Quote:
Originally Posted by Catlady
I'm thinking about uploading a new copy of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. In the Constitution, I'm going to leave out the material that's part of the Great Compromise, because it will confuse modern readers, all that three-fifths business. I'm going to leave out the Eighteenth Amendment, because it was later repealed, so again, I don't want to confuse modern readers. I'll fix up the other amendments too--so they're clearer.
In the Declaration, I think I'll change "pursuit of happiness" to "pursuit of money," because I think that's how old TJ should have worded it. I'm going to change "all men are created equal" to "all men and women are created equal," because that's what modern readers are supposed believe. I'm going to leave out all references to "our Creator," because I don't want to offend atheists.
And I'm sure the MR library will be thrilled with this contribution and all my hard work in editing this public domain material.
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See...that's the thing. You can edit both of those documents all you like, and nobody will stop you...people who care just won't take them as the definitive editions, because the definitive editions are stored in Washington. There is no law against changing those...there isn't even a law against publishing them. They are in the public domain.
It's the same thing with everything in the public domain...people who care will find the definitive edition (and for some PD books, there seems to be controversy over just what IS the definitive edition...the bible is an example that comes to mind)
Really...this strawman has been beaten so badly that there is only straw dust left. We get it. You are horrendously upset over the possibility that someone may edit a book after it is published, and you won't know that it was edited. In the perfect world, all edits of every kind would have a footnote...even if a misspelled word is corrected from first edition to second (to tell the truth, I actually appreciate when that is done). BUT. We don't live in a perfect world. We have to each, personally, do what we can to ensure that our personal world is as close to perfect as we can get it, and that may mean that we have to make compromises in our own personal world. If you want to work on making the whole wide world a little more perfect, then actual action is required. Sitting at a computer and making suggestions on a forum does nothing to change the world. Really...it doesn't. If you want a library where editing isn't allowed, start one. If you want the library on Mobile read made better, then start working on proofing the books against whatever you consider to be the definitive version, and upload the "fixed" versions up to the site.
Shari