Susan Cooper's fantasy battles between good and evil disturbed the sensibilities of one mother, so her child was given an alternate (parent-approved) fantasy for study. This same parent refused to allow her children to read the Harry Potter books as well.
Mildred Taylor's story of life in Mississippi in the 1930's upset a parent because--as near as I could tell--people were prejudiced and unkind to each other. Uncomfortable I guess, even if true. Another good historical fiction novel (with less conflict) was provided.
My point is that the same material is colored with very personal viewpoints, and I'm guessing that writers know this better than anyone else. Robert Kirby, the entertaining columnist I posted about a couple of days ago, today printed some of his feedback from previous columns. I've just excerpted the part about the advice to the President column. It seems to be an excellent example of differing personal perspectives.
"When I wrote a completely bipartisan and open letter to the new president (without knowing who it was yet), some people only saw their own agenda in it.
'That letter to President-elect Obama was shameful and retarded. He is a great man. Your [sic] nothing. Who pays you to be a bigot?'
'That pointless crap is exactly what kept John McCain from being elected and helped put a Muslim in the White House. Thanks for nothing you [deleted].'
'I wrote in Nader and your letter wouldn't have applied to him but I still think you're a [deleted].' "
I rest my case.
7 comments:
It is just incredulous that Kirby should have gotten such a STRONG negative response about that column which was humorous, right on and seemed bi-partisan. You're right. It must all be in the perspective.
Don't let the turkeys get you down!!!
I read the article. It was a good one and I enjoyed it. Some people are only about their own personal agenda. It must be a difficult life trapped inside their bodies.
we filter everything through our self image and mood at the moment...lots of misunderstandings come that way...
People can say all kinds of things when the internet keeps their real identity a secret..
Well, I for one am intensely impressed with how articulate your detractors are. My... they must have studied Creative writing to Master's Degree level at the very minimun to have such a strong mastery of our language.
They think as clearly and as well as they write.
I don't know whether to be sddened or amused... the former seems to be winning. What a shame.
It's okay, the detractors weren't mine, they were Robert Kirby's and--believe me--writing for a living, he is used to it. It is entertaining, though, when he prints some of the responses he gets. People can really get themselves worked up over the strangest things.
Hello, You must have missed #18 in the photo, he's incognito in the back. We ended up having 19 people there and one was taking the picture. We were pretty mad about the last minute cancelation because it is "scripted". We did have a blast and would do it again.
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