Friday, July 07, 2006

Racial Slur or Historic Reality?


According to an article in The Examiner, author Ken Mochizuki faces controversy over his use of the word "Jap," in .“Baseball Saved Us.”

This award-winning children’s book about the World War II Japanese-American internment could be removed from the second-grade reading list. While its detractors are not against the book and the values taught in the story, they do not think the use of the racial slur is necessary.

In my opinion, this is an example of what happens when people are unwilling to place the story within its context. The racial slur would have been used and it is not helpful to cover up that fact.

The issue will be addressed at an upcoming New Milford school board committee meeting.

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