They want to ban the story "Tintin in the Congo" as it is racist!!!!

[XabbaRus]

Here is the link the story and also my e-mail to the CRE.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6294670.stm



Dear Sir/Madame
I have just read the article in that a spokeswoman for the CRE has called for Tintin in the Congo to be banned because it is racist. I am writing to protest as this to me is a case of political correctness gone mad. The book like many others are a sign of the period it was written in and has to be taken in that context. Since Tintin is most likely to be read by under 12s I really think they will just enjoy it as a good story. Having read the story around 20 years ago (I am 31) I did not come away thinking the natives were savages or develop a sense that I am superior as a white man, I just enjoyed it.

Having read interviews with the authors and read many many of the Tintin books I also do not think there was any racist intent either consciously or unconsciously. You may argue that in todays context it could be considered racist but as I mentioned above books need to be read in the context they written. I suppose we should ban Rudyard Kipling’s work due to the way he portrays Indians. I think there are many current cases of racial inequality taking place here and now that to worry about Tintin is a case of wasted resources. It is the same political correctness tha requires that I am called a “Draughtsperson” rather than a “Draughtsman” in case I upset our female draughtsman.

regards

Benedict Kent

Draughtsperson

[The Avon Lady]

I miss the banned Warner Brothers Looney Tunes cartoons, which contained what I admit are sometimes (but not always) racist depictions of blacks, NA Indians and Aborigines.

In case you were about to ask, I don't miss them for their racism, if and where applicable. I miss them simply for their humor and insight into the times they were produced.

[Konovalov]

Well written letter Xabb. I agree with you 100%. :yep: Note to self: Check blood pressure. :nope:

[Heibges]

The Cab Calloway Minnie the Moocher is banned as racist.

I always remember the old cartoons with Clark Gable and he is always portrayed as having huge ears. He's usually swimming and his ears are propelling him through the water.

In the 1930's and 1940's you would routinely see anti-Semetic headlines in the papers in the United States. William Hearst was very anti-Semitic so this is probably the reason.

[The Munster]

Link disnae work but Tin Tin should be banned due to Racism .. Dam Belgians !
:rotfl:

[EAF274 Johan]

LOL. And this is already the cleaned-up version of the comic. There are several instances where the author Hergé reworked some of his drawings and texts years later because they were considered "a bit inappropriate".

Tintin in Congo was written in the time when Congo was a Belgian colony, and it reflects the common attitudes of the time (which, it has to be said, weren't very fair to black people). But then, you see the same thing in other literature, movies and music of the period. No reason for a ban IMO, but it would be a good thing to add an editorial note explaining this.

And I disagree that it's mostly under 12s who read comics! :)

I miss Speedy Gonzalez :(

[Reaves]

I have a differant opinion then you all.

I think we should burn all history books and just pretend it never happened.

That way we will never learn from our mistakes.

MWUHWARHWAR!!! MWUHHWARHUHAR!!!

(that is my evil laugh.) :doh:

[Heibges]

Look at Casablanca. It's probably the gayest most communist movie ever.

But there is Ingrid Bergmann saying "Who is that boy over there," referring to Sam, who is probably 40 years old anyway.

[XabbaRus]

Well surprise surprise no response yet.

[U-533]

Political correctness...:down:

Banning cartoons... Wheres the freedom of speech

Banning books... The Nazis proved books are fuel too

Eta kooram neh smech

[RedMenace]

Hey, to be fair, Tintin in the Congo WAS pretty racist, I mean just look at this:

http://www2c.ac-lille.fr/bts-lettres/images/RacismeTintinCongo.jpg


Seriously.

[XabbaRus]

Those black guys look like pretty much every black cartoon character in every cartoon from any nation of the same period in time. It reflects the attitudes then which are now considered obeslete and offensive. In that respect Tintin in the Congo is a lesson in attitudes of the time.

