Quote:
Originally Posted by animedude01
It's true that much of what's in Tintin is considered racism now, but all things have to be taken in perspective. These were written over 50 years ago, when this was more common. Should Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer not be read because of their portrayal of african-americans? How about Gone With the Wind?
Yes, there has been, and always will be racism, despotism, classism, etc. Look at the middle east right now. Hell, look at the slums compared to the suburbs of any major city in the world! Does that mean we should get rid of everything that could potentially offend someone?
Kids learn from their parents, families, and peers. They don't become bigots because they read a book  You read Tintin, I read Tintin, a lot of people have read Tintin and they didn't turn into bigots or racists _because_ they read something like that.
If people just learned to let go and not take offense at so many things, the world would be a lot better place. That doesn't mean they shouldn't _care_ about something that's offensive, but let's all have some perspective. These are comics drawn over fifty years ago and meant to be funny. |
If your son/daughter was mixed or black, would you be comfortable giving him/her Tin Tin to read? Or Asterix? Or Verne's Mysterious Island? Or Tom Sawyer for that matter?
At what age?
And, assuming there is an age, at what age would you stop compulsively trying to remember with regards to every classic you considered passing his/her way whether or not it contains any subtly or not at all subtly offensive or racist stuff?
Taking a few minutes to think about this might leave you with greater insight into the issue... or, at least, greater complexity for your own take on it.
If your wife was the member of an ethnic minority, would you ever buy her one of those lovely "couple statues" available from Hallmark and places as such that depict two highly stylized, yet unmistakeably caucasian, lovers?
Food for thought.
- Ahi