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Racist terms in children's books divide Germans
Published: 20 Jan 13 12:38 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/education/20130120-47441.html
Germans are divided over whether it is okay to use words like “negro” or “gypsy” in children’s book classics, a Bild am Sonntag survey made public on Sunday showed.
- Family minister cuts racism from fairytales - Society (18 Dec 12)
East-West differences were substantial, with 52 percent of Germans in the western part of the country calling for words like nigger out of children’s texts to 37 percent in the eastern region.
People who were more educated were more against changing the texts, the survey showed. Some 85 percent of those without formal training wanted the texts changed compared to 37 percent who had completed higher education.
The discussion as to whether the texts should be changed began after Family Minister Kristina Schröder told the weekly newspaper Die Zeit that when she reads stories like “Pippi Longstocking” to her children she substitutes words like Neger, which can mean be used to mean both negro and nigger in German.
Those reading from newer editions of the children’s classic don’t have to worry about replacing undesirable words. Since 2009 the book has been published with the work “Negro King” replaced with “South Sea King.”
The publisher of “The Little Witch” (Die kleine Hexe) plans to remove the word negress from the story. Otfried Preußler, the author, recently gave up his resistance to changing the word.
The Local/mw
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Your comments about this article:
My guess is those who oppose the change are neither gypsy nor negro.
So while we are at it let's change the song "Lustig ist das Zigeunerleben" to Lustig ist das Roma und Sinti Leben." Or how about contacting Knorr and demand that they change the their Knorr Fix pre-packaged product from "Paprika-Gulasch Zigeuner Art" to "Paprika-Gulasch Roma und Sinti Art." Come on guys...give it a break.
Is a white man born in South African living in America also called an African American just like most of the blacks born in the States prefer to call themselves African Americans rather than Black Americans. By the same logic then most of the whites born in the States should call themselves European Americans, after all, they originated in Europe. How far do the liberals want to stretch politcal correctness?
Incidentally, Neger in German is not equivalent to Nigger in English. It refers to the Negro race (Negroid).
Although I grew up in the "north" during my lifetime we went from Negros (and yes, niggers at least in some places) to Blacks to African-Americans. Fortunately I had parents who explained things to me as a child, trusting that I could use the appropriate word and understand when others didn't. The same was true of the classic "swear words." We cannot cleanse the world and make everything PC. It never was, and never will be...partly because PC is a moving target. We can, however, use those changes for teaching.
wa
From now on I no longer wish to be referred as "Elderly"
Henceforth it shall be "Chronologically Challenged"
I no longer wish to be called a "Biker"
Now---2 wheeled Motor Enthusiast
I am so sick of this liberal, crying bullsh$t. There are plenty of other issues of the day to be of concern.
The fact that this is in the news is good. Make people aware. Stop pointing out people's differences as a negative or predominant trait, and celebrate them instead. I think differences are wonderful and should be talked about but not skin color or slanted eyes, or big noses, or anything we can not change about ourselves....
If the books should be changed? I don't know. It was a part of history. I think it's funny that they were able to change the part in Pippi where she plays with guns with Tommy and Annika. The German version has her telling them to put them away since they are dangerous. But again.....is it right to change this since it was written this way to reflect a period of time??
The problem is, any good parents would explain to their kids, "Hey, many people dont like this name. It hurts their feelings. Lets change it to ......" Or "Today we know that playing with guns is really dangerous. "....
My 2 Cents.
Nigger, neger, negro or any other variation of the word is disparaging. The classification and treatment of African people by europeans as subhuman and inferior speaks for its self. The centuries for Germans, Swedish, and others naming African people, whatever their enlighten european minds decide is appropriate, is over.
Political Correction is Liberalism best friend. Dumb and Dumber are also best friends.
What Negroid race? There is only one human race. Who decided to call african people negro?
I see that you've never taken Anthropology 101
Then we have a mutual understanding.
Ok. The word niger is from Latin. When the Romans first arrived in Britain or Germany. What Latin word did the Romans use to describe the black African mercenaries of the Roman Empire that occupied Europe? Oh. And by the way, during this period in European history. The British, Germans and Scandinavians, etc., had no numerical or written text.
The Heiliges Romisches Reich - The Holy Roman Empire. What non-offensive word or phrase was used by the Germans, Austrians, Swiss, Romans and the Pope, to identify or describe the black African mercenaries of the Holy Roman Empire in Europe? There is a reason why some Germans, Europeans and tourists from around the world visit Magdeburg, Germany annually?
For more European-African history 101. Pre-Catholic Church, pre- Protestant, and pre-Church of England. Google: Pope Benedict XVI coat of arms. Also, for ID namesake: Google Septimius Severus.