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Should books, comics, or magazines deemed 'racist' be banned?

Should books, comics, or magazines deemed 'racist' be banned?

  • No, that would infringe on free speech

    Votes: 39 92.9%
  • They should be banned from schools

    Votes: 2 4.8%
  • Older literature with outdated racial portrayals should have warning labels

    Votes: 1 2.4%
  • All literature should carry ratings for racist content, similar to movie ratings

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Yes, any literature deemed racist should be banned

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other, please explain

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    42

MyOwnDrum

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This is an interesting case. It takes place in Belgium and concerns the old character Tintin. Apparently, some are offended by the book Tintin in the Congo and was written in the late 1920s. There's a good BBC video along with the article.

There's has been similar talk about Huckleberry Finn. I do believe it's been banned from some schools. What do you all think? I'm speaking of your general view of this issue, not specifically related to Belgium vs U.S. laws on free speech, but what how YOU think free speech should be applied in this type of scenario.

BBC News - Belgian bid to ban 'racist' Tintin in the Congo

A Congolese man is trying to get a controversial Tintin book banned in the cartoon star's home country of Belgium.

The ginger sleuth's "little (black) helper" in Tintin in the Congo is seen as "stupid and without qualities", Bienvenu Mbutu is quoted as saying.

"It makes people think that blacks have not evolved," said Mr Mbutu, who lives in Belgium.

A court is to rule on whether the book can be sold in Belgium and, if so, whether it should carry a warning.

Although it was scheduled for Wednesday, the verdict has been delayed and is now expected on 5 May.

The book has already attracted much criticism for its crude racial stereotypes.

Three years ago, the UK's Commission for Racial Equality called for the book to be banned, saying it contained imagery and words of hideous racial prejudice.

A black woman is featured in the book bowing before Tintin and exclaiming: "White man very great. White mister is big juju man!"
Tintin

Written in the late 1920s, it was the second Tintin adventure created by Herge, who later said it was a youthful sin which reflected the prejudices of the time.
 
Of course it shouldn't be banned. People can write what they want, even if it's racist. People need to learn to toughen up a bit.
 
We have this thing in this country called freedom of speech,so no books should not be banned.
 
I don't think it should be banned. However I'm not opposed to schools deciding not to have it as some kind of required or recommend reading.
 
His name is Bienvenu? :lol: Mr. Bienvenu? Mr. Welcome? Hahahahahahahahaha.

Either way, Belgian prejudice of Africans is nothing new and Herge is correct in saying it 'reflects' the prejudice at the time he wrote them. Specially when one considers the work of Leopold in the Congo. I do not think it should be banned but it should come with a warning label that there are racial stereotypes and offensive subject matter in the book. I've read some of the Tintin books and they are infested with racism. Asterix and Obelix are IMO far better in terms of story telling and artwork.
 
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Who decides what is Racist and under whose criteria is the charge of racism to be made.
 
Who decides what is Racist and under whose criteria is the charge of racism to be made.

Uh. It is safe to say that when you draw a cartoon and the majority of African characters are drawn as crude - pun intended - carbon copies of each other - your book has racist undertones.

tintin-in-the-congo.jpg


racism.png
 
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You're only going to increase the amount of people who buy the books if you ban them.
 
Who decides what is Racist and under whose criteria is the charge of racism to be made.

Obviously, White folk are fair game. Only traditionally underprivileged groups get to cry foul, duh :doh. Unless they are Jewish, then you can call them Nazis if they are the majority group in their own nation and deal harshly with terrorists and their allies... ;)
 
No, of course not. First Amendment and all.

From schools? Generally yes. However, the case of Huckleberry Finn shows why a shallow reading can be dangerous. It uses racist words, yes - to criticize racism. It's one of the most important, insightful works against racism in American literature.
 
Uh. It is safe to say that when you draw a cartoon and the majority of African characters are drawn as crude - pun intended - carbon copies of each other - your book has racist undertones.

