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Original poster

Tesco Christmas card making fun of children with red hair

377 replies

Northernlebkuchen · 15/12/2009 11:48

here

I can't believe they think they should sell something like this. So glad this woman got them taken out of our local tesco - now what about the rest of the chain?

I know two children horribly bullied because of their (beautiful) red hair. It's just the same as any other discrimination - breeds hate and misery

OP posts:
StretchAndBitsOfTinsel · 15/12/2009 13:11

That card is disgusting! It makes me feel sick.

DollyPS · 15/12/2009 13:13

"What makes it worse is (and I'm probably going to get flamed for this), but the one of the girls who is bullying is black. She keeps calling DD1 'ginger' so DD1 responded one day with "blackie" sad She is not racist, she's 7 and loves everybody, but she is just responding.
I did tell the teacher what she had said and we had a chat about racism and it being unacceptable, but DD1 wants to know why she can get into lots of trouble for calling names, and this other girl gets a 'warning', everytime!

Sorry if I've offended anybody with that comment. I am not racist, neither is DH. We abhor it and are trying to teach that to the kids."

Mine did the same and got a suspension for it but the child got a warning I complained to the LEA in my area and caused a fuss about it as the school were useless. Maybe you should do the same as they have a time period to answer letters. Never phone as they are not recorded and if the school are lacking in this department I would go over their heads. Wankers that they are.

I have red hair as does my youngest. He is older now 12 in fact and wont tolarate it now thankfully.

5inthesleighbed · 15/12/2009 13:14

Carrie, my ds1 has asked a few times if he can dye his hair .

Ds3 has dark hair like me, and when people comment on him being the lucky one, I often say that he'll probably feel like the odd one out and can dye his hair ginger when he is older.

StretchAndBitsOfTinsel · 15/12/2009 13:17

Well, the teacher hadn't heard, so I went to tell her.

I can't believe the double standards! I mean, racism is truly awful and is slowly getting worse in this country, but surely the idea is to teach tolerance towards everybody!

SciFiFan · 15/12/2009 13:18

I too am a mum of two gorgeous red-headed boys and this card has made me and .

Do we just complain to Tesco's or has some kind of petition been set up? Does anyone know?

gingeme · 15/12/2009 13:18

Ilikelentils I had the same stupid comments made when I was little too I was bullied at school for it as was my cousin and her daughter. 2 of my ds are ginger too and they going to get bullied for it which is a sad fact .I renenber when i was pg with ds1 my exfil sadi 'if he has ginger hair well colour it with shoe polish'
The card is just down right discraceful and not funny at all I agree that if it was 'even black, fat, blonde, chinese or anything else it would be removed from the shelves straight away.

FabIsGettingReadyForChristmas · 15/12/2009 13:18

I just saw the card on the news - it has been withdrawn. I think it wouldn't have been so bad if the child had been smiling.

Annabelsmum · 15/12/2009 13:18

Bloody hell, Carrie I am so that even radio 4 could stoop to that level.

Why is the ginger thing even funny to anyone? Why do people get bullied about it? I just can't imagine how you would explain it to a small child, I can't understand it myself.

PuppyMonkey · 15/12/2009 13:20

I don't know what the R word is either, explain please!

bellissima · 15/12/2009 13:22

Ah yes Atlantis so when (as i have described on another thread) some vile tweedy home counties old lady in Boots shouts 'What a proper little ginger tom' at my daughter (cretinous as well as vile) you think I should just chill. Actually I was so shocked - felt like DD had been slapped in the face - that I shrieked at her that I never wanted to see her again and she fled.

(Now I think - forgive me - that it's funny if she never dares show her face in there again for fear of seeing me. But then she should just chill eh?)

StretchAndBitsOfTinsel · 15/12/2009 13:24

blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/ceriradford/100019861/ginger-jokes-tesco-should-stand-by-its-christmas-ca rd/

mamasmissionimpossible · 15/12/2009 13:24

All my family have red hair. We all have celtic blood. So I think these cards should be outright banned too. What's the point of them, there are lots of decent cards to send. They just send a nasty vindictive message to people.

So sorry for all the dc's that get bullied at school for their hair colour. It feels lie ginger hair is the last taboo.

StretchAndBitsOfTinsel - I got asked the 'colour of pube question' at school. Nasty girls at my school!

StretchAndBitsOfTinsel · 15/12/2009 13:26

It's retard. Sorry hate even writing it.

RainRainGoAway · 15/12/2009 13:29

Oh. Thank you for letting know. Horrible word I agree.

vulpes · 15/12/2009 13:30

im not from the uk (but lived there for a few years) and was really suprised by the whole 'ginger' thing.

i dont understand what its all about? if you have ginger/red/auburn hair in other countries its not a biggie. so why the uk?

anybody know?

gingeme · 15/12/2009 13:30

Hello ginge
hows your minge?
Is it red?
Like your head?
I was greeted by that nearle every dy of my secondary school days
Funny isn't it?

dustythedolphin · 15/12/2009 13:31

I think you just need to substitute the wortding on the Tesco's card to "Black" or "Jewish" and you will work out why it is offensive.

I got horrifically bullied aged five because of my red hair and freckles

Another child got completely ostracised and had a horrific time due to the fact she had a skin compaint.

Neither is acceptable and I can assure you it was not even vaguely funny.

I used to spend most of the school day, particularly playtimes, in such fear that I could not eat or speak all day. I really dreaded playtimes, when I was the subject of violent physical abuse and taunts - due to my colouring.

I am slightly alarmed that some ppl think this is the stuff of jokes.

gingeme · 15/12/2009 13:31

I hate the term 'red head' too I dont have a red head I have red hair [ahmm]

sazlocks · 15/12/2009 13:32

I think the card is vile and hope it is removed from all of the shops.
Funnily enough I was just driving home earlier past a crowd of kids and there was a boy with the most stunningly vibrant red hair who really stood out from the others and I was thinking about what a great colour it was.

dustythedolphin · 15/12/2009 13:33

Vulpes it is probably an anti-Irish connection. Irish ppl have traditionally siuffered racism in the UK, due to its colonial history and red hair is typically associated with Celts in this country

vulpes · 15/12/2009 13:34

thanks dusty. v interesting

StretchAndBitsOfTinsel · 15/12/2009 13:35

I might go and live in Greece.

According to my local chippy man (a greek), it's rare over there and they love the colour! Everytime I go in he gives me a free sausage (NOT like that!!! you filthy minded buggers!!)

5inthesleighbed · 15/12/2009 13:36

Some of those comments on that second link are awful. I can't believe people can be so vile!

gingeme · 15/12/2009 13:38

Stretch I remember going to Malta when I was 18 and the Maltese people just came up to me in the street and touched my hair most bizarre!

FabIsGettingReadyForChristmas · 15/12/2009 13:38

I have changed my mind about my last comment now I have read some posts about how upset children can be.