhabitants of the Enid Blyton World is, as stated, to defend the author and point out any wrong impressions that outsiders may have of her works. Enid Blyton has been attacked repeatedly ever since her books first emerged yet her heritage has stood like a monument with countless aspiring authors passing by and heading towards oblivion.
It’s rather sad to think that you live in an environment where someone might take offence to a word which is spotted in a book that you own. From a lateral point of view, if they are your friends then there should be no problem, but it’s unfortunate that a word which represents prejudice is so frightening. When a parochial view of a harmless expression is carried across to England and embedded into a notice-board there is a reaction to the extent one must place things into context and that’s what one is attempting to do. Enid Blyton wrote many words that some people cannot confront but they were used innocently. An example would be the word “Darkie.” Darkie is the name of a child’s horse that was introduced into a wonderful book about farm life and it’s not really cricket for someone to enter and begin complaining to Mr. Longfield about the name of his daughter’s animal! Please America let the books retain their innocence.
There are some very highly strung individuals scattered around and also groups whose beliefs are so shaky that they will react to the slightest word or picture or action that they consider is opposed to their outlook on life. You will remember one of the more extreme instances where crowds lost control and invaded the streets with arms flailing in the air (I can almost see the strings and the invisible puppeteer above them). The reason for this outcry which resulted in the deaths of innocent people was simply that a cartoon depicting Mohammad was brought to their attention. This is a very satisfactory example of the way an attitude to an image or word or action can inflame. Notice I said that it was an “attitude” that caused the uprising. Imagine this: A riot occurs in the market place because someone apparently called out that So-and-So was a nigger. Yells and shouts spring up and a mass of humanity surges forward. When they part, there’s a dead body on the ground. The tapes are played back later and it’s found that the unfortunate person simply yelled out that So-and-So was “Bigger!” Immediate remorse, sorrow, shame and guilt could well become manifest but of course it would be too late. The word didn’t cause the death. It was the people’s ignorant and uncontrolled “attitude” that did so – attitudes which are often taught in the home. Words don’t hurt, but People do.
Forbidden words are used similarly but on a far lesser scale to the way bombs are used. First there is unhappiness with another country’s policies. Concerns are expressed. The leader talks to the other country’s leader. They cannot agree. The might yell at each other. No effect. Threats come next. No solution. They cannot cement a compromise. Finally the last resort is used - a bomb. It is dispatched and the resultant explosion and mayhem represents “Communication” and in the case of World War Two when “Little Boy” was dropped on the city of Hiroshima the Japanese sat up (those who could) and a dialogue was begun. Simple, but drastic! A perceived “evil” word is simply an infinitely lesser example of the bomb and likewise it is used to establish communication. Unfortunately you believe you can be hurt by a word and so do the Afro-American friends of whom you spoke. You remarked: “I know my friends are not offended by Huck Finn. They recognize the historical perspective of Huck Finn and other titles.” That’s great. Could “Other Titles” also include those of an English author - say Enid Blyton? If your friends could accommodate the “Word” in one author’s book, couldn’t they do so with that of another author whose books have been pointed out to you on this board as items of history - written in another country and in another era? I hope there’s no one out there who takes offence to Huckleberry Finn because of its references to the flogging of young people. A screed of comments on the pros and cons might arrive …… a complaint posted on the “Huckleberry Finn Society” notice board …… an organised book-purge. Those copies that escape can be wrapped and left high up on a shelf until the house burns down! Life can become very complicated when people with new values try to thrust them onto the old or perhaps replace them - even to venturing inside the protected surroundings of Enid Blyton Land. We could just leave them to it I suppose but we must defend the borders.
Your post was instructive - a very interesting insight into some of the slight differences that seem to exist amongst cultures and it’s rather unfortunate that the section of society you described still simmers with thoughts of the past. I suppose that happens in all countries. Referring to the end statement you made: “Verbal abuse is just as harmful as physical abuse, if not more so in some cases.” I say again that words can’t injure you. They are simply that which I described in the previous post. What may hurt is the aggression behind it. If a child yells prohibited words at its mother, the standard procedure is to punish it for speaking profanely. Wrong tack! Why shouldn’t the mother question herself and find out why the child is acting so? The words are simply representations of the aggression. Surely it is more important to fathom as to why the anger exists and then explore the relationship. If you have been conditioned into thinking a word in itself is “bad” it will naturally make you react negatively when you hear it. The enemy knows this and will use it liberally whilst he or she taunts you.
Every culture has a language sprinkled with expressions that are frowned upon and the stupidity of it is illustrated by my hinting of the word “Spade” as being a little dubious. From the feedback it seems as if it could be looked upon as unacceptable these days. “Spade” is a harmless word and God forbid that anyone would think otherwise. Some years ago it was a fairly derogatory term directed towards dark people and this probably came about because of the full black image portrayed on the playing cards. There’s a fellow who goes under the name “Moonraker” who contributes to this message-board and he seems to be the fount of all knowledge. Don’t go to Wikipedia, just wait for him to post. I waited because I knew that he would explain the “Spade” connection and he did. Basically it was one of those silly fashions that seem to come and go but one doesn’t run around calling black people “Spades” just as you don’t go around yelling out “Honky” to white people. It shows you how futile it is to worry about name-calling but you would probably disagree and that is your right. As for using the word “Spade” at the beach, or anywhere - no problems. I can think back to a TV comedy which screened in Britain many years ago. It was called “Love Thy neighbour”” and it was a good example of how people can laugh at their prejudices and take a completely opposite stance to the current way of thinking. A black couple lived next door to a white couple and the white man resented it. He abused the black man and got abuse back in his face. He used all the words that Americans may not like and the black man gave as much in return. The white man usually lost the battles of wit because he was an unarmed opponent and to add to that, the black man’s wife was more gorgeous than his. All in all I think everyone liked it that way. Some might say it was patronising but others could remark that it eased tension between the races when they realised that, with the right approach, you can laugh at anything. I would imagine you’ve never dared to watch American programmes such as “Amos and Andy” or “All in the Family!”
I do not except you to agree because it’s not all that easy to suddenly throw off baggage accumulated over countless years and your situation is of course quite different from mine. You’re there and I’m here. Looking at it on a wider scale I would hate to think of the reaction from some of those conservative countries in the East to things that are seen and discussed on this and other message boards throughout the world. We have representatives from those places who contribute to this forum and they have already felt the iron curtain of censorship falling down onto their computers. The world is changing. The internet and related technology is expanding so rapidly that, not only can we live on each other’s doorsteps, but we can also enter a house anywhere in the world through web-cams. Cultures are suddenly thrust together and quite brutally so. The English might clash with the Americans, culture-wise, on a tiny point which could be a bit depressing because the two countries are so close in their attitudes to life but it’s not the end of the world. I go back to the point I made in the last post - A whole race can’t be offended. It’s only individuals who “allow” themselves to be offended. You made a very apt point and here it is: “You have all given me much food for thought. Intellectually, I agree with much of what you have to say. Functionally I am not so sure.” “Functionally” is the keyword. Believe me, I can understand your point of view.
I very much welcomed your reply for which I thank you and your observation is valid: “I guess this can happen when people do not meet face to face. You only have my own words to go on, so fair's fair.” Yes, and vice-versa, and I “do” believe you are much more “easy going than I portray.”
“Tiq, I agree that a book deserves a better life than just sitting wrapped up on my bookshelf. PM me with your address and it is yours. I will be out of town for a few days, so my response might be a bit late.”
Thanks “very” much for that and it’s really kind of you to offer it to someone whom you thought was out to get you. I don’t know how to PM (I think it means Private Message and I may not be registered for it) so my address is: c/o Tumbledown Cottage, By the Wobbly Dum-Dum Tree, Dingley-Dell …… but in all seriousness I have to admit I was kidding a little. I had a look and dug up five copies of the dreadful book so everything’s all right in that department. What you might not know however is that hardened members of the Society exist and they would be very receptive. Other than that you could use a profitable way to dispose of it by offering it on the “eBay” auction network. A copy sold just a few days ago for a good price and you might as well make some money from something that sits incognito on a bookshelf and looks all forlorn. Thank you again for the kind offer.
Broadly, Enid Blyton represented a world of innocence which could be fast disappearing and her Fans would rather hold true to her memory than change anything to suit the new. (I’m going to have to look at that word “Fans” because I’m sure there’s some connotation attached to it)! Thank you for your incisive contribution.
*****************************************
[ Anita Bensoussane]: “Heh - such a coincidence! While I was typing my previous message, my daughter was playing with a hand-held electronic game in which, every so often, the character receives presents. Just as I submitted my previous message, an image flashed up on my daughter's game and she said, "I've got a spade as a present!"”
This tells me I’m not the only one who experiences baffling coincidences. So many come my way that I’m now logging them!
********************************************
[Kate Mary]: “Incidentally, the word 'spade' has been changed to shovel in the recent editions of the Faraway Tree stories.”
Do you mean to tell me that the censors thought “Spade” would be misinterpreted? If that’s the case then: “Goodnight All!!” I find that unbelievable and, once again, I would need proof! You’re quite right – shovels and spades do differ. I had always looked on them as having basically the same function.
[Kate Mary]: “OK, I know spade has a relatively little known and rarely used slang meaning, but it is just that - slang. The word has a true and legitimate meaning and use, if persons with brains the size of walnuts want to snigger at that, why should we change the texts of old books to suit them?”
A very good point!!! I wish I could use those emoticons - I’m limited to exclamation marks! (Like tam, “I am not a techie.”)