And God Forbid That Mississippi Racists Should Feel Uncomfortable
The Biloxi, Mississippi, school districts got complaints about “the wording in “To Kill A Mockingbird” — an American classic being taught in 8th grade English Language Arts. So, they banned it.
Kenny Holloway, vice president of the Biloxi School Board said, “There were complaints about it. There is some language in the book that makes people uncomfortable, and we can teach the same lesson with other books.
Call me silly, but I think it was more than just the “language” that made people in Biloxi, Mississippi, feel uncomfortable. The damn purpose of the book is to make you feel uncomfortable. Art is supposed to make you uncomfortable.
However, this banning thing may be a good idea. Can we ban white supremacy in Mississippi because, holy cow, that make me uncomfortable?
“There were complaints about it.” What the hell does that mean?
1There’s a reason other states say, “Thank goodness for Mississippi. “
2When my daughter was young, we would make a special visit to the book store on Banned Books Day. We would make sure we got a few of the latest attempts at blocking knowledge. Then we sent those books to other kids when she had finished reading them. As the Dude would say “Knowledge abides.”
3Mississippi, To Kill A Mockingbird was written in 1960! You’ve had a mere 57 years to adjust your delicate sensibilities. But OK, keep banning books. As with forbidden fruit, nothing encourages reading among adolescents like banning books.
Remember the required reading lists in junior high, HS and college? Some of that old English stuff really sucked. And Antigone? My head still hurts. But the banned stuff? That was like a highway to good reading. Some of my favorite books, 1995 to date: http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/censorship/bannedbooksthatshapedamerica
4Many of these complaints probably originated among Evangelicals aka ISIS in America.
5“…some language in the book that makes people uncomfortable”
Silly Juanita. They are uncomfortable because the average school board vice-president in Mississippi cannot read the simplest language, as the book was written about children dealing with adult problems.
6Mark Twain’s comment is still right on the money.
7“First God made idiots, that was for practice. Then He made school boards.”
Can we ban white supremacy in Mississippi because, holy cow, that make me uncomfortable?
But, but, cultural heritage!
8Mississippi makes me uncomfortable. Is there someone I can call?
9In High School, my BFF and I had lockers right next to each other. We heard that some parents wanted to ban “Tom Jones” from the school library. So, we set aside one locker as our own, special, Lending Library. I had signed up for the Literary Guild, so got the first copy of “Portnoy’s Complaint” in the immediate neighborhood. As soon as we both had read it, it went into the locker, along with “Myra Breckinridge”, “Soul on Ice”, and every other “subversive” title we could get our hands on. We had to like you to lend you a book–and that included some of the teachers who came calling.
10Good going, Mississippi!
Next, can we ban open carry of assault weapons with large magazines?
Because that makes me uncomfortable.
11Gads! I came from a background that included the Index of Banned Books. That should tell you all you want to know right there. And yup, I made sure I read as many of them as I could get my hands on! Had to work at it, too! The main public library had a special room way in the corner of an upper floor with all those bad books in it! That room was downright popular! I definetly remember “Mockingbird”. It was a life changer! And Gregory Peck deserved that award for his acting. I can see why it upsets old school parents. They haven’t been up front and honest with their kids and the last thing they want the kids to know is the truth! After all, its the truth that makes you strong!
12There is a photograph of one of the schools on Twitter right now with a comment about this.
The photograph shows the flagstaff in front of the school, with the US Flag and the Mississippi state flag (with its Confederate battle flag canton).
It all depends on which people you’re making uncomfortable in Mississippi.
https://twitter.com/CelticWombat/status/919244061948633089
13Yep. Nothing is so required by a 14-year-old boy to read than a book or magazine that has been banned.
Talevangicals do good. Finally.
14“People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.” —Judge Taylor
15Fourteen year old girls are right in there with the reading too. Those were some of the most fascinating books of all.
Keep up the good work, evangelicals! Those kids will get an education thanks to/in spite of you.
16This one comes to mind as an absolute must when I was young. You can see how popular it was.
“Peyton Place is a 1956 novel by Grace Metalious. The novel describes how three women are forced to come to terms with their identity, both as women and as sexual beings, in a small, conservative, gossipy New England town, with recurring themes of hypocrisy, social inequities and class privilege in a tale that includes incest, abortion, adultery, lust and murder. It sold 60 000 copies within the first ten days of its release and remained on the New York Times best seller list for 59 weeks.”
17Banned in Biloxi! Just like that sinful gambling! Wait, wut?
18Because the idea that Boo Radley might still be stalking bigots could cause kids in Mississippi to lose sleep at night.
19Yes, please!
20” Can we ban white supremacy in Mississippi because, holy cow, that make me uncomfortable?”
Mississippi will be the 1st state to take us back to the 1950’s at every level. Anyone wonder why it is one of the poorest states–might have something to do with the ignorance the so called leaders are fostering and applauding.
Really disgusting. A classic book and so important–
21I had a summer job in that part of the world long ago. This state had a Sunday closing law, so all the supermarkets were closed. They let the 7/11-type stores stay open, but the beer freezers had to be locked.
Oddly, the hard-core porn books and magazines could be sold without question. I guess it’s a matter of priorities.
22“We can teach the same lesson with other book”
23Great.
Name one.