Truth in Fiction

There is more beauty in truth, even if it is a dreadful beauty.
-John Steinbeck

Last week NewSouth books released a version of Mark Twain's classic Huckleberry Finn that replaced the abominable n-word with the word "slave." Of course the decision to do so set off a chain of arguments between pundits, educators and the like. To my way of thinking, it seems shocking that in 2011 we are still arguing over whether or not kids, in high school, can read this word and be OK. I attended public school until college and I can say that I heard every word I was not supposed to hear way before I read Huckleberry Finn. Add the internet into the mix and Huckleberry Finn becomes the least of our problems. I don't think that anyone at NewSouth, or supporters of their decision, could be so naive so as to believe that Mark Twain's classic is going to destroy childhood innocence by exposing them to bad words. I could at least understand that, but that's not the problem at all, the truth is.

The truth of America's past is the subject of much scrutiny. Americans look upon our history as a child does a parent and we do not want to find fault. When inevitably a child reaches maturity and sees that his mother and father are people like everyone else, a part of them changes forever. It is a necessary change, but the longer it is delayed the more explosive it can be. By changing Huckleberry Finn, we are changing an account of America's past (one that did not have a political agenda). It's already bad enough that our history classes from Kindergarten until High School largely ignore many of the more unpleasant parts of America's past, but to change literature as well, that will not do. All of this comes on the heels of Congress skipping over the more unpleasant parts of the constitution when they read it on the Senate floor last week (something Glenn Beck pointed out, marking the first time I applauded Mr. Beck).

Alas, this piece is turning into something political which it need not be, because that was not the aim. The aim was our children and the truth. By withholding the truth we stand to cause far more damage. A hard truth is accepted after some time, but the sting of a lie lasts (I'm paraphrasing Mr. Steinbeck here). No one likes being lied to, not kids, especially when they grow up and realize that they've been lied to their whole lives. Of course kids as young as preschool do not need to know about these things. Even older kids should not be told, but if they ask, there is no reason to withhold the truth. Tell your children the truth, whatever you judge it to be and they will love and respect you for it.