The Dr. Seuss Controversy (sigh)

[jthomas666]

I just can't with these people. They will latch onto the most inane things and scream that it is an attack on our way of life.

The GOP has become the party of manufactured outrage, whether it's Dr. Seuss, Biden's dogs, or tan suits.

Sorry, but my Facebook feed was swamped with right-wing Dr. Seuss memes--most of which misspelled Dr. Seuss (Suess)--and I just needed to vent.

 

[92tide]

they tried the potato head toy last week.

 

[Jon]

I just can't with these people. They will latch onto the most inane things and scream that it is an attack on our way of life.

The GOP has become the party of manufactured outrage, whether it's Dr. Seuss, Biden's dogs, or tan suits.

Sorry, but my Facebook feed was swamped with right-wing Dr. Seuss memes--most of which misspelled Dr. Seuss (Suess)--and I just needed to vent.

what is the Dr Seuss one? I haven't paid attention. is it that Seuss was a horrible scum to his first wife?

 

[chanson78]

what is the Dr Seuss one? I haven't paid attention. is it that Seuss was a horrible scum to his first wife?

Racist imagery. Publisher decided to pull the books that contained it.

 

[B1GTide]

Racist imagery. Publisher decided to pull the books that contained it.

I have not read any of the 6 books listed. Seems to me that they could simply fix this with some image replacement and then release an updated version, but I wonder if these books sell enough to make that worth while.

 

[92tide]

6 Dr. Seuss books won't be published for racist images

BOSTON (AP) — Six Dr. Seuss books — including “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran the Zoo” — will stop being published because of racist and insensitive imagery, the business that preserves and protects the author's legacy said Tuesday.

apnews.com

 

[jthomas666]

A lot of his older stuff has racist imagery--he did a lot of propaganda posters during WWII, for instance. And the issue has been widely acknowledged for some time. But the company he entrusted with his estate decided to stop publishing six books, at the same time as a couple libraries moved away from Dr. Seuss books on Dr. Seuss Library Day, and the right is a-clutching their pearls again.

 

[92tide]

A lot of his older stuff has racist imagery--he did a lot of propaganda posters during WWII, for instance. And the issue has been widely acknowledged for some time. But the company he entrusted with his estate decided to stop publishing six books, at the same time as a couple libraries moved away from Dr. Seuss books on Dr. Seuss Library Day, and the right is a-clutching their pearls again.

wait until they hear about the upcoming revised edition of heather has two mommies

 

[Bamaro]

Its funny that now, all of a sudden, the right wingers are defending Dr Seuss. For years he was their mortal enemy for books like The Lorax (one of my favorites) that has a pro environment theme.
There were others that also got their panties in a bunch.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

A lot of his older stuff has racist imagery--he did a lot of propaganda posters during WWII, for instance. And the issue has been widely acknowledged for some time. But the company he entrusted with his estate decided to stop publishing six books, at the same time as a couple libraries moved away from Dr. Seuss books on Dr. Seuss Library Day, and the right is a-clutching their pearls again.

A lot of those posters were pretty racist. Here's one below. The representation of Hitler may not be too far off, after the post-war discoveries that a good part of the German armed forces fought the war up on meth...

 

[CrimsonNagus]

My main problem with all this cancel culture is that it takes things out of context a lot. Some of this stuff is a product of the time at which it was created. With Dr. Seuss, if it is just the imagery, why not change it and reprint the books (unless the estate refuses to allow this)? His none Seuss artwork, IMO, should have no barring on the rest of the Seuss books. I've seen some calling for all Seuss books to be removed but, I just think that is going to far.

IDK, I'm not sure how to really express my viewpoint. If something was created as pure hatred, racist propaganda then it should be banished. But things that just have some imagery or language or themes that are a product of there time should be viewed in that context, not banned. Slap a warning on everything, I'm fine with that, Disney has done that with some of their movies. I think that should also be an acceptable solution.

 

[92tide]

My main problem with all this cancel culture is that it takes things out of context a lot. Some of this stuff is a product of the time at which it was created. With Dr. Seuss, if it is just the imagery, why not change it and reprint the books (unless the estate refuses to allow this)? His none Seuss artwork, IMO, should have no barring on the rest of the Seuss books. I've seen some calling for all Seuss books to be removed but, I just think that is going to far.

IDK, I'm not sure how to really express my viewpoint. If something was created as pure hatred, racist propaganda then it should be banished. But things that just have some imagery or language or themes that are a product of there time should be viewed in that context, not banned. Slap a warning on everything, I'm fine with that, Disney has done that with some of their movies. I think that should also be an acceptable solution.

there is no such thing as cancel culture, it is the new "political correctness". it's a snarl word and nothing more.

in this instance, nothing has been banned. the decision on these 6 books was made by the estate.

 

[NationalTitles18]

there is no such thing as cancel culture, it is the new "political correctness". it's a snarl word and nothing more.

in this instance, nothing has been banned. the decision on these 6 books was made by the estate.

What really sticks in my crawl is that the very same people who started "cancel culture" are the ones screaming the loudest about it now that it has circled back around on them.

 

[Jon]

What really sticks in my crawl is that the very same people who started "cancel culture" are the ones screaming the loudest about it now that it has circled back around on them.

just ask the Dixie Chicks

 

[TexasBama]

Its funny that now, all of a sudden, the right wingers are defending Dr Seuss. For years he was their mortal enemy for books like The Lorax (one of my favorites) that has a pro environment theme.
There were others that also got their panties in a bunch.

That the right is twisted over books I haven’t read since I was a kid is peculiar. Is Seuss a component of an adult righties library?

 

[TexasBama]

just ask the Dixie Chicks

just hush and go eat your freedom fries

 

[92tide]

just hush and go eat your freedom fries

i bet he doesn't even wear a flag lapel pin

 

[Crimson1967]

The uproar over Mr. Potato Head was stupid. You will still be able to buy a Mr. Potato Head and a Mrs. Potato Head. What is being changed is the overall line (which includes the whole family) is just going to be called Potato Head.

 

[TexasBama]

i bet he doesn't even wear a flag lapel pin

Birkenstocks and a Nehru jacket I'd wager

 

[NationalTitles18]

just ask the Dixie Chicks

Hell, ask Punky Brewster. This has been going on a loooooonnnnnnggggg time.