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Re: RAIN 6/04



Good day,
I agree with this statement that uncut versions should be shown.  In our society today we are still struggling with our past and trying to hide from it rather than see it for what it was and learn from it.  The same is true for the controversy of the Amos and Andy series.  It was banned years ago from television. 

 As for what we do allow on our televisions today with disclaimers and useless rating systems it seems the unacceptable has shifted and has become sporadic.  One opinion on what is acceptable is different from the next.  Of course we all have programs we are offended so that has not changed.  It remains to be seen what controversy our current programs will cause in the future.

Shirley Derrick, MLIS
Assistant Records and Information Manager
Briggs & Stratton Corporation      

>>> Christopher Stanwood <Cstanwood@COLLPHYPHIL.ORG> 06/04/01 09:15AM >>>
Last weekend's 49 hour June Bugs marathon was a treat for both me and my
wife. I got to see Bugs cartoons that I had not seen in over 20 years (i.e.
The Little French Chefs). These cartoons are comedic genius, still extremely
funny 50 years after they were made. But, due to the context in whuch they
were produced, many are offensive to various ethic groups. Because of this,
most cannot be shown in their entirety (we have bought many tapes that show
the uncut versions). As an aside, has anyone else noticed that Native
Americans are still fair game?

My point is that cartoons, the actions of soldiers during war (or anything
else for that matter) MUST be viewed within their contextual framwork. Bugs
Bunny cartoons reflect the time in which they were produced. Thus, they
cannot judged through the prism of our sensibilities. We can decide that
they are now offensive to certain groups, but we cannot pass judgement on
the people who created them.

Last, I agree with Mr. Sokolow that the uncut versions could be shown on
late night TV. They cannot be worse than anything else shown at that time.


Christopher Stanwood
Historic Reference Librarian
College of Physicians of Philadelphia
19 S. 22nd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103







-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Sokolow [mailto:DSokolow@NSHS.EDU] 
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 9:47 AM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU 
Subject: Re: RAIN 6/04


I think the article on the Pacific war atrocities (I reclipped the headline
below) is raising a troubling issue for me.  Similar to the whole Bob Kerrey
brouhaha recently, there seems to be a developing need to raise the specters
of wars gone past - and criticize the activities of the soldiers involved.

While I support the bringing to light of these incidents, I feel there's a
movement in the media (and others) to condemn the actions of men (and, I
assume, women) who lived through something they can never understand.  I
find it troubling that our grasp of history is being examined through the
lens of our current sensibilites, though I suspect that's always the case.

I have never served in combat, and probably never will, but I wouldn't
presume to second-guess the actions of the young men who were there.  War,
as has been said, is hell - it's only natural that horrifying things will
happen when 18 and 20 year olds are asked to kill.  I think it's
unreasonable for us to assume that soldiers should perform one of the most
gruesome jobs known to man (at their government's request/insistence) and
then expect them to turn that off at a switch.  Considering the
circumstances, people will do all sorts of things that they wouldn't from
the safety and security of their homes.

I have no problem with these stories coming to light, but the actions of the
soldiers involved should be considered in light of the context, and perhaps
the combatants deserve our sympathy instead of criticism.

The Guardian 6/3/01
Film exposes Allies' Pacific war atrocities
http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,500631,00.html 

On a side (and lighter note), as a cartoon fan I think the same rules of
context should be applied to the Bugs Bunny cartoons - group the offending
cartoons together, show them later at night, or have a discussion after
they're shown to discuss what the implications of the racism, etc. are.

Thoughts, anyone?

DS

______________________________________
Daniel Sokolow, Archives Coordinator
David Taylor Archives
North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System
155 Community Drive
Great Neck, NY 11021
mailto:dsokolow@nshs.edu 

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