Another Seuss Cancellation Thread (Summer 2023)

[ciao_yall]

I assumed ciao meant the RCP government. The thing that mucks it up most is that science fiction fans can be, well, something else.

People's Republic of China, so PRC.

[jimbogumbo]

I think they should call it Republic of China's People.

fumble fingered jimbo

[apl68]

Not really sure if this was censorship, or just really handled badly:

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a46612912/science-fiction-hugo-awards-2024/

So what's next?  Will they be holding the Nobel Prize awards in Russia?  That choice of venue ought to yield some interesting results.

[Wahoo Redux]

IHE: Law Schools Required Free Speech / Bar Association

aw schools must adopt free speech policies to maintain their accreditation under a requirement approved by the American Bar Association's House of Delegates Monday.

The new standard requires all law schools to approve written policies that protect the rights of faculty, students and staff to express controversial or unpopular ideas. It also forbids any conduct that limits free expression.

[nebo113]

IHE: Law Schools Required Free Speech / Bar Association

aw schools must adopt free speech policies to maintain their accreditation under a requirement approved by the American Bar Association's House of Delegates Monday.

The new standard requires all law schools to approve written policies that protect the rights of faculty, students and staff to express controversial or unpopular ideas. It also forbids any conduct that limits free expression.

Steve Miller (he who hates anyone not white male and who filed lawsuit against Rooney Rule) will be on this like a fly on shit.

[Wahoo Redux]

And the beat goes on.

IHE: AAUP Starting Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom

IHE:Anti-DEI Bill Moves Forward in Kentucky

[jimbogumbo]

Not really sure if this was censorship, or just really handled badly:

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a46612912/science-fiction-hugo-awards-2024/

So what's next?  Will they be holding the Nobel Prize awards in Russia?  That choice of venue ought to yield some interesting results.

The China location for the Hugos made tons of sense. China has a huge number of science fiction readers.

[jimbogumbo]

And this is simply appalling: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/15/us/miami-dade-county-permission-slips-black-history-month-reaj/index.html

[dismalist]

And this is simply appalling: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/15/us/miami-dade-county-permission-slips-black-history-month-reaj/index.html

Aaah, no need to sweat it!

When my now adult daughter was in grade school, the permission slips that had to be signed overwhelmed my wife and me. So, I had a rubber stamp of my signature made, and gave it to my daughter to use as she pleased.

Free choice!

[Wahoo Redux]

And this is simply appalling: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/15/us/miami-dade-county-permission-slips-black-history-month-reaj/index.html

Ah Florida, home of "Florida Man," allegators in retirement community duck ponds, and many other avoidable insanities.

We just add one more insanity to the list. 

[jimbogumbo]

And this is simply appalling: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/15/us/miami-dade-county-permission-slips-black-history-month-reaj/index.html

Aaah, no need to sweat it!

When my now adult daughter was in grade school, the permission slips that had to be signed overwhelmed my wife and me. So, I had a rubber stamp of my signature made, and gave it to my daughter to use as she pleased.

Free choice!

Nope. It is discrimination by a government entity. Substitute "woman" or "Jew" or "Catholic" for African American man, and it remains appalling and arguably un-Constitutional.

The sheer number of things you think should be covered under freedom of choice (is that in your Constitution?) is staggering.

[marshwiggle]

And this is simply appalling: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/15/us/miami-dade-county-permission-slips-black-history-month-reaj/index.html

Aaah, no need to sweat it!

When my now adult daughter was in grade school, the permission slips that had to be signed overwhelmed my wife and me. So, I had a rubber stamp of my signature made, and gave it to my daughter to use as she pleased.

Free choice!

Nope. It is discrimination by a government entity. Substitute "woman" or "Jew" or "Catholic" for African American man, and it remains appalling and arguably un-Constitutional.

The sheer number of things you think should be covered under freedom of choice (is that in your Constitution?) is staggering.

It seems like this may have been a case of the school using this opportunity to stir the pot.

From my read, the school requires permission slips for kids to attend any extra-curricular event or presentation, which this apparently was. By describing the nature of the event as a "a book reading by an African-American man", the school was thumbing their noses at the requirement. (Specifically, the nature and content of the book are completely legitimate things for parents to know about; if the book contained graphic descriptions of torture, many parents would quite reasonably opt out. Describing the event purely by the factors which be not matter to anyone was just a stunt.)

[ciao_yall]

And this is simply appalling: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/15/us/miami-dade-county-permission-slips-black-history-month-reaj/index.html

Aaah, no need to sweat it!

When my now adult daughter was in grade school, the permission slips that had to be signed overwhelmed my wife and me. So, I had a rubber stamp of my signature made, and gave it to my daughter to use as she pleased.

Free choice!

Nope. It is discrimination by a government entity. Substitute "woman" or "Jew" or "Catholic" for African American man, and it remains appalling and arguably un-Constitutional.

The sheer number of things you think should be covered under freedom of choice (is that in your Constitution?) is staggering.

It seems like this may have been a case of the school using this opportunity to stir the pot.

From my read, the school requires permission slips for kids to attend any extra-curricular event or presentation, which this apparently was. By describing the nature of the event as a "a book reading by an African-American man", the school was thumbing their noses at the requirement. (Specifically, the nature and content of the book are completely legitimate things for parents to know about; if the book contained graphic descriptions of torture, many parents would quite reasonably opt out. Describing the event purely by the factors which be not matter to anyone was just a stunt.)

How "extra-curricular" is the event if the students are still on campus?

SMDH.

[RatGuy]

My read on the situation is that someone at the school is nervous (justifiably or not) about violating FL regulations regarding AfAm history/literature. If the school didn't explain who and what was going on at the event, then someone was afraid they be reprisals after the fact

[marshwiggle]

My read on the situation is that someone at the school is nervous (justifiably or not) about violating FL regulations regarding AfAm history/literature. If the school didn't explain who and what was going on at the event, then someone was afraid they be reprisals after the fact

But do you really think they need permission because the book is going to be read by a black person, rather than because of the content of the book? (It's hard to believe they'd have that concern over a book on astronomy or growing turnips) Do you think they wouldn't feel the need for a permission slip if the same book were going to be read by a white person? If they feel the need for the permission regardless of who was going to read the book, then explaining it by who was going to read the book was just being passive-aggressive regarding the requirement.