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

XabbaRus · 07-12-07, 10:30 AM

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 · 07-12-07, 10:45 AM

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 · 07-12-07, 10:47 AM

Well written letter Xabb. I agree with you 100%.

Note to self: Check blood pressure.

Heibges · 07-12-07, 12:41 PM

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 · 07-12-07, 05:03 PM

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

EAF274 Johan · 07-13-07, 02:13 AM

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 · 07-13-07, 03:14 AM

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.)

Heibges · 07-13-07, 09:39 AM

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 · 07-13-07, 11:42 AM

Well surprise surprise no response yet.

U-533 · 07-14-07, 06:59 AM

Political correctness...

Banning cartoons... Wheres the freedom of speech

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

Eta kooram neh smech

RedMenace · 07-14-07, 12:54 PM

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

Seriously.

XabbaRus · 07-14-07, 01:54 PM

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 · 07-14-07, 02:33 PM

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 · 07-14-07, 02:43 PM

Prohibition redux.

Lord_Kitchener · 07-14-07, 08:37 PM

Oi....I get a kick outta watching a thin red line mowing down Fuzzy Wuzzy

..I must be a bleedin racist!

07-12-07, 10:30 AM	#1
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	They want to ban the story "Tintin in the Congo" as it is racist!!!! 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 __________________

07-12-07, 10:45 AM	#2
The Avon Lady Über Mom Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jerusalem, Israel Posts: 6,147 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ "Victory will come to us from the wombs of our women." - Houari Boumedienne, President of Algeria, Speech before the UN, 1974

07-12-07, 10:47 AM	#3
Konovalov Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks, UK Posts: 2,811 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Well written letter Xabb. I agree with you 100%. Note to self: Check blood pressure. __________________ "In a Christian context, sexuality is traditionally seen as a consequence of the Fall, but for Muslims, it is an anticipation of paradise. So I can say, I think, that I was validly converted to Islam by a teenage French Jewish nudist." Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter)

07-12-07, 12:41 PM	#4
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

07-12-07, 05:03 PM	#5
The Munster Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Deepest Dumbria Posts: 1,243 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Link disnae work but Tin Tin should be banned due to Racism .. Dam Belgians ! :rotfl: __________________ *GWX Team Member; Retired* GWX Home Page

07-13-07, 02:13 AM	#6
EAF274 Johan Ensign Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gent, Belgium Posts: 228 Downloads: 94 Uploads: 0	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 __________________ *Rock 'n' roll is the only religion that will never let you down*

07-13-07, 03:14 AM	#7
Reaves The Old Man Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,509 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	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.) __________________

07-13-07, 09:39 AM	#8
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

07-13-07, 11:42 AM	#9
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Well surprise surprise no response yet. __________________

07-14-07, 06:59 AM	#10
U-533 Samurai Navy Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: On my Boat Posts: 594 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Political correctness... Banning cartoons... Wheres the freedom of speech Banning books... The Nazis proved books are fuel too Eta kooram neh smech

07-14-07, 12:54 PM	#11
RedMenace Chief Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 319 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Hey, to be fair, Tintin in the Congo WAS pretty racist, I mean just look at this: Seriously. __________________

07-14-07, 01:54 PM	#12
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	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. __________________

07-14-07, 02:33 PM	#13
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/

07-14-07, 02:43 PM	#14
The Avon Lady Über Mom Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jerusalem, Israel Posts: 6,147 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Prohibition redux. __________________ "Victory will come to us from the wombs of our women." - Houari Boumedienne, President of Algeria, Speech before the UN, 1974

07-14-07, 08:37 PM	#15
Lord_Kitchener A-ganger Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 77 Downloads: 368 Uploads: 0	Oi....I get a kick outta watching a thin red line mowing down Fuzzy Wuzzy ..I must be a bleedin racist!