Guy Gibson’s dog was a black Labrador called Nigger. One presumes that he called him such because he was black – the word coming from the Latin nigra. Not very original maybe, but I notice that dog’s names frequently aren’t.
However, for the remake of The Dambusters – an entirely unnecessary exercise, given that the original is a classic – the dog will be renamed “Digger”. This is because we are so sensitive these days, we cannot have the word “Nigger” used even though the context is entirely innocent. Nor must we allow a historical drama to be true to its historical sensibilities.
Okay, yes, Stephen Fry is perfectly correct when he points out that these days, we just don’t do “Nigger” – unless one is black, in which case it becomes a term of endearment, apparently.
Stephen Fry told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It’s no good saying that it is the Latin word for black or that it didn’t have the meaning that it does now – you just can’t go back, which is unfortunate.”
“You can go to RAF Scampton and see the dog’s grave and there he is with his name, and it’s an important part of the film.”
“The name of the dog was a code word to show that the dam had been successfully breached.”
“In the film, you’re constantly hearing ‘N-word, N-word, N-word, hurray’ and Barnes Wallis is punching the air. But obviously that’s not going to happen now.”
“So Digger seems OK, I reckon.”
I understand, but I disagree. The dog’s name was central to the action – he was killed shortly before the op and his name was the code word for operational success; “Nigger”, not “Digger”. On the grave, it bears the name; “Nigger”, not “Digger”. We will all know what the original name was, despite the politically correct fudge and if they show scenes of people punching the air and shouting “Digger” we will all know that it should be “Nigger” because that was what it was. All that Fry and company will be doing is enabling the feeble-minded political correctness of people who cannot bear to see or hear history portrayed as it was and are wetting their pants over someone, somewhere being offended.
We don’t use the term these days and for obvious reasons, it is offensive when used in the context of describing black people. However, Nigger was not a black person, he was a black Labrador and in the 1940s such use was unremarkable; and this film is about then, not now and the language used should be as accurate as possible if it is to convey a degree of authenticity. As an aside, there is a general point here to be made about authentic language – modern idioms and even place names jar when used in historical context. I recall wincing when Foyle mentioned Cumbria in one episode. In 1943 it was Cumberland.
One wonders how a drama about the slaves in the cotton fields of the deep south would be portrayed – will the protagonists not be allowed to use the word then? Will the slave owners really be expected to talk of their slaves as “African Americans”? Really?
It’s drama people. It’s about times past. They did things differently then. Get over it.
If you ever catch the original on TV ( which you seldom will, far too patriotic for Lefty TV people)
The name Nigger is either glaringly cut, or over dubbed with a mumble
The Spanish word for black is “Negro”. You can bet your life, they won’t change it.
Living in a free, democratic society means that people have the right to offend you. That’s one of the reasons why we were fighting the Nazis in the first place.
Maybe someone ought to organise on online campaign to now make the word ‘Digger’ offensive and force the makers of the film to choose another name.
If this was a documentary or a text book, or some governmental organisation had forced them to make the change, your outrage would be justified. It’s not though – it is a commercial venture, designed to make more money than the backers have put in. As the USA is the largest market for this film, and nigger is very much a taboo word in that country, this sounds like a very sensible, commercial, decision.
I think the Aussies have been toiling away at that for a while now, haven’t they? 😉
Braxis – I disagree. That is is a commercial enterprise is neither here nor there, the fact remains that they are misrepresenting the historical fact and in the process enabling political correctness. My point, therefore, stands.
I believe Wing Commander Guy Gibson is to be re-monikered as Doll Gibson in the interests of PC
Hollywood re-writes history all the time (see every war film ever made) – although worthy of mention, this is a pretty minor change,and at least now people will know that name has been changed. You wait till the climax of the film and we watch combined British/American air crews flying low over German reservoirs in B29s…
Well, yes, and it was the US Navy that captured the enigma machine, wasn’t it?
Shizzle, ma dizzle! Have I got that right?
“Well, yes, and it was the US Navy that captured the enigma machine, wasn’t it?”
More politically correct to say “edigma” machine.
Tennessee in the US has just made it a crime to post anything online that upsets or offends anyone seeing it. The punishment is one year in jail or one thousand dollar fine.
It all seems slightly ironic considering that our forces were fighting Nazism doesn’t it.
Surely – to avoid giving offence to anyone – the film should be re-made without reference to ‘The War’ (or fighting, bombs, environmental damage or people getting hurt)?
It just occurred to me. Can we now refer to people such as Diane Abbot as ‘Diggers’ without causing offence?
However, Nigger was not a black person, he was a black Labrador and in the 1940s such use was unremarkable
It was still a popular name for a black labrador in RAF circles well into the early 80’s.
Just been watching “A Dog Called Nigger” on Yoochoob.
Perhaps a t-shirt opportunity has arisen.