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Pop into the used bookstore to enquire about a couple of older editions they had in the window - Sir Richard Burton on the Discovery of the Source of the Nile - (not exact title) - which interested me as I'd read Speke's version of events and enjoyed it immensely, and Stanley's "In Darkest Africa" - also of great appeal. Both, sadly, not priced to my budget at this time. Take the opportunity to browse for other books.
In the background they have some classical piano concertos playing, which slightly stimulate my brain and get me to thinking...
When was the last time I had music? A long time. I mean a very long time. Years. I get by with the radio in the Jeep, other peoples tastes, maybe via the computer - but the quality, it shows, poor speakers, ads, pop-songs, none of the old-timey cerebral just listen to classical music...
The speakers here are great. I at first thought there was a pianist in the hall- but no.
I miss this. And so I'm slow in my browsing, the store is largely empty, the predictable side effect of an unpredictable schedule of hours decided by the proprietor on the morning of...
So, browse for books, a fine selection, better than Calgary - by far, I've noticed this before. Books on shelves, in boxes, organized every which way and not at all, the proprietor, he sits in the front window, mask on, engrossed in reading Marquez's "100 Years of Solitude" or some such, a little end table beside his chair piled to overflowing with books he has planned to read next, or has already finished, he's an endorsement of how I'd love to spend my working retirement, it's a shame to tip his chair when finally I've found my pick - "Hamlet Letters" by Henry Miller, this bookstore, it's great, never what you were looking for but always something just as good.
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Again, as always. First there was Shylock, in Merchant of Venice, the negative portrayal of a Jewish moneylender. Then there was Huck Finn, the not-so-negative but perhaps a little too stereotypical depiction of a former black slave in the South. And there have been hundreds, thousands since then. Lolita, De Sade, Fahrenheit 451, the list goes on and is endless.
But the latest casualties are hitting a little closer to home. I mean Pepe Le Pew, who was an overly affectionate doesn't-take-no for an answer skunk. Presumably a comically reference to French Canadians or stereotypes about French Lovers. And not technically "Censured" so much as cancelled, so - fine - most things are humorous or relevant only in the context of the culture - time, place and people - that produced them. But that they publicize it is worrisome - part of a larger trend of whitewashing history. And by whitewashing it I mean making it as Vanilla as possible; devoid of anything that might possibly offend anyone.
But I should say, if you're killing Pepe you should really be killing Ms. Piggy. Like, I get a lotta creepy/stalker/abusive vibes out of her and Kermit. Picture me screaming and waving my hands and shouting "Somebody, won't somebody PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!".
I should make up a sign saying "Cancel Ms Piggy" and go stand with the Anti-Maskers tomorrow. There's been a lot of protesting lately, but it's never about things that matter.
This is not to be confused with "Cancel Culture", in which a "celebrity" does something outrageous or stupid or questionable and then loses their lavish lifestyle, endorsements, etc. I don't give a damned about that. That people get upset about somebody losing their job over doing something stupid is entirely what the whole wide rest of the real world deals with on a day to day basis. It's less "Cancel Culture" than it is "Consequence Culture".
But this is not cancel culture - this is revisionist history, pandering to those who are taking offense where none is given.
And the latest victim - Dr. Seuss.
Author of "Oh, The Thinks you can Think". Only, apparently, you can't. 6 Titles being pulled from publication by the Dr. Seuss foundation on the advice of educators and other so-called experts.
I disagree with this - the censure of history and art and literature.
The "Negative" or "Stereotypical" depictions included a Chinese boy who eats with sticks. Hair done up in Pigtails. Now - really - I looked at it again - to jog my memory - and - could still see nothing of offense in it. Yes, it's a stereotype built upon centuries of their own traditions. The hair, the clothes, chopsticks - until comparatively recently were a very visible portion of their culture. Not in a bad way - it marked them as being different. And when you're a kid it's interesting to view the world as different, exciting to think that different people have different lives, dress, act, and eat in a manner unfamiliar to ourselves.
Another one - "McElligots's Pool" - for having "Eskimo Fish" that wore parkas. I mean - HOLY FUCK! Have you been north of the 49th? Parkas are fucking mandatory in this country 6 to 9 months of the year! It's a stereotype for a fucking reason! It's the truth! Would an Eskimo (They don't even exist, specifically, merely a broad generalization for any indigenous people that live above the Arctic Circle) take offense to being depicted in a parka? Fucking hell! Or are they worried about the depictions of the fish?
