A Case of Censorship
This brief item ran in the UCLA Librarian newsletter (Nov 1, 1957) and seems WU worthy:
Transcribed text:
Transcribed text:
"Our incredible customs"
Under the above heading the British Publishers' Circular and Booksellers' Record of September 21, 1957, records another round in the running battle with the censorious customs officials. "Now I understand that officials recently impounded a work called Rape Round Our Coasts. I don't know what sort of minds these yahoos have but I hope they enjoyed the book. It is about soil erosion!"
Under the above heading the British Publishers' Circular and Booksellers' Record of September 21, 1957, records another round in the running battle with the censorious customs officials. "Now I understand that officials recently impounded a work called Rape Round Our Coasts. I don't know what sort of minds these yahoos have but I hope they enjoyed the book. It is about soil erosion!"
Comments
People see (or hear) what they want to hear. I dimly remember a story, probably apochryphal, of an official of the U.S. State Department objecting to the use of the word "Yubangi" as offensive to him during a high level briefing. It was pointed out that the word was the name of the river in the region being discussed.
Posted by KDP on 06/20/14 at 11:00 AM
In many government and some big business jobs, the "Peter Princeple" is true. People rise in an organization to a position of incompetence.
I also think that anyone who "believes" they are more "moral" than I are the "scum of the earth"!
I also think that anyone who "believes" they are more "moral" than I are the "scum of the earth"!
Posted by BMN on 06/20/14 at 11:28 AM
I remember seeing all the crazy stuff customs took away from people getting off our cruises. One guy was especially mad an agent took all his bottles of high grade tequila because they had a worm in them.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 06/20/14 at 03:17 PM
Rule 1: You can't argue with stupid and win.
Way, way back in the day the Hannibal, MO public library wanted to ban The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Way, way back in the day the Hannibal, MO public library wanted to ban The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 06/21/14 at 12:08 AM
Well, the author wanted a name that would catch people's attention, looks like he (or she) hit the mark.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 06/21/14 at 07:35 AM
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Category: Censorship, Bluenoses, Taboos, Prohibitions and Other Cultural No-No’s | 1950s