Yes. It's not only fascists or The Party from 1984 who like erasing history that does not conform to their ideology. In fact it's pretty common. One only has to look at how the U.K. deals and has dealt with Shakespeare. What is "difficult" now was not "difficult" in the victorian era and vice versa. Shylock is a perfect example, Lady MacBeth is another. Currently both can be seen as anti-Semitic and Sexist whereas Shakespeare's bawdyness and anti-monarchical themes are not an issue.
It is important, in fact utterly necessary that we do not civilise our past by erasing our mistakes. It is also important that people confront such rather than be hidden from it. Lest we forget and all that.
"What started as a legitimate effort by the townspeople of Salem to identify, capture and kill those who did Satan's bidding quickly deteriorated into a witch hunt" Army Man
What is surprising is that the golliwog was banned in Nazi Germany, in 1934.
Apparently, the Nazis were more racially sensitive than the Brits.
But no, it wasn't that, it was that it wasn't considered suitable for Aryan children to be playing with a black golliwog.
So, owning a golliwog is less racist than Hitler, but more racist than owning a nice white doll.
Of course, it's the caricature nature, rather than the colour, which is deemed racist. It's a copy of the blacked-up white men who used to do the minstrel shows. They're lovable characters who are still alive and well :
While there is a market for shit, there will be assholes to supply it.
It all becomes a rote reaction devoid of meaning or intent after a while. Anyone can claim victimhood over something. There are some folks born short and feel overlooked although it isn't something I've noticed myself.
What will the world be like after its ruler is removed?
MrJonno wrote:Some behaviour that was 'good' in the past is bad now (concepts of good/evil are relative).
Doesn't mean bad things from the past should be hidden but there is a time and place to discuss them and primary school isn't it.
Sell the painting to an art gallery and replace it with something more appropriate for the school
It would be a problem selling a mural.
From what I saw on the link, the picture is fine. The golliwog is just one character in a group.
You can't shelter kids forever. I would leave it there, and if any kid asks about it, you just tell them that people painted black people differently years ago. I don't think kids would have any problem with that.
While there is a market for shit, there will be assholes to supply it.
What are the police probing the poor golly with, and why?
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"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice.
There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
Frank Zappa
"This is how humanity ends; bickering over the irrelevant."
Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
The politically correct brigade often bemoan the fact that people of other races are "invisible" in aspects of modern culture, such as children's story books and toys.
Here we have a doll that's proudly black, and with an afro to boot!
