Whitewashing Classic Literature

http://www.thewrap.com/media/column-post/n-word-removed-from-huckleberry-finn-23649

New South Books is planning on releasing a version of Huck Finn taking out the words "nigger" and "Injun." Now, I just graduated college with a degree in English Education. As I was student teaching in 9th grade English, I taught a story that contained the "n-word" within it. ("A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner) I prefaced reading this story by explaining the time in which the story was both written and set. I explained that while this word is not okay today and makes us uncomfortable today, it shouldn't be taken out of the story because that would change the tone and mood of the story.

Honestly, I don't see a reason to take out these certain words. If we start censoring, where will we stop? Will we take out mentions of Shylock in The Merchang of Venice? Will we take out T. S. Eliot's anti-Semetic comments in his poetry?

I post on a forum where we talked about this today. Another commenter mentioned that some schools teach a completely whitewashed version of history. It wasn't that way at my school, but I was surprised to learn that many students are only taught a history where America is a shining star and never did anything wrong. It is so wrong to pretend that our history is clean of any unprovoked bloodshed.

So, thoughts? What is your experience with censorship in literature or history?

How it all began...

Not me, of course, but where I am in life right this very minute. Join me in my time machine as we travel back...

Nov. 18th, 2008-I had gotten out of a 3 1/2 year relationship at the end of October and was living life how I wanted to live it, for the first time. My roommate had gotten me really into the band Rise Against and they were playing at the Myth in the Twin Cities. Rise Against is a punk rock band. (You should listen to them sometime. I recommend the album "Siren Song of the Counter Culture.") Keagle was there with some other friends to meet my roommate. Now, I had met Keagle before, but only briefly. I had thought he was cute, but that was about it. I survived in the moshpit for one of the opening bands, Alkaline Trio, but when Rise Against came out, I thought I was going to die. I'm a small person. I'm about 5' 4" and have never weighed above 150, which I carry well, mind you! Everyone rushed the stage and I couldn't breath. I didn't have the arm strength to push against the person in front of me and I was beginning to panic. All of a sudden, Keagle was there. He asked if I needed to get out and when I managed to nod my head, he took my hand and plowed a path to the back. He is a big guy, like 6' 3" over 200 lbs. big guy. He bought me a water and we stood awkwardly because he didn't really know what to say and I am shy.

Dec. 31, 2008-I attended a New Years Eve party at Keagle's house, again with my college roommate. Throughout the night, we talked and as the party wound down, he was my New Years kiss.

Our first picture together at said New Years Eve party

Jan. 1, 2009-My roommate had to work and my car broke down, so I couldn't drive home. I text Keagle and we hung out at the mall until my roommate got off work.

Jan. 8, 2009-From the time we hung out until now, we were constantly chatting on Facebook and AIM. We made our relationship offical on this day.

Mid Jan. 2009-I'm a horrible person because I can't remember the day of our official "first date." But we went out to Osakas, a hibachi place, and then to a party at a friend's house. We got semi-dressed up and had a good time, even though we were still both a little shy. I refused to catch the shrimp in my mouth while Keagle showed off by catching multiple.

Us at the party on our first date. Yeah, this is the nicest picture I could find....

May 15, 2010-We moved in together in the Twin Cities. We live in a lovely suburb in a two bedroom townhouse that holds all of our belongings, for now. I do like to brag a little about it because I come from a small town that a lot of people get "stuck" in and I'm proud I didn't get stuck.

Dec. 24, 2010-Keagle proposed on Christmas Eve at my grandparent's house. We had finished opening presents when he said "Mikki, I have one last present for you" and he got down on one knee and proposed. My brother promptly changed his Facebook status to "My sister just got engaged!"

Yes!!!

And, because everyone asks, here is a picture of the ring!

I love it!

Life as an unemployed adult

I have spent the last two days as an unemployed, not in school person. It has been a strange experience! This is the first time in my life I have truly had nothing to do. Of course, I have been cleaning, cooking, and running errands. But I have discovered the one thing that really bugs me...people either not answering emails or not reading the entire email before answering. I'll tell you my two stories.

1) I have started corresponding with a man who books for the golf course I want to have my wedding at. He seems to have a problem I call "Not-read-everythingitis." No matter how specific I make my questions and even though I mention specific dates, he still manages to either not answer or read the wrong date. Typically, I do not mistake July for June. You would think when you are booking large events that you would read things pretty closely.

