How fucking stupid can liberals be? Now it’s “Dr Seuss is ‘racist’”
Parsifal
Bescherelle
herman
Ragnar
herman
Parsifal
Bescherelle
herman
Ragnar
Navy
I-think4me
She also pointed out that their school has children of every economic background. If she didn't feel the school library needed these books they could have been passed along as gifts or rewards to some of those children who are not fortunate enough to have books at home.
As to her criticism of Dr.Seuss, bs! Teaching children to enjoy reading is probably the most valuable thing you can do for them. Dr. Seuss books have been doing that for generations.
Ragnar
Navy
Ragnar
Minister Rebel
Minister Rebel
Irie
On Friday, September 29, 2017 at 6:27:12 AM UTC-5, Navy wrote:
Ragnar
Irie
Ragnar
Justice
Before signing off in her letter, the librarian thanked Melania for the books and said it was a “wonderful gesture, if one that could have been better thought out.”
She added: “Books can be a powerful way to learn about and experience the world around us; they help build empathy and understanding. In return, I’m attaching a list of ten books (it’s the librarian in me) that I hope will offer you a window into the lives of the many children affected by the policies of your husband’s administration. You and your husband have a direct impact on these children’s lives. Please make time to learn about and value them."
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We've only been reading part of the letter; I still haven't seen the entire letter in one place; she makes good points. Lovely gift but definitely to the wrong school on every metric.
The republicans with their panties in a twist are making it personal; but nary a word when trump refused help from the Mexican government when Harvey hit Houston. That was a president to president country to country rebuff -- exceedingly ungracious.
this is a librarian, writing to an unelected donor and because the gift was not needed, rather than just turn it down she decided to make it a teaching moment.
And of course the people on this board who despise learning, have shit on the post. Color me shocked!
Parsifal
Parsifal
Irie
I-think4me
I guess no one told people who are actually buying kids books that his works are trite.
Nobody has bothered to tell the kids either, because my grandchildren love them. Oh and teachers still use and recommend them to teach rhyming.
This librarian strikes me as one of those who keeps her head in her books and spends little time actually interacting with the children who frequent her library.
I-think4me
The republicans with their panties in a twist are making it personal; but nary a word when trump refused help from the Mexican government when Harvey hit Houston. That was a president to president country to country rebuff -- exceedingly ungracious.
this is a librarian, writing to an unelected donor and because the gift was not needed, rather than just turn it down she decided to make it a teaching moment.
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I read the entire letter. Her response was ungracious and self righteous. If she wanted to make this a teaching moment she should have set the example of putting partisan sniping aside for the sake of these children, graciously accepted the gift and found the best use for the books.
Justice
plainolamerican
Political cartoons[edit]
Theodor Geisel drew over 400 cartoons for the New York newspaper PM. This was during the two years that he was the chief editorial cartoonist (1941-1943). Many of these cartoons were directed towards the war, Adolf Hitler, and Japan. Over 200 of these cartoons have been republished, most of which hadn't been published anywhere since their original debut in PM.[2] In 1929, he illustrated a cartoon with racist elements for Judge magazine. The four-panel cartoon was entitled, "Cross-Section of The World's Most Prosperous Department Store," and in one of the panels, two white men are examining black men with pitch-black skin and big red lips, and there is a sign reading, "Take home a high grade nigger for your woodpile! Satisfaction guaranteed." [3]
Politics in his children's books[edit]
The Cat in the Hat[edit]
The Cat in the Hat was written as a challenge in 1954 in response to an article in Life magazine that claimed that widespread illiteracy was caused by children being bored with books. The book had an underlying theme that endorsed rebellion in children.[4]
According to H. Burdorff in Subversive Seuss, Dr. Seuss continued to champion progressive ideals in the sequel to The Cat in the Hat, titled The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, in which the Cat may represent colonial or absolute dictatorial power. The Cat tries to clean up a mess he made with a dress that was not his, but ends up making things worse. When the Cat realizes that he can’t do it all by himself, he brings in helpers, which Burdorff suggests may represent the working public, the underclass, or the democratic citizenry. When the Cat recognizes the potential of the working people, he sees the need for democracy.[5]
Horton Hears a Who![edit]
Horton Hears a Who! was published in 1958, and it was one of Seuss's most successful books. Horton Hears a Who! is said to have many political and social messages, focusing on the powerless. The book is famous for the quote, "A person's a person, no matter how small."[6] This quote has been co-opted by many pro-life groups.[7] It is disputed whether Seuss actually had a hidden political message about abortion, as his widow has claimed he supported reproductive rights, and has threatened to sue pro-life groups for use of the slogan. It is said that Seuss wrote this book after atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. Seuss visited the children in Japan, and later wrote the book. After his death, pro-life groups took over his quote for marches and protests. [8]
Dr. Seuss also addresses other social issues, such as conformity. Throughout the book, Horton stands out from the rest of the jungle animals. He is very different, and Horton refuses to conform. The key political struggle in Dr. Seuss's lifetime was the struggle against fascism, where strict conformity was a cultural and political requisite. [9][8][10]
Yertle the Turtle[edit]
Yertle the Turtle was published in 1958. There are many connections through the book to the rise and fall of Hitler. The book is about how all creatures should be free.[11]
Ultimately, the dictatorial leader, symbolizing Hitler, falls. The book was removed from many schools for being 'too political.' The quote from the book, "I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here on the bottom, we, too, should have rights"[12] was one of the lines identified as a reason for removal of the book from schools, purportedly to protect the children.[13]
