Slur cancels Fla. school's 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

PALM COAST, Fla. — A Florida school committee has canceled a high school production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" because of offensive language in the play.

The theater director at Flagler Palm Coast High School, Ed Koczergo, says the problem is the N-word. Koczergo says the word can't be removed from the script because of copyright laws... http://www.gainesville.com/article/20101105/ARTICLES/101109662/1034?Title=Slur-cancels-Fla-school-s-To-Kill-a-Mockingbird-


The stupid it burns!

Whole State bashing?

As ignorant as those you condemn.


:crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

Jeez.

Yes, and GLBT's, and non- whites, and other's I'm sure.

"Common parlance"...

Yeah, I get it.

:puke:

cannot be performed because some people consider it racist.

Yet the kids driving around that school's parking lot are broadcasting the same word every day at 100 decibels.

I've never got the uber-PCist's inability to understand context.

And the annual rite of not allowing school children to perform Christmas Carols at Christmas plays, it's easy to see why people have a negative opinion of PC.

How can you compare To Kill a Mockingbird with singing religious songs in public school?

Most Americans celebrate Christmas.

I think it's reasonable to mention both of these happenings.

That is an entirely different, and unrelated, issue.

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Maybe it is a double standard but when it does appear in historic-fiction (ie To Kill a Mocking Bird, Huckleberry Finn) You learned the insist of the mind set of the people of that day and age. It is useful as a teaching tool in the right hands. This is the problem. People want to air brush history instead of looking at it for all it's flaws and scars and learning from it. (MY wife's opinion)

"single-letter-substitutes" for any word that some group finds offensive.

word. And then when I read it in 10th grade, I remember thinking the book clearly had an anti-racist message. Not to mention Twain was a hardcore anti-imperialist (even by DU standards) and early supporter of trade unions. People can be so short-sighted.

defending a black man WRONGLY accused of rape (he had sex with the woman who was willing but the father couldnt handle it so he beat her and told her to say it was rape).


the school board sees the word nigger and makes a judgement about its meaning without taking context into account at all...... what the fuck??????

i.e. Republicans

Perhaps you should give the novel another read. She spitefully accused him of rape because he would NOT have sex with her.

He didn't have sex with her.

dg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_about_the_word_%22niggardly%22




:smoke:

I've read the book dozens of times, discussed it with many high school level kids--pardon me for this, but there's no question on this issue.

i read the book years ago and misinterpreted that passage, i thought they had sex consensually and that the woman's father could not handle it so he made her say it was rape or else he would kill her.

Ain't it wonderful?

...
The Wall Street Journal:

It's time to stop pretending that "To Kill a Mockingbird" is some kind of timeless classic that ranks with the great works of American literature. Its bloodless liberal humanism is sadly dated, as pristinely preserved in its pages as the dinosaur DNA in "Jurassic Park." ... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703561604575283354059763326.html

:sarcasm:

Seriously. So obstinate.

I wonder if the author of that article also likes to kick puppies. Geez...

How supremely ironic, coming from one so obviously heartless.

like Atticus.

You know, because he was smart and--gasp--a LIBERAL!

or maybe they miss the main theme.

I sincerely doubt someone from Dramatists or Samuel French (or whomever licenses the rights to TKAM) would be sitting in the audience to make sure whomever played Mr. Cunnin'ham or Bob Ewell (can't recall which one says it) accuses Atticus of being a "nigger-lover" (or does Scout say it to Atticus-it's been too long; time for a re-read).

The article goes on to state that "parents, students and community members began complaining about it during the third week of rehearsals." The article doesn't tell us the NATURE of the complaints, so it's easy to see that claiming copyright problems is the easiest way out.

Then there's this: "Oliva says the guidance teachers give in the classroom about controversial material isn't available to community members coming to the play." In other words, the principal can't be sure the dumber-than-dirt 'necks in the audience won't hoot n' holler, cheer and start whistlin' "Dixie" when the word is used.

If they wanted to do the show, it would be a problem easily enough solved. What's clear is that the parents (mainly) don't want the show done, and I suspect (speculation coming) for reasons not consistent with the message of the book/play.

Many more details here:

http://flaglerlive.com/13516/to-kill-mockingbird-censored

Trust me, there are plenty of parents that are pissed off about this. My son tells me the students at school are all upset.
They were all looking forward to this play. My 2 oldest sons read this book as a requirement in the 9th grade in this school yet
it's a problem now for a play? Not all of us here are "dumber-than-dirt 'necks".

One of the phrases I use most these days: "I don't belong here" and I was born in this state. I hate what it has become.

Edit to add one more very important article on our local news:

http://flaglerlive.com/13673/harper-lee-flagler-county-censorship

I was born in Alabama and live in West Virginia. I know LOTS about those "dumber than dirt 'necks." Please don't think that because I referred to the fact that they exist I assume that everyone living there IS one.

In point of fact, as the only born-and-bred southern liberal talkshow host, I often try to make clear to listeners in other regions just how much GUTS it takes to stay true to liberal principles when one lives in "dumber than dirt 'neck" land.

SCOUT: Atticus – (Atticus turns to focus on SCOUT.) Tell me – what’s rape? (ATTICUS considers SCOUT for a moment. Then he sits on the swing. Takes a breath.)

ATTICUS: Rape is carnal knowledge of a female by force.

SCOUT: If that’s all it is, why did Calpurnia dry up when I asked her? (Takes a breath.) Atticus, do you defend niggers?

ATTICUS: (Startled). Of course I do. Don’t say ‘nigger’, Scout. That’s common.

SCOUT: ‘S what everybody at school says.

ATTICUS: From now on it’ll be everybody less one.

SCOUT: Do all lawyers defend n-- Negroes?

ATTICUS: They do.

SCOUT: Then why do the kids at school make it sound live you’re doin’ somethin’ awful?

ATTICUS: You aren’t old enough to understand some things yet, Scout, but there’s been a lot of high talk around the town that I shouldn’t do much about defending Tom Robinson. (Firmly.) But I’m going to defend that man.

SCOUT: IF they say you shouldn’t, why are you doing it?

ATTICUS: (Considering this.) The main reason: If I didn’t defend him, I couldn’t really have much respect for myself could I? (ATTICUS looks at SCOUT and smiles.) I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.

SCOUT: You mean Jem and me wouldn’t have to mind you anymore?

ATTICUS: That’s about right.

SCOUT: Why?

ATTICUS: Because I could never ask you to mind me again. (Frankly.) To tell you the truth, I’d hoped to get through life without a case of this kind, but Judge Taylor pointed at me and said, ‘You’re it.’

SCOUT: Are we going to win it?

ATTICUS: No honey. Come here, Scout.

SCOUT: Then, why – (she gets into his lap.)

ATTICUS: Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.

:nuke: