Some stories will have to be eliminated altogether. For example, the story "The Jewish Girl" by Hans Christian Andersen, which in a better world was once read in order to discourage the cruelty of antisemitism, but now, one knows, will be eliminated altogether because Muslims will not tolerate a story in which good things are said, or even implied, about someone who is Jewish.

So, making whatis perhaps one of its final public appearances, is

The Jewish Maiden
by
Hans Christian Andersen
(1856)

In a charity school, among the children, sat a little Jewish girl. She was a good, intelligent child, and very quick at her lessons; but the Scripture-lesson class she was not allowed to join, for this was a Christian school. During the hour of this lesson, the Jewish girl was allowed to learn her geography, or to work her sum for the next day; and when her geography lesson was perfect, the book remained open before her, but she read not another word, for she sat silently listening to the words of the Christian teacher. He soon became aware that the little one was paying more attention to what he said than most of the other children. “Read your book, Sarah,” he said to her gently.

But again and again he saw her dark, beaming eyes fixed upon him; and once, when he asked her a question, she could answer him even better than the other children. She had not only heard, but understood his words, and pondered them in her heart. Her father, a poor but honest man, had placed his daughter at the school on the conditions that she should not be instructed in the Christian faith. But it might have caused confusion, or raised discontent in the minds of the other children if she had been sent out of the room, so she remained; and now it was evident this could not go on. The teacher went to her father, and advised him to remove his daughter from the school, or to allow her to become a Christian. “I cannot any longer be an idle spectator of those beaming eyes, which express such a deep and earnest longing for the words of the gospel,” said he.

Then the father burst into tears. “I know very little of the law of my fathers,” said he; “but Sarah’s mother was firm in her belief as a daughter of Israel, and I vowed to her on her deathbed that our child should never be baptized. I must keep my vow: it is to me even as a covenant with God Himself.” And so the little Jewish girl left the Christian school.

Years rolled by. In one of the smallest provincial towns, in a humble household, lived a poor maiden of the Jewish faith, as a servant. Her hair was black as ebony, her eye dark as night, yet full of light and brilliancy so peculiar to the daughters of the east. It was Sarah. The expression in the face of the grown-up maiden was still the same as when, a child, she sat on the schoolroom form listening with thoughtful eyes to the words of the Christian teacher. Every Sunday there sounded forth from a church close by the tones of an organ and the singing of the congregation. The Jewish girl heard them in the house where, industrious and faithful in all things, she performed her household duties. “Thou shalt keep the Sabbath holy,” said the voice of the law in her heart; but her Sabbath was a working day among the Christians, which was a great trouble to her. And then as the thought arose in her mind, “Does God reckon by days and hours?” her conscience felt satisfied on this question, and she found it a comfort to her, that on the Christian Sabbath she could have an hour for her own prayers undisturbed. The music and singing of the congregation sounded in her ears while at work in her kitchen, till the place itself became sacred to her. Then she would read in the Old Testament, that treasure and comfort to her people, and it was indeed the only Scriptures she could read. Faithfully in her inmost thoughts had she kept the words of her father to her teacher when she left the school, and the vow he had made to her dying mother that she should never receive Christian baptism. The New Testament must remain to her a sealed book, and yet she knew a great deal of its teaching, and the sound of the gospel truths still lingered among the recollections of her childhood.

One evening she was sitting in a corner of the dining-room, while her master read aloud. It was not the gospel he read, but an old story-book; therefore she might stay and listen to him. The story related that a Hungarian knight, who had been taken prisoner by a Turkish pasha, was most cruelly treated by him. He caused him to be yoked with his oxen to the plough, and driven with blows from the whip till the blood flowed, and he almost sunk with exhaustion and pain. The faithful wife of the knight at home gave up all her jewels, mortgaged her castle and land, and his friends raised large sums to make up the ransom demanded for his release, which was most enormously high. It was collected at last, and the knight released from slavery and misery. Sick and exhausted, he reached home.

Ere long came another summons to a struggle with the foes of Christianity. The still living knight heard the sound; he could endure no more, he had neither peace nor rest. He caused himself to be lifted on his war-horse; the color came into his cheeks, and his strength returned to him again as he went forth to battle and to victory. The very same pasha who had yoked him to the plough, became his prisoner, and was dragged to a dungeon in the castle. But an hour had scarcely passed, when the knight stood before the captive pasha, and inquired, “What do you suppose awaiteth thee?”

“I know,” replied the pasha; “retribution.”

“Yes, the retribution of a Christian,” replied the knight. “The teaching of Christ, the Teacher, commands us to forgive our enemies, to love our neighbors; for God is love. Depart in peace: return to thy home. I give thee back to thy loved ones. But in future be mild and humane to all who are in trouble.”

Then the prisoner burst into tears, and exclaimed, “Oh how could I imagine such mercy and forgiveness! I expected pain and torment. It seemed to me so sure that I took poison, which I secretly carried about me; and in a few hours its effects will destroy me. I must die! Nothing can save me! But before I die, explain to me the teaching which is so full of love and mercy, so great and God-like. Oh, that I may hear his teaching, and die a Christian!” And his prayer was granted.

This was the legend which the master read out of the old story-book. Every one in the house who was present listened, and shared the pleasure; but Sarah, the Jewish girl, sitting so still in a corner, felt her heart burn with excitement. Great tears came into her shining dark eyes; and with the same gentle piety with which she had once listened to the gospel while sitting on the form at school, she felt its grandeur now, and the tears rolled down her cheeks. Then the last words of her dying mother rose before her, “Let not my child become a Christian;” and with them sounded in her heart the words of the law, “Honor thy father and thy mother.”

“I am not admitted among the Christians,” she said; “they mock me as a Jewish girl; the neighbors’ boys did so last Sunday when I stood looking in through the open church door at the candles burning on the altar, and listening to the singing. Ever since I sat on the school-bench I have felt the power of Christianity; a power which, like a sunbeam, streams into my heart, however closely I may close my eyes against it. But I will not grieve thee, my mother, in thy grave. I will not be unfaithful to my father’s vow. I will not read the Bible of the Christian. I have the God of my fathers, and in Him I will trust.”

And again years passed by. Sarah’s master died, and his widow found herself in such reduced circumstances that she wished to dismiss her servant maid; but Sarah refused to leave the house, and she became a true support in time of trouble, and kept the household together by working till late at night, with her busy hands, to earn their daily bread. Not a relative came forward to assist them, and the widow was confined to a sick bed for months and grew weaker from day to day. Sarah worked hard, but contrived to spare time to amuse her and watch by the sick bed. She was gentle and pious, an angel of blessing in that house of poverty.

“My Bible lies on the table yonder,” said the sick woman one day to Sarah. “Read me something from it; the night appears so long, and my spirit thirsts to hear the word of God.”

And Sarah bowed her head. She took the book, and folded her hand over the Bible of the Christians, and at last opened it, and read to the sick woman. Tears stood in her eyes as she read, and they shone with brightness, for in her heart it was light.

“Mother,” she murmured, “thy child may not receive Christian baptism, nor be admitted into the congregation of Christian people. Thou hast so willed it, and I will respect thy command. We are therefore still united here on earth; but in the next world there will be a higher union, even with God Himself, who leads and guides His people till death. He came down from heaven to earth to suffer for us, that we should bring forth the fruits of repentance. I understand it now. I know not how I learnt this truth, unless it is through the name of Christ.” Yet she trembled as she pronounced the holy name. She struggled against these convictions of the truth of Christianity for some days, till one evening while watching her mistress she was suddenly taken very ill; her limbs tottered under her, and she sank fainting by the bedside of the sick woman.

“Poor Sarah,” said the neighbors; “she is overcome with hard work and night watching.” And then they carried her to the hospital for the sick poor. There she died; and they bore her to her resting-place in the earth, but not to the churchyard of the Christians. There was no place for the Jewish girl; but they dug a grave for her outside the wall. And God’s sun, which shines upon the graves of the churchyard of the Christians, also throws its beams on the grave of the Jewish maiden beyond the wall. And when the psalms of the Christians sound across the churchyard, their echo reaches her lonely resting-place; and she who sleeps there will be counted worthy at the resurrection, through the name of Christ the Lord, who said to His disciples, “John baptized you with water, but I will baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”

Let's see how long that story lasts in the expurgated versions of Andersen that will be permitted in Danish schools. But possibly it will not happen. Possibly the Danes will keep, or come, to their senses, as they did over the cartoons at Jyllands-Posten. Possibly, as they have before, they will offer the rest of Scandinavia a stout lesson in moral sense. Let's hope.

Posted by: Hugh at December 7, 2006 1:47 PM

So in the Three Little Pigs story, the 3 foxen build houses out of straw, wood and bricks? And the wolf comes down, huffs and puffs down two of the houses because he wants to eat the foxen? So while being PC, do the editors of these fairy tales even try to be biologically correct? Or does the fact that pigs cannot talk to wolves get treated on par with the fact that wolves don't eat foxen?

James Garner - the author of the Politically Correct Bedtime Stories - would have his work cut out for him. This time, come out with 'Islamically correct'.

Just wonder which one to share with my pre-adult.

Posted by: Infidel Pride at December 7, 2006 2:27 PM

well I see the politically correct thugs are at it again the problem is unfortunately these people have gotten into the education system and unless you get them down from the ivory tower and a unwash there brains things will not change

Posted by: islamakapigeaters at December 7, 2006 2:54 PM

Hugh - Thank you. I've never read that one. It's lovely.

This self-censorship is troubling. Let's hope it doesn't extend to bookstores and libraries.

Posted by: Josephine at December 7, 2006 2:58 PM

well I see the politically correct thugs are at it again the problem is unfortunately these people have gotten into the education system and unless you get them down from the ivory tower and a unwash there brains things will not change Posted by: islamakapigeater

I understand the problem with morons like Islamakapigeater.. They mistake greed, profits and dhimmitude for political correctness and "liberalism".

A major trading partner, a source of jobs and profits for Norway (and a major source) are Saudi Arabia, Iran and Islamic countries..

You see it is the profit motive (good ole capitalism, all of that right wing conservative stuff, like Jobs and stock market value, and corporate profits) that motivate this so called "political correctness".. chalk it up to jobs, profits, greed not some inane and nonsensical multiculturalism or PC. In fact the only country that has been really inflected with p.c. and multicult is the U.S. and I lay the blame for that square in the lap of the majority, the land owning white male Christian who controlled this country until immigrants from Europe, especially Eastern Europe, Ireland and Italy started to migrate in and demand their share of the American Pie.

Posted by: Nariz at December 7, 2006 3:15 PM

I used to work for the largest school board in Ontario, Canada. It was (and undoubtedly still is) extremely socialist and very politically correct. It is a religion to those folks. They are the beneficent ones, opening their arms (in a non-judgmental way, of course) to the poor, unfortunate "persons of colour" who were victims of circumstance. Every newcomer (who wasn't white) was gathered to the bosom of the mother-system.

I attended various anti-racist education workshops. Many were interesting and I learned a lot. I think anti-racism is very important.

However, I do remember one serious discussion about the appropriate use of words such as "black" and "dark". I mean, think of how someone might feel if you say the sky is dark or there are dark storm clouds overhead or you're in a black mood today. A person of colour's feelings might be hurt and that would be very, very bad. After all these years, I still hesitate every time I think of the phrase, "black humour".

Do you know that we don't say "blackboard" anymore? It's "chalkboard". "Blackboard" is somehow racist. I'm not kidding.

I think it's good to be inclusive but common sense should prevail and, with the politically correct movement, common sense is not a factor.

Posted by: Josephine at December 7, 2006 3:57 PM

No. Do not change fairy-tales, or Mark Twain, or any other author that has "offensive" words! If you don't like the story, then don't read it, but gosh-darn-it; don't prevent others from enjoying their literary heritage. Islam doesn't rule the world, and I hope Norway figures that out soon.

Posted by: Monkeywho at December 7, 2006 4:18 PM

They remind me of certain apes who bend over and expose their buttocks to other dominant males to show submission. And they do it without even being asked.

Posted by: poetcomic1 at December 7, 2006 4:57 PM

Nariz,

I don't believe you have managed to write one accurate statement in your post above. However, this statement is so outrageously inaccurate that I'd like to take a couple of moments to focus on it:

" .. the land owning white male Christian who controlled this country until immigrants from Europe, especially Eastern Europe, Ireland and Italy started to migrate in and demand their share of the American Pie."

I'm going to ignore the most predictable crap (White Christian males etc.) and the erroneous nature of the rest of the crap (the order of immigration patterns/religions and your ill informed intention in proposing the pattern). What's interesting to me is the ".. started to migrate in and demand their share of the American Pie." part. It's interesting because you have described .. and perfectly, by the way .. the attitude of Islamists coming into this country. "DEMAND 'their share' " of the American pie. How ugly and how accurate a description you give of yourself and your brethren. You really don't get freedom, do you Nariz?

Hugh, thank you for the Hans Christian Anderson. I thought I'd read all of them as a child .. but I'd not read that one.

Posted by: Daisytoo at December 7, 2006 5:51 PM

What a joke. The Three Little Pigs would be the Three Little Foxes? I believe that cold climates attract stupid people.

Posted by: Pelayo at December 7, 2006 6:45 PM

"in Norwegian kindergartens, pigs in traditional fairy tales are now quietly being replaced with other animals."

The three little pigs weren't dancing, because it was breaching Sharia Law, and the three blind mice strapped on IEDs and blew up the rice, at the wedding of Ahmet and Aisha.

Pigs are "haram"; rockspiders are still "halal", I assume.

