Laura Ingalls Wilder was a children’s author born in 1867. She wrote a series a semi-autobiographical books about a little house on the prairie in the 1930’s and 1940’s using language and attitudes that were not-uncommon in the 1880’s.
Her name was associated with an award given out by the ALA for a lasting achievement in children’s literature.
But it’s 2018 and 1880’s language in a book from the 1940’s isn’t progressive so Wilder had to go.
After months of deliberation, the organization behind a prestigious book award has decided to remove the name of author Laura Ingalls Wilder because of her portrayal of Native Americans.
The Association for Library Service to Children gives out the “Laura Ingalls Wilder Award” yearly to authors whose work has made a lasting impact on the world of children’s literature.
The honor will now be known as the Children’s Literature Legacy Award.
“This decision was made in consideration of the fact that Wilder’s legacy, as represented by her body of work, includes expressions of stereotypical attitudes inconsistent with ALSC’s core values of inclusiveness, integrity and respect, and responsiveness.”
William Shanter took umbrage with this decision by the ALA. He went to Twitter to make a very legitimate point that language evolves over time and to start erasing from the past what is not considered progressive today is a going to be a problem.
What about words today- geek, nerd, etc… what if they are the slurs of tomorrow? I don’t want my books getting denounced because those words are acceptable words right now. That’s my issue. https://t.co/BaygCT3Set
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 5, 2018
For not standing up for hard line progressive dogma, he ended up in a fight with some Social Justice minded literature professors. Professors of the Soviet style that believe that it is their job to remove from canon anything that goes against the party line.
In this Twitter argument, the Social Justice mob has decided that Star Trek is not sufficiently progressive for today’s standards.
https://twitter.com/Ebonyteach/status/1014497207821787136
…did you need to be told Star Trek was racist? That having an interracial kiss ONLY when ALIENS have infected the crew is coded racism? Tell me you haven't been patting yourself on the back all these years? That pat goes to Nichelle Nichols, not you.
— Erin (@ErinMStaley) July 5, 2018
That kiss being referenced took place in an episode called “Plato’s Stepchildren,” Season 3, Episode 12, which first aired November 22, 1968.
It was the first interracial kiss on TV.
It was radically progressive when it happened.
NBC wanted to film two versions of the kiss, one that wouldn’t offend southern (Democrat) audiences and Shatner fucked it up on purpose so only one kiss was recorded and broadcast.
Keep in mind that Star Trek was so progressive that Martin Luther King Jr. loved it. So much so that he convinced Nichelle Nichols not to quit after the first season.
That is one of the most touching things I’ve ever seen, and it shows you just how special Shatner, Nichols, and Roddenberry were.
This is by 2018 Social Justice standards is racist and problematic, which means Star Trek is going to be headed for the memory hole by the progressive gate keepers of academia and the ALA.
I can’t think of anything more Soviet in nature than the idea that something that was groundbreaking 50 years ago is now so behind the times that it must be denounced then destroyed.
It is pure evil.
“Stay in your lane” is one of the more infuriating quips uttered these days. It’s a complete dismissal without addressing the issue.
SWJs want to declare war on Star Treck AND Star Wars? They are really looking to unite geekdom against them are they not?
SJW infected SF quite some time ago, though some are trying to push back. Read “Vox Day” for more. He runs a small publisher, which is helpful in getting non-PC authors published. Good people like Rolf Nelson.
GamerGate — video games
They’re working on ticking off the miniatures and war games geeks (treatment of Larry Coreia by Origins con this year) and the role-playing game geeks (they invited one of the core GamerGate figures as guest of honor to GenCon).
They want control of all culture — “no escape”.
The progressive (double entendre intended) destruction of history is one of the most soul-chillingly terrifying things I’ve ever seen … And I write that with absolutely zero exaggeration. Those that intentionally destroy understanding, are attempting to destroy all that is best of humanity.
It’s a standard communist trick. Red China redesigned the writing system so it would be hard for people to read anything published before 1960.
Remember the Taliban destroying the Buddha in Afghanistan? The hard-core Muslims destroy everything from before Islam. That way nothing existed before them, right?
Just like 1984. Erasing history.
These SJWs are using it as an instruction manual, not a cautionary tale.
Here are reasons Star Trek should be considered (/sarc=ON) “racist”:
1. The episode “Let That be Your Last Battlefield,” is the best criticism of racism ever.
2. Roddenberry populated the Enterprise with a crew diverse in race and nationality because he KNEW that that was the future, and he wanted to drive that point home.
3. Gene Roddenberry and Nicole Nichols were “an item,” and his publicly stated view towards anyone who objected to an interracial relationship was “—– you, we’re consenting adults, it’s none of your —– business!”
(/sarc=off)