[Heibges]

Or you could just make Tintin funnier looking. But looking at the cartoon I must admit it is really racist.

Even reading the "Great Literature" of the time you see how arrogant the Europeans and Americans were. Sommerset Maugham? Fagettaboutit!

But at the same time, I do agree it is not right to ban stuff like this instead of using it as a lesson.

"All in the Family" would never make it today.

But the point was that Archie was an idiot. Or to borrow from Green Day, an American Idiot. For those guys who fought in WWII, and my father was one, the stuff that happened in America was pretty hard to take.

Vietnam was easy for my father to understand. It bothered him that the Viet Cong had helped us against the Japanese, and we helped the French against them, who he considered cowardly Nazi collaborators, againt the Vietnamese.

Of course, my dad also believed that Moses was assassinated by Joshua and company because he new that the only way the Hebrews would remain strong was by staying out in the desert.

I guess you don't fight from Guadalcanal to the Phillipines without being a little crazy.

Being able to laugh at racism, and all the other "isms" is the only way to make them go away.

Lastly, I would say those "hot tubbin' liberals from Marin County" are as racist as folks I have met anywhere.

[The Avon Lady]

Prohibition redux (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070714/wl_uk_afp/entertainmentbritainbelgiumbookscomictintin;_ylt=A gjYDLv2FAR1DoAgoi_mnF3MWM0F). :roll:

[Lord_Kitchener]

Oi....I get a kick outta watching a thin red line mowing down Fuzzy Wuzzy :D ..I must be a bleedin racist!

[Chock]

Here, to balance things up, is a video which has a pop at Belgium, also watch out for the reference sending up books such as the aforementioned Tin Tin tome, at 2 mins 35 seconds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7rrIlPu-Ao

:D Chock

[Reece]

Yes this political correctness crap really gets to me, along with banning wolf whistles, a man hole now has to be called a person hole etc etc, another thing that annoys me is that you can't disipline your children, however if they get into trouble & vandalise something the parents have to pay!:damn: what a load of crap!!:nope: Stupid politicians!:x

[kiwi_2005]

Hey, to be fair, Tintin in the Congo WAS pretty racist, I mean just look at this:

http://www2c.ac-lille.fr/bts-lettres/images/RacismeTintinCongo.jpg


Seriously.
Yeah, maybe not rascist more poking fun i mean look at the character big lips bushy hair - if they were to add in an asian how would be look? Squinty eyes, short, and probably wearing thick glasses - would that be racist? Or a Jew, long beard, locks top hat and walking round praising moses. Neither would that be rascist more poking fun. :hmm:

Maybe its time they updated Tin Tin and made the black guy some lean mean muscle bound dude with getto blaster on his shoulder and some ho's following him around. I bet the Congo would find that funny...

[bookworm_020]

My Mother (who is a teacher librarian) refuses to remove the Biggles comics from her library for tow reasons,

1. They won't give her money to replace the books with new ones.

2. It is used as an example of how people think then and now think of others.

Yes, the cartoons are ofensive by todays standards, but if we whitewash history, how will pople see how we have changed.

Now, can someone bring back Golloywog biscuts!

[Rhodes]

What can I say. I had allways discussions about Hérge and Tintin about being racists or not, with a few of my friends.

The first album is also so very controversial, since the journal that was editing Tintim was catholic and so anti-communist. Is there a petition for the first album to?

For me, we have to see the storys by the time that they were drawn. Hérge updated many of the first Tintim storys. Do to being old and many thing weren't correct anymore. My edition of the "L'Ile Noir-"The Black Island" is one of the latest.

Also, Hérge was accused of being communist by the right or extreme-right (don't know if it's 100% right,got to check) and a facist by the communist and left wing journals!

One thing that is funny is that I'm reading the Tintin albuns again when in bed.

[Iron Budokan]

Look at Casablanca. It's probably the gayest most communist movie ever.



:roll:

[Letum]

Edit: Irrelivent post Sorry.