2) I started the paperwork to apply for my teaching license. I actually will be getting two licenses for my two degrees. While the instructions I recieved on how to apply seemed crystal-clear before the application process, it has somehow morphed into something as clear as mud. I have no idea what I need two copies of or if I need two copies of things. Fortunately, the website had an email if there were problems. Unfortunately, this person either doesn't check their email or has decided to let me struggle with my problem, making me unable to find a sub job while my license is in limbo.

Even though the wedding won't be for another year and a half, I have wanted to get the planning ball rolling. One of the things I wanted to do is pick the wedding colors. Even though all of the planning books and magazines say not to worry about it, Keagle and I want to keep the budget as low as possible. I will be budget shopping for centerpieces and other things now that we have the colors set (I hope!).

Any ways, today I went to Home Depot to pick up paint samples so that we could decide. I've never done that before. As I picked through them all, I felt like I was stealing! Maybe it's because I feel really out of place picking out paint samples. Everyone else in that department looked like a middle-aged soccer moms. I still look like a college student. Oh well, I got the samples, got out, and we are thinking of navy blue, mint green, and some gray accents.

I am looking at 3 more days this week of cleaning, cooking, and dreaming about the wedding. That means I will probably be on here a lot more. :)

2012 Resolutions

I will attempt to track these goals throughout the year. I'm really hoping that being unemployed at the moment will help me stick to these better then previous years.

1. Lose weight (Start eating more fruits and vegetables, start exercising more, etc.)

2. Plan a wedding without losing my mind!

3. Develop a cleaning plan and stick with it.

4. Find at least a part-time job in an education-related field.

5. Create a budget to start paying back credit card debt, student loan debt, and put away money for the wedding. (Currently, I have about $1000 in credit card debt which came from getting wisdom teeth out, getting stitches after cutting my hand open, and visiting the doctor in an unsuccessful attempt to figure out why I kept getting sick. I also have $60,000 in student loans that will need to start getting paid off in June 2011)

6. Continue my education on my own by reading through works both in and out of the literary canon and on subjects that interest me. Try for one to two books a week.

A look back at 2010

2010 has been a year that changed my life. So I'll take a look back.

January-Celebrated one year anniversary with Keagle, started my last sememster of classes in college

February-Discovered where I'd be student teaching and looked at housing in the Twin Cities, Keagle turned 24

March-Keagle started work as "The Head of North American Tech Support" for a smaller company

April-My sister turned 15 and got her permit, scary!

May-I took the last finals of my college career, moved into our awesome townhouse!

June-I turned 22 :), I watched the office while Keagle and his co-workers went to Germany and Switzerland, I started nannying the two most adorable children ever! (More stories about them to come!)

July-My best friend got married to her high school sweetheart

August-I started student teaching in a kindergarten classroom

September-Still busy student teaching!!

October-More student teaching, my last day was the Halloween party and we all came as different types of fish, My brother turned 19

November-I moved to student teaching in a 9th grade English class, which was quite the transition! We spent Thanksgiving with my family

December-I finish student teaching and graduated college with two degrees without walking at the ceremony, we recieved 21 inches of snow in a couple of days and have since broken the December snow record, Keagle and I become engaged on Christmas Eve :)

Here's hoping that 2011 is just as great of a year, if not better!

Christmas is over

Our Christmas tree and Christmas village. The living room will look so bare without it!

Well, Christmas is over and done with. I love everything about Christmas: the songs, the snow, the tree, etc. Now we're in that sad time where the tree and decorations will have to be taken down. But I'm just not ready! I convinced Keagle to let me keep it up until New Years. Then we'll have to store it somewhere...

Starting over with a new blog

I previously had a blog that I didn't keep up with. I did import that blog, so you can read back.

Here is an update on my life so far:

1) Graduated with 2 education degrees. I will be licensed to teach K-12 with an emphasis in English.
2) I just got engaged to Keagle (the boy, not his real name haha) on Christmas Eve.
3) I have realized that I graduated into a very unfriendly economy. So for the time being, I am unemployed.

I'm hoping I can actually keep up on this blog. I need somewhere to gush about wedding plans.