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Richard Stallman's Political Notes

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Childrens' books revised to eliminate prejudice

mercredi 10 mars 2021 à 01:00

Many well-known childrens' books were revised to eliminate prejudice.

I think such revisions are a good way to fix the problem. They make the book available without the prejudice.

The bad aspect is that the new edition will have a newer copyright; children reading the new edition shortly after its publication will grow old and die before they can lawfully share copies of it. Beware the >oppressive e-books with DRM! They will have to resort to unauthorized copying.

What publishers should not do is to withdraw the book from publication at the slightest hint of prejudice. That represents the choice to destroy the work rather than fix it.

For instance, Dr Seuss's 1937 book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was withdrawn on account of one small drawing, which depicts a Chinese man dressed in what might be a style of the 1800s and wearing his hair in a queue, as the Manchu conquerors imposed.

I asked a Chinese friend and a Taiwanese friend what they thought of that drawing. Neither one felt offended by it. Nor would I feel offended by a drawing of an American with clothing and hairdo in a style from the 1800s.

Best way to weaken the far right

mercredi 10 mars 2021 à 01:00

*The best way for Democrats to weaken the far right? Build up the labor movement.*

Journalist faces prosecution for covering BLM protest

mardi 9 mars 2021 à 01:00

Local journalist Andrea Sahouri faces prosecution for covering a Black Lives Matter protest in Des Moines.

Local thugs seem to have decided to treat her as a protester, never mind that she told them she was a journalist. This article makes me wonder whether they also violated the protesters' right to protest, but I don't have the information to judge that. Can anyone tell me?

US military spending

mardi 9 mars 2021 à 01:00

The US military is developing weapons systems that cost billions and don't work, yet it is almost impossible to cancel them.

Women in UK armed forces

mardi 9 mars 2021 à 01:00

*Women in UK armed forces face 'hostile environment' if they report bullying. … women are coerced to withdraw harassment complaints.*