Image: Courtesy of The
Family of Judith Jones/Knopf
Judith Jones may not have been a household name, but without her, some of the world’s most famous books may never have been published.
In 1950, Jones was working as an editorial assistant at Doubleday Publishing when she stumbled upon a book in the discard pile that she couldn’t put down. She was struck by the face on the cover: Anne Frank.
“I read all afternoon with the tears coming down my face,” Jones told NPR in 1998. “When my boss got back, it was evening by then. He said, ‘What are you doing still here?’ And I said, ‘We have to have this book!’ And he said, ‘What? That book by that kid?’”
The book by that kid became The Diary of Anne Frank. It had already been released in German and Dutch, but Jones convinced her bosses to publish it in the United States, vastly expanding its readership. It went on to sell more than 30 million copies
worldwide in more than 60 languages.
Jones died Wednesday at her home in Vermont. She was 93.
The next time someone tells you to “Take a joke” or that “it’s just a joke” or that “Comedy is supposed to be offensive”, show them this. If they can’t distinguish between punching up and punching down, they’re not tolerable.
“If someone hates you, they will come up with a reason after the fact.”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS.
[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Piotr Rasputin speaks at length to Christina and Cameron Pryde, his children with Kitty Pryde in X-Men: Years of Future Past.]
“It always begins as a joke. Listen to me, both of you.
“One sees a father or mother of whom they do not approve – and their brats won’t shut up, and the parents are so exhausted that they just let their children scream, all sticky and crying and hitting and wild.
“And you say to your friends, ‘You should have to pass a test to breed.’ Do you understand? ‘You should have to get licensed to have kids.’
“It starts as a joke.
“Then perhaps there is a tragedy. A postpartum who should’ve gotten help, but her insurance did not cover the therapy. A father who erred, because he was raised believing men are pathetic if they are caregivers.
“The first tests are drafted. And you think, ‘Good.’ You think, ‘Those children will be safe now.’
“The test comes out, and yes, there’re some problems, but nothing that cannot be ironed out, yes?
“But now anyone with a mental illness, with a criminal record, is barred from becoming a parent, and you think, ‘Well, that is sensible, yes?’ Because you’ve never known anyone like that, so who is to tell you they are not like they are portrayed in stories?
“Sick, dangerous, criminal – these words expand.
“Suddenly it is anyone with diabetes, anyone with cancer, because they could die and leave their children orphaned, so how dare they ever try to have children?
“It is deaf couples, disabled couples, interracial couples, gay couples – because don’t they know how hard they’re making it for their children?
“Then it is whoever they want.
“You think you are working for the greater good. You can’t even fathom the life of someone who isn’t exactly like you.
“Then one day – it is you. Some gene, some history, some past behavior – and suddenly, you are too sick, dangerous, criminal.
“Because the truth is this: human hate can adapt to anything.
“You think you are safe. But if someone hates you, they will come up with the reason after the fact.
“Only then do you realize what you put in power. Only then do you realize what you stripped away.
“There is terrible power in a joke, in a story, in taking the truth and making it ugly.
Yondu makes a point of only taking his crew to brothels with bots; no organics. Aside from the obvious health/safety benefits, he knows what it is to be used and abused against your will and you can bet a good percentage of the organic prostitutes wouldn’t be in that line of work willingly (either sold into it or pure desperation) so, no. Bots only.
