Why Are We Banning Books? Blame Worship of Our Self-Identity

Daily Signal ^ | 3/10/2021 | Ben Shapiro

[Onthebrink]

This week, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced it would stop the sale and distribution of six classic volumes from the great children’s author.

Those volumes, said the company, violate its commitment to “messages of hope, inspiration, inclusion, and friendship.” The books include portrayals of people “in ways that are hurtful and wrong.”

Society has long held that activity that damages others ought to be curbed. John Stuart Mill posited the so-called harm principle—the belief that activity that harms someone ought to be condemned or even barred—in the mid-19th century. But Mill refused to conflate harm and offense: Being offended wasn’t cause for sanction of another.

[philetus]

You believe showing a man with epicanthic folds in his upper eyelids and holding chop sticks is a racial stereotype?

[Salamander]

But you can laugh at it free.

:)

[Salamander]

/laughs in Lucky Charms Leprechaun

[NobleFree]

You believe showing a man with epicanthic folds in his upper eyelids and holding chop sticks is a racial stereotype?

Yes. Do you disagree?

[frogjerk]

FWIW, I think exposing small children to racial stereotypes is bad. YMMV.

Almost anything can be considered a racial stereotype if you look hard enough and have an axe to grind.

[NobleFree]

One doesn't have to look very hard to find one here:

[frogjerk]

What’s the context?

[NobleFree]

Here's the whole 2-page spread:

[frogjerk]

Are the two figures on either side of the bird human or some sort of creature Dr. Seuss created?

[NobleFree]

They're wearing grass skirts, which animals don't do.

[frogjerk]

Well, that’s your interpretation.