They are stereotypes, surely - but negative? Hardly.
These stereotypes engage us and inspire curiosity about peoples and cultures different than us. To be told that Eskimos and Chinese people live in houses just like ours is boring and inspires no one to travel. And, depending where you're from, it's not necessarily true. To be told that Eskimos suffer criminally high rates of substance abuse, addiction, depression and suicide - well - while accurate might also be construed as negative. And it isn't going to inspire anybody to visit. To be told that the Chinese are torturing and raping innocent people held in concentration and forced labor camps might also encourage some negative stereotypes.
If they had said that they were discontinuing the books because no one was buying them I'd understand. But this whitewashing, censure of books because they "Might" cause offense is insane. Given that there are probably fewer than a dozen of these books available in the NorthWest Territories/Nunavut I doubt very much any of the children there are being offended by fish in Parkas. Most likely they find it humorous just like the rest of the world. And given their circumstances they would be I'm sure glad of any portrayal that drew interest to their lifestyles.
There seems to be this equivocation that to depict anyone as different than ourselves is bad. I would disagree. Cultures can be bad, but cultures aren't race. And Dr. Seuss isn't portraying these cultures in a negative way. His books were designed to inspire curiosity and learning. I very much doubt he intended to offend anyone - given that in 1971 he actually went through and revised a good many of his illustrations that might be considered offensive.
Now I'm taking this a bit personally because I personally love stereotypes. No shit. Greedy Bankers. No ones arguing that one. Killer Incompetent Bungling Cops. Another truism. Crooked Lawyers. Yep. Wait...I just described the Prime Time TV/Movie Line and no one's protesting that. Vacuous, insipid women looking for their Prince Charming? The Bachelor, purportedly a REALITY TV SHOW and - just wow - doesn't anybody want to protest that? If not that, then surely the contestants and very premise of it!
Me, I liked the idea of living in a world with headhunters, cannibals, witch-doctors - even if they're not current, they're part of our history. And the fact that we interpret these differences as "negative" and "stereotypical" when we should, in fact, be teaching our kids that it's OK to be different and we celebrate that - is - to say the least - infuriating.
Perhaps I'm not as "liberal" as I thought.
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This is Book 2, of his "My Struggle" series (how did they translate this into German?), found at a thrift shop, unfortunately they didn't have book 1. Fortunately it's not required. Essentially it's the profoundly honest description of both his own and others lives in relation to his - A Norwegian, living in Stockholm, his wife, children, friends. There is nothing in it and then there is everything. I'm quite enjoying it. His plain speaking stream of consciousness and association inspire you, make it easier to write myself...
A rare and worthwhile dip into contemporary literature.
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An in-depth look at the mythology behind were-wolves. "A pleasant companion" to previous readings on the topic by Montague Summers. Imagine my surprise when - the entire book - not a single mention is made of that illustrious sleuth of the right-minded church!
Anyways, on it's own merits, brilliantly researched, approaching the myths of lycanthropy through classical writings, psychiatry, cave art, old trial records, etc, etc. All in all an enjoyable and informative read, by a slightly more discerning mind.
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A combination of shitty internet and craptastic laptop have got be back into reading chapter books.
Although - to digress for a moment - how in the hell is 2GB RAM not enough memory to surf the net? I mean, 10 years ago this would have been more than enough. Now, I have to go slow, 1 tab at a time, wait for the page to load, the trifling dopamine rewards of tidbits of information have pretty much dropped to nothing.
Anyways, this was a great read - it's as if you're taking part in an intelligent, albeit one-sided conversation, you can't help but be struck by the grandness of spirit, he recalls a young Thomas Wolfe (Of Time and the River), an irrepressible zest for life, spontaneous, vital, brilliant ideas and thoughtful digressions. He acknowledges the controversy and defends his writings about Sex & Pornography, argues against obscenity and censure, there are previously unpublished letters and selections from drafts of his novels, this was probably his most enjoyable book. (**Note, strictly speaking, he didn't write this as a book, it was posthumously assembled by his publishers)
And, in curious coincidences as if to remind me that "books are the way" on Page 100, in Italics, he's written "For the Time Being", recalling the last book I read, so onward...