Friday, July 13, 2007
The Racist Tintin
Just found out that Tintin in Congo is considered very racist. Being a huge fan of Tintin, I read most of the series, but Tintin in Congo is not one of it unfortunately. So what I have to say next would have to be taken in the context of this ignorance: who, except the most conscientious ones, in 1930s were not racist? Placing this comic into its historical context should be the fair thing to do - as from history, we all (including children) could learn a lot from how far humanity has progressed in this past century.
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i'm also struck by the same news headline since it was just yesterday i was browsing the comix Asterix. And realized that most of its humor is based on stereotyping various European nations. Will Asterix be set aside to the adult section too after a Spanish nationality get offended?
Agree that context is important. Our PC-obsessed era can get a little too far.
just a note, captain Haddock, the bad tempered cursing ex-pirate in Tintin, he never actually used real bad words in his curses...
apa yah...kaget juga...tapi bukan masalah baru juga kan sebenarny?? The Simpsons,serial favorit saya sepanjang masa juga ternyata dianggap sebagai sama skali bukan tontonan anak-anak.. South Park juga sangat kasar...dan ternyata serial yang dipuja banyak orang dalam beberapa dasawarsa terakhir ternyata rasis... moral of the story?? jujur saya juga belum ketemu...
tapi ternyata memang tidak ada sesuatu apapun yang ada di dunia ini bisa luput dari kesalahan..
dan ternyata memang sebenarnya jauh lebih banyak "ugliness" di dunia ini yang sering kita lupakan dan anggap biasa saja...
yang penting menurut saya bukan masalahnya..tapi bagaimana kita menanggapinya...
opini pribadi sepenuhnya sie...
regards..
Ray
"Placing this comic into its historical context should be the fair thing to do - as from history, we all (including children) could learn a lot from how far humanity has progressed in this past century."
Does that mean we should include "classic" racist Nazi in the kids sections of our bookshops?
Maggi: apart from PC-obsessed, I think we can go too far in terms of being politically correct.
And this links with my comment to Ray: you're right, The Simpsons (I haven't watched South Park!) is not a politically correct cartoon either - which is why I love it too! :) And it's part of the present, isn't it?
The moral of the story, for me, is not to take our human race and ourselves too seriously. With a little humor we can laugh about our own stupidity - reflected sarcastically and hyperbolically in The Simpsons.
Now, John: my comment on children and history comes from my own observation that children actually have the capacity to understand the nuances and complexities of the world when they are being mindfully introduced.
The easy way out has been to censor 'inappropriate' knowledge of reality, but leaves children growing up in their protective shells, oblivious of the world outside.
But things are changing, and knowledge such as sex education is now very much part of the mainstream education, at least in the west, because there is more benefit than harm to the knowledge of safe sex. I have seen a picture book for children 5 and above which graphically illustrate how children are made.
So to answer your question, I think children should be mindfully introduced to the holocaust as one of the means to understand the complexity of humanity. Of course this should be done in a developmentally appropriate time.
By discussing the holocaust, I think children can be introduced early on to the nature and danger of human prejudices and openly discuss differences in race, religion, ethnicity, etc. and ways to be respectful of these differences.
well then i think such material shouldn't be left around the kids sections of bookshops, because it needs adult supervision at the very least.
what about modern racist material? do you think kids should red it in order to understand racism in a modern context?
John,
With 'sensitive' topics, I do think adult supervision is needed in the introduction of the topic. To reiterate: I do agree that these books shouldn't be left in children's section, and it should be labeled as such. I was reacting to the guy's comment in yahoo news who insisted that the comic should not be displayed in main bookstores.
I know some of my friends ban their kids from reading and watching The Simpsons. And I think the comics can mostly found in children's section or in the rack for children's comics in news stands. It may not be racist per se (although some of the characters are very stereotypical), but I find the comics are more violent than the cartoon series. It's the violence and value system that I would more worry about.
Honestly..I've been watchin The Simpsons when I was six...and i don't feel it offend me or suggest me to be racial, vulgar, or rude in any way..and it's how it works ever since...
Now..let's try another example...Tom and Jerry? this is a very classic cartoon..there are dozens of violation in that cartoon..and should it be taken away from our childhood? should the tv station put it for night schedule? i don't really think so...i think there's more and more example about giving bad influence ever since..but should it be erased away? should we expect everything come in perfection? so that the children can learn the "goodness" of life? and they shouldn't know how ugly life could? they shouldn't know everything must came in a balance...how process is really important to reveal the true meaning?
it confuses me actually...
regards
Raynata
Well i am just wondering where and how do you draw the line?
