When do we let bygones be bygones?

I have talked about The Education of Little Tree. It is a fine compassionate book. I regard this book highly. All book reviewers regarded this book highly. It is one of my all-time favorite books. The movie too.

The book was taken off book lists when it was discovered that the author had once been a terrible bigot. Clearly, he had changed his mind, or he couldn’t have written this book from the point of view he did. This deeply compassionate book exalts the native American way of life.

Am I missing something? I don’t understand this at all.

There is an Arab proverb:

“Examine what is said, not him who speaks.”

I would wish that this author had been honored for his change of heart, instead of being tossed away because of what he had once held in his heart.

Posted by Gloria on January 23rd, 2010 under these topics
Book Review, Movies, Education, Godwriting Journal

Add your comment

Top

Post Discussion

7 Replies

Reply from Lynda on January 23, 2010

Well, this is my last ditch effort to try and leave a comment.

Reply from Lynda on January 23, 2010

Ah! Gloria and Santhan do you see what I see?

I thought, Ok Wordpress, if you are asking me for my name and email I’ll enter it. And voila!

I’ll see what happens the next time i try and post a comment, if I need to do this everytime. (it obviously isn’t recognizing that my name and email had been submitted months ago).

I haven’t read the book you are describing, but I wonder if perhaps those who are responsible for removing it from the book list, are uncomfortable with their own bigotry zafs. And rather than bring them close to look at, they shove them away somewhere and tell themselves that no one can change.

I hope that makes sense. I am apparently just so excited to be able to leave a comment, I’ll type whatever comes into my head.

Reply from Patrizia on January 23, 2010

There will always be people with its own sight so short. It is more easy examine who writes or tells something because no man can goes out of that comparison winner. Hear only what is said means for everyone goes out loser.

Reply from Jack van Raders on January 24, 2010

Saw the Film and was impressed, Why the scrapping of the book list. Are you not allowed to read what you like in America? Oh well next we are not allowed to read Heaven letters. I will be disobediant and keepon readin it. Do not take notice of what others think yust be and enjoy YOUR LIVE not someone else his Live Love you all Jack

Reply from Gloria on January 24, 2010

Beloved Jack, I heard that it was taken off the recommended list in schools, and that Oprah removed it from her book list. I only know what I heard. I would put it in the school for it is such a lovely loving book, and I would say to the children: “Just think, this was written by a man who once felt differently.”

Beloved Patrizia, yes, short-sightedness. A reaction in a huff.

Beloved Lynda, I don’t understand what happened. You had to register in order to post? This must be an error. You could go to the Technical part of the forum and write in detail what happened and Heaven Admin could see what it’s about. We sure want it to be easy for everyone to post. I know what it is to be frustrated with trying to do a simple thing.

This morning I got a Twitter message that Wunluv (Heaven Admin) is following Heavenletters on Twitter. Well, I want to follow him back. There was no way for me to know that I had succeeded or not. I am guessing I didn’t, or it would have said.

Reply from Lynda on January 24, 2010

Gloria, Santhan is working on it. I did send a detailed description of what happened.
I’ll see if I need to register again to send this one.

Yes, it appears I will need to fill in my name and email address each time to leave a comment.

Reply from Gloria on January 24, 2010

Well, Heaven Admin is on it!

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI