There are two things in my life that I can't do without or don't want to do without. One is music, something I have loved since I can remember, and books, which I have truly loved since I was about 12 years old.
I discovered my love for poetry at the age of 8, but I didn't really enjoy reading books. I preferred to be outdoors with friends, building dams, climbing trees (occasionally falling off them), riding bikes, and doing anything else you can scrape your knees on. On a side note, I had the incredible talent of tearing every brand new pair of trousers at the knees - before it was fashionable (so I was a trendsetter at the tender age of 4) - which is why all my trousers had patches at the knees.
My aunt gave me a book for my 10th or 11th birthday. It was a really big book with so many pages, Momo by Micheal Ende, and I was deeply disappointed and never touched it or even opened it. A book, how incredibly boring. I always loved it when someone read to me - which did not often happen when I grew up - and I still love it. What 10-year-old has the leisure to sit down with a book when there is an incredible world waiting to be discovered outside?
I got sick at one point and actually had to stay in bed for a while and that was even more boring. So one evening, the boredom was overwhelming, I picked up this book and started reading. I didn't put it down until I had read the last page. I can't remember exactly how long I read, but it must have been about two days and nights, certainly, I dozed off in between, and my love of books was kindled.
Since I didn't really have a lot of books, I grabbed everything that was available in our house, which was fortunately quite a lot. The Little Hobbit followed, and then of course the Lord of the Rings. I devoured books. I quickly ended up with Herman Hesse and Erich Maria Remarque. Long story short, books became an essential part of my life.
I have never managed to throw books away, it always seemed like an absolute sacrilege. I gave books away or stored them in boxes (my cellar is the best proof).
I have mentioned the censorship of fairy tales in my letter about Political Correctness already. That was triggered by an Instagram post a while back.
In Germany, children’s books have been taken off the shelf and to me, this feels like book burning and here is what happened:
Debate about Winnetou: Ravensburger takes books off sale
The Ravensburger publishing house takes two books on the new "Winnetou" film off the market after accusations of racism. This causes a heated discussion.
For many people in Germany and around the world, Apache chief Winnetou is a noble hero of childhood. In the novels of author Karl May and in several film adaptations, the Indian experienced great adventures in the Wild West. The cult around the fictional character continues to this day. Recently, "Der junge Häuptling Winnetou" (The Young Chief Winnetou), a new film for children, was released. And now it's causing quite a stir in the social networks. After negative feedback and accusations of racism, the Ravensburger publishing house is now taking action: it is taking two books and other articles accompanying the film off the market. Completely exaggerated or justified?
Discussion about Winnetou: Ravensburger takes books off the market
On Instagram, among other places, Ravensburger Verlag announces: "We have been following the many negative feedbacks about our book The Young Chief Winnetou and we have decided today to stop the delivery of the titles and take them out of the programme." It's an announcement to which many fans of the Apache have reacted angrily. They are now venting their anger freely online. But what exactly is this about?
The negative feedback addressed by the Ravensburger publishing house criticised that in the film and accordingly also in the books offered by Ravensburger, a romanticised image with many clichés was shown. This is no longer appropriate in view of the real history and the oppression of the indigenous population today.The fact that Ravensburger is now reacting directly to the criticism by recalling the books and fan articles is considered by many to be a very drastic step.
Incidentally, the film "Der junge Häuptling Winnetou" (The Young Chief Winnetou) was awarded the rating "Extraordinarily Valuable" by the Deutsche Film- und Medienbewertung (German Film and Media Rating). A large part of the jury saw no problem with the film, since Karl May had already written the originals from his imagination, but never visited the "Wild West" himself. The adventure film would therefore be more of a fairy tale with its characters and setting. However, not all jury members saw it that way. Some were of the opinion that stories that ignore and romanticise real events so much should no longer be made in this day and age.
At this point I would like to quote the 86-year-old, well-known German comedian, actor, singer, and cabaret artist:
"I don't take these people seriously because I believe that God gave them brains too, but unfortunately forgot to enclose the instruction manual." — Didi Hallervoden
This form of censorship seems the be the modern version of the book burnings of 1933. If it is not politically correct or suits the self-appointed moral apostles, delete it, censor it, drag it through the mud or simply destroy it.
But it is interesting that this morality only seems to work in one direction. It is the classic double standard of the hypocrites.
Take, for example, the very popular and record-breaking Netflix series “Bridgerton”. It is set in 19th century London and is supposed to depict the high society of London at the time.
Amazingly, half of the nobility, including the Queen, are people of colour. Something that never existed at the time and is hardly conceivable even today. You may think what you like about it, but it is not factually or historically correct and one could even argue that it trivialises and romanticises the struggles and sufferings of the people of colour of the time.
Personally, I don't care because it's just (in this case) shallow entertainment, a kind of fairy tale and that's ok. So keep your hands off books, beautiful and imaginative stories, fairy tales, novels, and my beloved poetry.
🎶My Song of the Day
I chose this song from two talented guys from Brighton - Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn - as an homage to my love of music… It’s just music!
For more good music, go to this Spotify playlist where you can find all the songs from the Change & Evolve Letters!
📚My Poem of the Day
Is by Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959)
Books
Upon my shelf they stand in rows, A city-full of human souls, Sages, philosophers and drolls— Good friends that everybody knows. The drunkard shoulders with the saint; The great are neighboring with the quaint And they will greet me one and all At any hour I care to call. There's Dickens with his humble crew That has no end of joy to give. With all his people can live By moving just a foot or two. Or should I choose to sail the sea, Stevenson there will pilot me, While jovial, lovable Mark Twain Waits patiently my call again. Sometimes a friend drops in and looks My little sitting room around And, in a manner most profound, Remarks: "Your shelves are lined with books!" "Not books,"I say, "but people wise And men to cling or to despise. Vast peopled cities, calm and still: For me to visit when I will."
👀Impressions
I chose this one from a beautiful little library I had the pleasure to spend some time in Salzburg, Austria
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Wishing you a beautiful day wherever you are and feel free to share and comment.
Yours
Tanja 🤗
“ I have never managed to throw books away, it always seemed like an absolute sacrilege.”
I see you’ve never had to lug your library across several oceans. I don’t fear death but I do fear a large room full of book boxes (465 at the last go around).
My mother read a book of classical fairy stories to me when I was a very young girl. Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf was one of my favorites. That story has helped me in my life to remember to discern good from evil. Evil is usually cloked in a manner to snatch you unawares into the darkness of the forest where you can be captured.