Is there any rule of thumb that you can think of?
I think I am pretty much the same as you... I never read Tintin in Congo, so I have no idea how racist it actually is...
I suppose one just has to use his/her own judgement in these matters...
Ray, here’s more to confuse your mind with: I think the opponents of ‘bad’ cartoons and comics would probably argue since you grew up with ‘bad’ cartoons, you don’t know what it’s like to grow up without! :) And as such, you don’t know what harm they have done to your perception of the world. You may think you are alright, but how do you know you are really alright? :)
But I agree with you. I wish when I grew up I was exposed to things that do not end up happily ever after, or the good guys always win (like Jerry, even when Tom is not mischievous!) I think it would help me create a more realistic picture of the way things are earlier on.
John, I think you pose a difficult question to answer. I’m not sure I have the answer to that yet. I was going to say use common sense and moral judgment, but then my common sense and moral judgment is different from yours. I am recently becoming interested in morality and its relationship with religion. There seems to be a definite overlap, but also a definite line in between the two realms. I’m curious whether or not religious fundamentalists think they have high morals. But this is diverging from the topic being discussed. What I’m trying to say is that with the complexity of today’s world, the line in between and rule of thumb that seemed obvious before are not so obvious now. They will leave and open many questions and problems that need redefining and will continue to be redefined. These stuffs are probably what make lives worth living for :)
i suppose that's what moral philosophy is all about - teasing out the logic of right and wrong...
i don't think religion could have survived if there wasn't an overlap between it and morality, but i reckon morality exists independently of religion.
hey guys. oh religion, it always seems to find its way into conversations. Why? because we all have a conscience and want to do right deep down inside. But the problem is, if we don't know God's standards, we can only live by our own. True, my standard of right and wrong is diferent from yours. Because we're from different up bringings, cultures and worldviews perhaps. But God is not changed by my personal opinions and has given us the law to live by. In summary, love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And love your neighbour as yourself. when you do this, you're keeping the law. But we cant do that in our own strength. we need God to open our eyes and change our lives. To do that, you need to know who He really is, and then you will know who you were really meant to be. before you became bombarded with a million opinions from people and media persuading you to live for yourself and for what makes you feel good. God wants us to know we're loved by Him because He made us and life is not about following a formula of moral code. Its about relationship with God, life. Talking to Him, admiting our failures, faults and questions. He wants to guide us through life into truth and full life. And when we have found true life, thats what inspires others to search for it as well and be changed from their old lives of selfishness, fear, rejection and so on that causes them to be living in a state that appears immoral. Basically, we all be messed up people. we cant do right on our own. we always mess up . thankfully God made a way. on our own, we would be dead because we have done too much in God's eyes. He's perfect, in a pure sense. We deserve punishment for our crimes. (spiritual eternal death) But, this is the best part. God came into our darkness, became the man we all know as Jesus, died willingliy in our place and took on our punishment. Died and absorbed the crimes we committed so we wouldnt have to be lost. Thankfully, Jesus didnt stay dead. His life was restored and now He's alive and destroyed sin. (evil, death). Its a matter of law. Jesus took all of the sin of the world and put it on himself and died with it. So sin died with him. If you're married, you're married to the person until they die. But once they're dead, you're not under that law anymore because the spouse is never coming back. you can have a new life with someone else. Jesus took care of our immorality when he died. He asks us to do the same. Believe what He did and follow his example. Be real with God and ask Him to come change your life. You will die to the way you used to live, and will not be married to immorality anymore. You'll start over, have a new life with God and be free to live in a reality that doesnt have to be controlled by old habits, hatred, fear and mistrust. you'll be free to know God, love Him and his ways, love people around you. And Jesus said those that follow him will never walk in the darkness. You'll live forever and have a peace that goes beyond normal understanding. You'll work at the same boring old place or go to the same dull classes after you make a decision like this. But you'll see your friends, family and coworkers in a new way. The way God sees them. And all you'll be able to do is show them the love you've been given from God. Because we were headed for eternal death. But because of God's love, he wouldnt stand for it. He showed us mercy, he offered grace. Something we didnt deserve. And if you accept what He did as a man, Jesus, that He died for you. You'll know this love. You'll be filled and changed forever. And you'll be free.
Later.
Thanks for sharing your belief Nathan.
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