New Version of "Huckleberry Finn" Removes the "N" Word

[mariab]

I find it amazing that French people are able to take themselves so seriously. It's too bad they're not debating the merits of bathing.

I'm not sure where that originated, that Americans are so convinced that the French have poor hygiene. It's only Americans who claim this.

As for gypsies, that word has no negative connotations here in America.

Duh! Cause there're no Gypsies in America. Believe me, if you had some, there would be negative connotations. Na, was that pc?
Oh, by the by, I just remembered: The French Gypsy debate was about a Gypsy lady who extracted thousands of € from the French government for some kind of moral compensation or other for her folk, but she kept the money for herself.

The truth is, political correctness is merely a devise to allow white people to feel even more superior over the other races than we already are.

But mostly I loved the “towel head“ part. I'm still not clear, though, why Paul Begg and not, say, Chris George.

[Robert]

Tom, yes, something affecting the entire human species.

Really, the word "murder" should be a serious enough word. There shouldn't be any need to invent grandiose phrases like "crimes against humanity." I suppose the cheaper life gets, the grander become the crimes.

[mariab]

Tom Wescott wrote:
I would say that crimes against humanity are any crimes that threaten us with extinction. That fair?
So you just re-defined crimes against the environment.

Robert wrote:
Really, the word "murder" should be a serious enough word. There shouldn't be any need to invent grandiose phrases like "crimes against humanity."
Man, Robert, don't you get the dif between murder and a genocide?

[Robert]

Maria, a genocide is when someone murders quite a lot (number undefined) of people from one particular race (assuming that "race" can be defined). Are you saying that if someone murders the same number of people, but spreads the murders around so that all races are included, then that is somehow less reprehensible?

[mariab]

Maria, a genocide is when someone murders quite a lot (number undefined) of people from one particular race (assuming that "race" can be defined). Are you saying that if someone murders the same number of people, but spreads the murders around so that all races are included, then that is somehow less reprehensible?

I'm not saying anything about the degree of reprehensible, I'm just trying to explain the legal definition of “crime against humanity“. Last try: the “humanity“ here does not pertain to “the sum of inhabitants of the earth“, but it's a legal term, originating from habeas corpus and human rights. A genocide is considered legally as a crime against humanity, a murder is considered a federal offense (at least in the States – no clue how they call it legally in the UK).

[Robert]

I think over here a murder is called "a cry for help."

[mariab]

I think over here a murder is called "a cry for help."

Especially if he's under-age (see the James Bulger case).

[Tom_Wescott]

Duh! Cause there're no Gypsies in America. Believe me, if you had some, there would be negative connotations. Na, was that pc?

Ditto with us and our 'African-Americans'. You peeps in other countries don't have any, so really have no room to comment.

But mostly I loved the “towel head“ part. I'm still not clear, though, why Paul Begg and not, say, Chris George.

Paul Begg's more fun to pick on. Besides, while I don't think Chris George is crazy about Americans, he certainly likes us enough to live amongst us. Or at least that's what I thought before I saw the 2009 dvd of the Ripper conference.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Tom_Wescott]

I'm not sure where that originated, that Americans are so convinced that the French have poor hygiene. It's only Americans who claim this.

Surely you jest? I believe the British were saying that even before there was an America.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[mariab]

Surely you jest? I believe the British were saying that even before there was an America.

Well, that was in the 17th century/early 19th century, when the French used perfume instead of water. (And supposedly, cake instead of bread.) Considering that the British are the only nation (besides South Africa) to use separate water taps for cold and hot water, I'd be surprised if they still accused the French about hygiene.

Tom Wescot wrote:
Ditto with us and our 'African-Americans'. You peeps in other countries don't have any, so really have no room to comment.
We have Euro-trash.

[Tom_Wescott]

It's remarkable how American British people can look when they don't speak.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[mariab]

And when they don't drive, he he.

[Tom_Wescott]

Indeed, what with them driving on the wrong side of the road and all.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[lynn cates]

oh, the humanity

Hello Robert, Tom and Maria. In philosophy, there are two different poles regarding "humanity." One pole is Jean Paul Sartre's as expressed in "Existentialism is a humanism." There, he claims that existence precedes essence and that "human nature" is non-existent. Another way to put this is that "humanity" is only a collection of individuals (think set theory) with a certain genetic structure.

The opposite pole is the essentialist view most notably represented by John Donne in his meditation "The Tolling Bell." Here, humanity is a transcendental essence (think Plato or Aristotle).

The first view corresponds roughly with secular views; the second, with religious/transcendental views.

The problem seems to be, as usual, that those with a secular understanding adopt the first view most of the time but slide into the second when they need to wax eloquent and adopt laws that appeal to all.

To put it another way, they throw the transcendental out the front door and bring it in again through the back.

Cheers.
LC

[mariab]

Hello Lynn.
“Existence précéde l'essence“, as Sartre said. What's funny is that “essence“ means not only “essence“ in French, but also “gas“ (to fill the car tank). Nowadays the French use this quote to comment on the high price of oil. (As in “we gotta eat before paying for filling the car“.)