Dear Michael
I agree that Kipling's generation had a different set of views from ours, and
imposing our own values on an earlier day can be counter-productive. But it
is very hard to think of another word for Kipling's extreme hatred of various
groups essentially defined by their race. What can one call a man who refers
to some German refugees who appear locally as 'Huns' and their 'bitches'
[i.e. their wives], who writes that he approves of lynch law because not
enough is being done officially to persecute such people? This letter (in the
University of Sussex library) was written in September 1918, and much can be
overlooked a man whose son had died in the war, but none the less, these were
his views, and not much changed from seeing the Germans as 'lesser breeds
without the law' in 1897, the year his son was born.
It is because of the circumstances of his life that much of his extreme
language is given more leeway today than other writers of the period, who
wrote in a similar vein, received (e.g. 'Sapper'). But to understand is one
thing; to pretend that it didn't exist is surely another.
Best
Judith Flanders
In a message dated 02/07/00 16:33:39 GMT Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< Subj: Kipling and Racism
Date: 02/07/00 16:33:39 GMT Daylight Time
From: [log in to unmask] (m.jefferson)
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Reply-to: [log in to unmask] (m.jefferson)
To: [log in to unmask] (John Radcliffe)
CC: [log in to unmask] (Rudyard Kipling)
John
I am disturbed by some of the recent material appearing on our mailbase
purporting to examine RK's views,observations and comments on ethnic groups.
Kipling died in 1936; at that time the word racism was but word in a
dictionary - that was to be changed with appalling and abusive effect by
Adolf Schicklgruber(aka Hitler).
RK wrote with clarity, feeling and inspiration, he was not tainted with
malevolent feelings towards humankind; I find it offensive to say the least
that statements like:
'Kipling's works is(sic) not racist( this may not be easy)'
and 'Kipling was racist but in a forgiveable way' appear on the mailbase and
couple him, albeit remotely, with Schicklgruber's philosophy.I assume these
statements are made in the cause of a greater knowledge of RK's works.They
fall, in my mind, into the category of those iconoclasts who seek to prove
him perverted.
We should not pander to this questionable line of enquiry.
The racist lobby in this country needs no encouragement from the Society. We
should not be drawn into any attempt to either justify RK or condemn him on
the bizarre and questionable subject of RACISM.
RK observed life as he saw it.
Should anyone wish to question my 'ethnic' position:
I shared school desk and board with Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians
from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.The word' RACE' was never mentioned. I
also enjoy the privilege of having a wonderful son-in-law who comes from
Grenada.(he enjoys Kipling too!)
Michael Jefferson
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<DIV><STRONG>John</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>I am disturbed by some of the
recent material appearing on our mailbase purporting to examine RK's
views,observations and comments on ethnic groups. Kipling died in 1936; at
that
time the word racism was but word in a dictionary - that was to be changed
with appalling and abusive effect by Adolf Schicklgruber(aka
Hitler).</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>RK wrote with clarity, feeling
and inspiration, he was not tainted with malevolent feelings towards
humankind;
I find it offensive to say the least that statements like:</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>'Kipling's works is(sic) not
racist( this may not be easy)'</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>and 'Kipling was racist but in a
forgiveable way' appear on the mailbase and </STRONG><STRONG>couple him,
albeit remotely, with Schicklgruber's
philosophy.I assume these statements are made in the cause of a greater
knowledge of RK's works.They fall, in my mind, into the category of those
iconoclasts who seek to prove him perverted.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG><STRONG>We should not pander to this questionable line
of
enquiry.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>The racist lobby in this country
needs no encouragement from the Society. We should not be drawn into any
attempt
to either justify RK or condemn him on the bizarre and questionable subject
of
RACISM.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG><STRONG>RK observed life as he saw it.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Should anyone wish to question my
'ethnic' position:</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>I shared school desk and board
with Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians from a variety of ethnic
backgrounds.The word' RACE' was never mentioned. I also enjoy the
privilege of having a wonderful son-in-law who comes from Grenada.(he
enjoys Kipling too!)</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Michael
Jefferson </STRONG></DIV>
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Subject: Kipling and Racism
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