At 04:00 PM 12/11/98 -0800, David S. Barber wrote: >Back to Vern: it may be that Arac is one of those "modern day philistines >of political correctness," a "dimwit" and a "bozo." This is a less polite >way of reducing people to "opponents." It seems to me singularly unhelpful. >Even John Wallace, that easiest of targets, began his campaign against >Adventures of HF as "racist trash" (he's a true opponent) because of an >emotional trauma suffered by his son when the book was taught in his class. >Real people with real sensitivities care about this issue. > >There's political correctness, perhaps, on both sides of the fence. Thanks for your interesting comments, David. First, on the question of philistines, dimwits, and bozos, let me say right off that I was not referring to *serious* literary criticism of Twain or of Huck Finn. Rather, I was referring to those who would ban books. Such as John Wallace. Second, the quality of sensitivity is a fine quality to have: it is basic to the golden rule. But this most basic of virtues cannot serve as the foundation for the banning of books, or for the de-education of America. A wise man counsels his son, educates him, uses inevitable schoolday trauma to show him (or her) a better way. He does not campaign against literature. Despite your comments about politeness, I don't see why civility should be extended to book banners. They neither deserve our politeness, nor do they deserve *Huck Finn* for that matter. In any case, thanks for your comments on this subject. Cordially, Vern