Rocket Science
Throughout history so-called learned men have taken it upon themselves to tell us what we can and cannot read. Their reasonings can be dubious at best, and often downright laughable.
Salutations!
Today we honor that great American past time: Book-burning. Throughout history so-called learned men have taken it upon themselves to tell us what we can and cannot read. Sometimes their reasoning can be dubious at best, and often downright laughable! Below are a few examples of censorship from history, which we welcome to the Rocket Science Hall of Fame.
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In 1953 Robin Hood was banned by the State of Indiana for being a communist. He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor.
In his 1954 book Seduction of the Innocent, Dr. Frederic Wertham, a psychiatrist, accused comic books of corrupting America’s youth. His conclusions were: Batman and Robin were gay, Wonder Woman a lesbian, and Superman undermines parental authority.
In the 1980’s the books Cinderella, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and the Wizard of OZ were attacked by Tennessee parents for violating their religious rights.
In 1905 Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was banned from a Brooklyn NY library because " Huck not only itched but scratched, and he said sweat when he should have said perspiration".
Tarzan of the Apes was removed from the Los Angeles Public Library in 1929, because the Ape-man and his companion Jane were "living in sin".
The Alabama State Textbook Committee attempted to censor The Diary of Anne Frank in 1983 for being "a real downer"!
A Boulder Colorado library removed the beloved children’s story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from its shelves for portraying "a poor philosophy on life".
In 1933 the Holy Bible was deemed "obscene and pornographic" by two libraries.
A library in St. Louis Missouri ordered Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath burned for its use of "vulgar language".
More Censorship
The following is based on a Readers Digest article:
In some school textbooks, boys and men can’t be portrayed as "larger and heavier than women and girls". Men cannot play sports or work with tools.
Women should not be seen as teachers or nurses. They cannot cook or shop, or give hugs and kisses.
The state of Massachusetts bans the depiction of Asians as "having strong family ties".
In New York, Koreans can’t be shown as "owning or working in fruit markets".
Also in NY, Irishmen can’t be portrayed as policemen.
And Finally:
California has banned mentioning junk foods like candies or cookies in its school texts. One short story was changed from A Perfect Day For Ice Cream to A Perfect Day.
Can you say George Orwell?
Today we honor that great American past time: Book-burning. Throughout history so-called learned men have taken it upon themselves to tell us what we can and cannot read. Sometimes their reasoning can be dubious at best, and often downright laughable! Below are a few examples of censorship from history, which we welcome to the Rocket Science Hall of Fame.
*********
In 1953 Robin Hood was banned by the State of Indiana for being a communist. He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor.
In his 1954 book Seduction of the Innocent, Dr. Frederic Wertham, a psychiatrist, accused comic books of corrupting America’s youth. His conclusions were: Batman and Robin were gay, Wonder Woman a lesbian, and Superman undermines parental authority.
In the 1980’s the books Cinderella, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and the Wizard of OZ were attacked by Tennessee parents for violating their religious rights.
In 1905 Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was banned from a Brooklyn NY library because " Huck not only itched but scratched, and he said sweat when he should have said perspiration".
Tarzan of the Apes was removed from the Los Angeles Public Library in 1929, because the Ape-man and his companion Jane were "living in sin".
The Alabama State Textbook Committee attempted to censor The Diary of Anne Frank in 1983 for being "a real downer"!
A Boulder Colorado library removed the beloved children’s story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from its shelves for portraying "a poor philosophy on life".
In 1933 the Holy Bible was deemed "obscene and pornographic" by two libraries.
A library in St. Louis Missouri ordered Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath burned for its use of "vulgar language".
More Censorship
The following is based on a Readers Digest article:
In some school textbooks, boys and men can’t be portrayed as "larger and heavier than women and girls". Men cannot play sports or work with tools.
Women should not be seen as teachers or nurses. They cannot cook or shop, or give hugs and kisses.
The state of Massachusetts bans the depiction of Asians as "having strong family ties".
In New York, Koreans can’t be shown as "owning or working in fruit markets".
Also in NY, Irishmen can’t be portrayed as policemen.
And Finally:
California has banned mentioning junk foods like candies or cookies in its school texts. One short story was changed from A Perfect Day For Ice Cream to A Perfect Day.
Can you say George Orwell?
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