A few days ago the venerable Oxford University Press announced that any references to pigs and pig-related products were banned from its books for fear of offending certain religious communities. Any author who wishes to publish through Oxford must rewrite their stories.
What would E.B. White, the legendary satirist and author of Charlotte's Web (a children's tale with a pig as its main character) have to say about that?
Personally I think this is going too far. Given how much variety there is in the media these days, my mantra is: if you don't like it, don't partake in it. Nobody is forcing you to watch the movie Babe or read the story of The Three Little Pigs or eat sausage in a blanket. Don't force your religious restrictions on the rest of us.
Some say that many publications are asking for it by reprinting the material that ultimately got the Charlie Hebdo journalists killed. Being satirical is one thing, but being deliberately provocative is another matter.
However, as a good friend of mine said: "Obnoxious people don't deserve to die just for being obnoxious, and the offended are not entitled to kill."
I think I'll go and re-watch Boobs in the Woods.
Adeeb badeed tha that's all folks!
Politcally correct is becoming an infringement on life and an excuse for the offended to point fingers.
ReplyDeleteAgreed wholeheartedly. And isn't it ridiculous because let's consider porn, for example, I find it highly offensive but I don't think I have the right to kill someone for hawing it. In fact, my friend was just in Target this morning and she took issue with the fact they were selling Fifty Shades of Gray products at child's eye level right across from the peanut butter. She complained to the manager, requesting that the items be moved to another location. She didn't expect the store to shut its doors or threaten to harm the manager. Where will it end? Indeed no one has to buy that which they find offensive so if someone doesn't like the term pig than they can choose to boycott that book, etc.
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