Posted by: Xaragma at December 7, 2006 7:12 PM

"You see it is the profit motive (good ole capitalism, all of that right wing conservative stuff, like Jobs and stock market value, and corporate profits) that motivate this so called "political correctness".. chalk it up to jobs, profits, greed not some inane and nonsensical multiculturalism or PC. In fact the only country that has been really inflected with p.c. and multicult is the U.S. and I lay the blame for that square in the lap of the majority, the land owning white male Christian who controlled this country until immigrants from Europe, especially Eastern Europe, Ireland and Italy started to migrate in and demand their share of the American Pie"

What? The above has no basis in any reality on this planet, though it is nice that you acknowledge that "multiculturism" and "political correctness" are "inane".

"immigrants from Europe, especially Eastern Europe, Ireland and Italy started to migrate in and demand their share of the American Pie"

Thanks for mentioning my ancestors. My family came from Eastern Europe in the late 18OO's. The only thing they demanded was a chance to prove themselves worthy of the blessings of Liberty. They learned the language, the customs and rules for survival in America and thrived. They rejected the tyranny and poverty they fled and became Americans.

Many Muslims come to America to escape tyranny and poverty and then strive to impose the very ideology that produced that tyranny and poverty on America. That ideology is Islam.

God bless America. God save the Queen. Death to Islam.

Posted by: USBeast at December 7, 2006 8:14 PM

Aren't foxes related to dogs? Wouldn't that make them unclean too?

Nariz:

Your one note song is boring.

Posted by: atheling at December 7, 2006 8:24 PM

When will Pippi Longstocking be renamed Brave Holy Warrior Achmed from Somalia? Might as well give the kiddies in Sweden as much Islamania as possible in the shortest amount of time.

Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS at December 7, 2006 8:27 PM

Wow Hugh, I've never read that one. I really liked it, thanks.

re-Pig, Fox: Another bit of territory of westerness lost.

Posted by: TheVoiceofTruth at December 7, 2006 9:12 PM

Many decades ago, when saudis were dirt poor and Islam had no international political relevance, diplomats posted in the Afghan capital, Kabul, imported pork products on the sly.
During banquets hosted by the embassies, this delicious meat was known as "nightingale" meat.

Posted by: rocky at December 7, 2006 9:23 PM

Pay them the welfare. Pay them the heed. Pay them the dominance, so demanded by their creed. Pay them your culture, pay them your story, make them prerogates, turn the story into a screed.

But, above all, pay them submission because, after all, them is the hegemonic ideology that named itself Surrender.

Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at December 7, 2006 10:32 PM

But what about our viking ancestors? :( Norway and Sweden, I am shocked and dismayed.

But we'll always have Denmark.

http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2006/12/lets-make-deal.html

Posted by: pigtails not veils at December 8, 2006 12:55 AM

"wolves don't eat foxes" - infidel Pride
Wolves were probably a control on foxes in the days when Europe was a wilderness and some of the wolf's descendants, e.g. foxhounds, still tear foxes apart and would no doubt eat them if they were hungry enough. On the other hand, three foxes might well be able to handle a single wolf.

Posted by: wallyUK at December 8, 2006 1:03 AM

Great story, Hugh. Mahound probably prefers the Grimms' "Jew in the Brambles."
But if they mess with Pippi Longstocking, they die.

Posted by: Marc at December 8, 2006 1:37 AM

Good grief. Well, I guess it's never to early to start the indoctrination process....

Nice story, Hugh. Brings to mind another H.C. Andersen story that leads me to ask -- when will people finally realize that the PC Emperor is wearing no clothes?

Posted by: Jun_girl at December 8, 2006 5:46 AM

pigtails not veils: But what about our viking ancestors?

Mostly gone, I suspect. They either went a-viking a long time ago -- or emigrated in pretty large numbers to the U.S. in later centuries (in other words, they're almost all in Iceland and Minnesota now! Almost....).

Posted by: Jun_girl at December 8, 2006 5:49 AM

Blair is so weak-tit.

We've seen this for decades in the States. But I've never, ever, seen a Police Chief give an indignant lecture to the local criminal element that they have a duty to obey the law.

That would be called fantastic begging.

* 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 ** 33:21 *

Does realistic begging exist? Dunno. Tellya what, I'll read the Iraq Study Group's report and get back to you on that...

Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at December 8, 2006 10:18 PM

:)
in other words, they're almost all in Iceland and Minnesota now! Almost....).

Posted by: Jun_girl

My mother was from Iceland.

Posted by: pigtails not veils at December 8, 2006 11:46 PM

Thanks a lot islam for mutilating our culture. I always hated Pippi Longstocking and other tales by Astrid Lindgren, but stories shouldn't be changed just to appease "sensitive people."

Posted by: EliasAlucard at December 9, 2006 11:55 AM