Not just Africans. And not just 90 years ago.

auth.gif
 
Not just Africans. And not just 90 years ago.

auth.gif

The thing is, however, we successfully pwn'ed the Indians. Our history of systematically exterminating their species is much less PC than us using them as our mascot. It's a sleight of hand.
 
No, they shouldn't be banned. Not from schools, not from anywhere. If anything, the Tintin comic should be required reading in school, followed by a discussion on the history of racial prejudice.
 
How Horrible! They are stereotyping about a group!

images

Are you even a ****ing real person? Seriously cause you'd have to be a complete ****ing moron to bring up this kind of comparison. The Minnesota Vikings are owned by this guy:

Zygi_Wilf_and_Edward_Masso_cropped_%281%29.jpg


And that guy, has decided to stereotype vikings for whatever purpose and nobody who is white seems to have a problem with it. I mean I understand why you might be pissed that Vikings are depicted with blond hair and anachronistic helmets but at the very least he's depicting them with what was once a symbol of strength and fear in Western Europe.

On the other hand this guy:

herge.jpg


Decided to draw people who look like this:

n55705302_34213094_5844.jpg


Look like this:

tintin.jpg


Why don't you just shut the **** up and make a poll about coyotes or something? Better yet, tell us about how all black people speak with a black accent. Cause you sure as **** are an annoyingly ignorant ****. Do you understand that maybe white people really don't care about somebody of their own race 'stereotyping' vikings but black people might actually care about a white person stereotyping their entire race?

Alright. Gig me.
 
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That's minor though. When it comes to certain races being beaten, ostracized, or killed over skin color, then I'll take a stand. Should we have a public execution for Imus even though what he said was hilarious? Should I get bent out of shape if a black person refers to me as a toasted, salty, bite-sized snack?

If someone wants to be a benign racist, go ahead and be a benign racist. It's your right, just like it's my right to find you funny or stupid as the situation seems fit.
 
No, they shouldn't be banned. Not from schools, not from anywhere. If anything, the Tintin comic should be required reading in school, followed by a discussion on the history of racial prejudice.

Yeah, I like this option best.

Of course, in some schools the discussion wouldbe "class,, isn't this cool? Look at the funny-looking negroes!"
 
How Horrible! They are stereotyping about a group!

NEGATIVE stereotyping, genius.

We can argue all day about what's acceptable stereotyping and what's not. That will vary by culture, and by generation. The images in the TinTin cartoon were probably not considered very insulting at the time. But you can't just declare that all stereotypes are fine just because some are.
 
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Are you even a ****ing real person? Seriously cause you'd have to be a complete ****ing moron to bring up this kind of comparison. The Minnesota Vikings are owned by this guy:

Zygi_Wilf_and_Edward_Masso_cropped_%281%29.jpg


And that guy, has decided to stereotype vikings for whatever purpose and nobody who is white seems to have a problem with it. I mean I understand why you might be pissed that Vikings are depicted with blond hair and anachronistic helmets but at the very least he's depicting them with what was once a symbol of strength and fear in Western Europe.

On the other hand this guy:

herge.jpg


Decided to draw people who look like this:

n55705302_34213094_5844.jpg


Look like this:

tintin.jpg


Why don't you just shut the **** up and make a poll about coyotes or something? Better yet, tell us about how all black people speak with a black accent. Cause you sure as **** are an annoyingly ignorant ****. Do you understand that maybe white people really don't care about somebody of their own race 'stereotyping' vikings but black people might actually care about a white person stereotyping their entire race?

Alright. Gig me.

Do you feel better now? :rofl
 
Why don't you make a poll about my emotions?

Why don't you take your personal beef with me to the basement? I'm sure you'd find some trash talkers there who would enjoy ripping me to shreds with profanity and disrespect.

Meanwhile, the topic of this thread was whether 'racist' literature should be banned. The article, from a legitimate news source, talks about an older series which contained stereotypes of Africans that are outdated and racist by today's standards.

Do you think this type of thing should be banned?
 
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These books shouldn't be banned. People can get offended about anything, and if they're that immature then they are just as bad as the immature racists themselves. Everything has some quality to it that might offend a person.
 
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