The Sneetches[edit]
The Sneetches, written in 1953, has many undertones of opposition to anti-Semitism, along with racial and religion bigotry. The story of the Sneetches is about yellow bird-like creatures, with some who have green stars on their stomachs, and others without. The “in” crowd are those who have the stars, and they look down on those who do not have it. This discrimination even runs in their children. One day, a man named McBean comes to town with a machine to give those without a star, a star, with a “star-on machine” for the cost of three dollars. The original Sneetches with the stars are angered because they no longer have a way to show that they are better than those without. McBean comes up with the solution in the form of a star-off machine that will take the stars off the stomach of the Sneetches for the cost of ten dollars. This way, they can differentiate themselves once again and regain their superiority. But after the original plain-belly Sneetches go through the star-off machine too, it gets a little out of hand with all the Sneetches changing back and forth from having a star and not having a star to the point that, “until neither the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew / Whether this one was that one or that one was this one / Or which one was what one or what one was who.” [14] Both groups quickly run out of money and McBean leaves town. After he leaves, the Sneetches come to realize that neither the “plain-belly” or “star belly” is superior over the other. There are clear themes of discrimination and racism throughout the story, with even the star implying a political message. It was inspired by the yellow Star of David that the Jews were required to wear on the clothing to identify them to the Nazis. [15]
The Lorax[edit]
Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax appeared in the 1970s at the start of the environmental movement, just before the first anniversary of Earth Day. Dr. Seuss later called The Lorax straight propaganda, a polemic against pollution. The main point of the book is “The basic message of The Lorax deals with ecosystems and the interrelatedness of all parts - living and non-living - as a viable, functioning unit." Environmental impact is told from a simplistic yet environmentally accurate viewpoint, demonstrating the conflict between natural resources and man-made production. The story starts with what was called the Once-ler, telling the story of the local natural history and how it was once home to the Lorax, the one who speaks for the trees because trees have no tongues. This natural habitat, home to the Truffula Trees, was quickly taken advantage of by the greed of the Once-ler. The Once-ler cut down all of the Truffula Trees to make thneeds which he claims everyone needs (a marketing slogan). Through this deforestation and pursuit of economic growth by the Once-ler, the lakes, skies, and land in the area become polluted, all the creatures who inhabit them are forced to leave, and all of the Truffula Trees are cut down. The Once-ler is the sign of consumerism where he only cares about business and money. Dreier states, “The Once-ler cares only about making more things and more money. "Business is business! / And business must grow," he says. At the end however, surveying the devastation he has caused, the Once-ler shows remorse. He says to the young boy in the end that Truffula Trees (instead of thneeds) are what everyone needs, and that new ones should be grown, given clean water and fresh air, and should be protected. The book attacks corporate greed and excessive consumerism.”[1]
Another message within the reading suggests that young children need to be taught about the environment and how to live in a sustainable way in order to preserve what we have. The children need to learn about how to live without degrading the environment, so that future generations have a clean place to live. This is shown in The Lorax by the Once-ler educating the small boy about the dangers of pollution and degradation of the environment, and by giving him the last Truffula seed so that new ones can be grown.[16]
Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now![edit]
Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! was written in 1972. On the surface, the story is one of Marvin K. Mooney, a young child who needs to go to bed and is asked to "go" in many ways. The book was turned into a political statement on July 1974 by a collaboration with political humorist Art Buchwald. Dr. Seuss crossed out "Marvin K. Mooney" wherever it occurred in a copy of his story, and replaced it with "Richard M. Nixon." With Dr. Seuss's approval, Buchwald and his editors reprinted the markup as a newspaper column, and it was published July 30, 1974 in The Washington Post.[17] President Richard Nixonresigned ten days later on August 9th as a result of Watergate.[18][19]
The Butter Battle Book[edit]
The Butter Battle Book, written in 1984, was a clear political statement about the danger and implications of the Cold War[citation needed]. The book depicts a war between two parties. The Yooks, dressed in blue, are a clear depiction of the Americans[citation needed], while the Zooks, dressed in red, resemble the Soviet army[citation needed]. The book’s premise is about the war that is fuelled by the different viewpoints of how one should butter their bread. The Yooks and Zooks constantly try to build better weaponry to scare the enemy, which is a clear correlation to the arms race. The book's message is that the arms race could be avoided if the trivial misunderstanding of “which side of bread is to be buttered,” could just be let go, which would lead to each side not needing to increase the power of its arsenal.[20]
I-think4me
This had zero to do with speaking frankly to power. First off, Melania is probably the most powerless first lady we've had in a century. This was nothing more than a reluctant first lady looking for a way to do something useful in a role in which she is obviously not comfortable. She choose to reward a few select schools with a donation of books. Quite possibly the least controversial thing she could have chosen. Unless of course liberals now want to argue that encouraging children to read is a negative thing. That would be as stupid as attacking a first lady for encouraging children to eat their veggies.
Xtal97
Xtal97
Uh, no. Let's try: ...Color you "guilty while Liberal" atoning for misplaced shame and guilt over some past misdeeds who treats her fanatical message board loyalty the way cripples and humpbacks treat Lourdes.
Did you REALLY believe you were fooling anyone with that faux-compassion and bullshit?
Ragnar
Navy
Xtal97
Minister Rebel
Ragnar
Navy
Xtal97
Ragnar
Ragnar
Navy
Ragnar
Ragnar
Navy
Ragnar
