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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:
AgentZigzagDoingAYuleLog · 15/12/2009 18:04

My DH and DD have gorgeous gold/ginger hair, so I'm not saying this in a nasty way, but I really don't think ginger hair can be likened to racism in the traditional sense of the word.

Ginger hair, may provoke bullying, and lots of posters have pointed out that children get bullied about everything and even nothing.

However, I don't know of any instances (and I may be wrong with this) of ginger haired people not getting jobs, being systematically killed for their hair colour, not being able to sit/swim/travel/marry etc people who don't have ginger hair, as has been the case with say black or Jewish people historically.

A 'joke' (and I mean that in the widest sense of the word) that goes too far and racial discrimination and prejudice, to me are poles apart.

sarah293 · 15/12/2009 18:08

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sarah293 · 15/12/2009 18:10

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AgentZigzagDoingAYuleLog · 15/12/2009 18:11

From who Riven? If you don't mind me asking? Who the fk would abuse a lass in a wheelchair?

carriedababi · 15/12/2009 18:12

to me bullying children with ginger hair is as bad a racism.

says more about the person doing the bully
and the parents on here condoning it, thinking its just a laugh

ilovesprouts · 15/12/2009 18:13

ive 2 ginger kids ,in fact ds1 friend bought it for him by the way they are both 19 !!

poshsinglemum · 15/12/2009 18:15

Yes- I think that the card was a disgrace and should have been pulled off the shelf. Ginger hair is super hot in men and women and should be celebrated.
My sister had the most georgeous ginger wavy hair but has died it blond and straightens it to fit in with all the other clones.

Milliways · 15/12/2009 18:15

I sent an online version of that card to my Ginger DS - he loved it!

I also have saved forever the "Vegetable" card that read "Milliways was just coming to terms with the fact that her DS was a Ginger", sent to me BY DS.

DS loves being a redhead.

AgentZigzagDoingAYuleLog · 15/12/2009 18:20

Nobody has condoned bullying of any sort for any reason carrie. Bullying is not 'just a laugh', but some people do use ginger hair as the focus of banter in some instances.

If someone uses ginger hair to bully someone, that's got nothing to do with the ginger hair and like lots of other people have said, is a total reflection on the bully.

sarah293 · 15/12/2009 18:25

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NancyDrewRocks · 15/12/2009 18:31

Ok so I'll spell it out in basics then: racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits - a definition of who you are and what you can be. Racial discrimination arises out of the belief of some that their characteristics specific to their race make them superior to those of another race. Racial discrimination has caused the systematic extermination of millions, genocide, war and hatred.

I am not trying to undermine the pain of bullying but it is not racism. Not even close

MaggieAnFiaRua · 15/12/2009 18:46

i agree with nancy. my younger brother has red hair but me and older brother don't. we're the same race.

one red head in the room wouldnt feel uncomfortable like one non-white in a room might feel. employers don't employ a minimum of 3% red heads. red heads origins are scotland, wales and ireland,,,, same as a lot of blonde and brown haired people then.

Chica31 · 15/12/2009 18:49

This card has made me so cross, pejorative jokes about red heads are seen as reasonable. I am so glad that my beautiful red headed baby is growing up in Spain, a country that believes her hair to be beautiful and makes her even more special.

My sister and I had a really hard time growing up red heads. Especially both of us now being over 6ft tall.

"You must set the roof on fire" ha ha very funny.

dustythedolphin · 15/12/2009 18:53

"racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits - a definition of who you are and what you can be. Racial discrimination arises out of the belief of some that their characteristics specific to their race make them superior to those of another race."

Red hair is a human trait determined by celtic origins and the Irish have suffered anti Irish racism for centuries from England and millions were deliberately and systematically killed in the potato starvation - fact

TBH tho' I think ppl getting all hot under the collar about whether it is or isn't "racism" is a bit of a red herring. I never thinks its helpful to trying create a false hierarchy of suffering. The nazis killed gay ppl and ppl with Downs. That wasn't racism but is just as abhorrant.

Flightattendant · 15/12/2009 18:57

By NancyDrewRocks Tue 15-Dec-09 18:31:17
Ok so I'll spell it out in basics then: racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits - a definition of who you are and what you can be. Racial discrimination arises out of the belief of some that their characteristics specific to their race make them superior to those of another race. Racial discrimination has caused the systematic extermination of millions, genocide, war and hatred.

Well, Nancy, let's try this:

Gingerism is the belief that hair colour is the primary determinant of human traits - a definition of who you are and what you can be. Ginger discrimination arises out of the belief of some that their (sic) characteristics specific to their hair colour make them superior to another hair colour.

The only bit you can't compare is the last sentence, but that was basically a result of racism, not one of its defining premises.

SantaWears2shoes · 15/12/2009 18:58

bullies will always find something, ds was once picked on cos he didn't wear boxers he was bullied for 2 years and they used the fact his sister is diasabled.
I was bullied cos I was skinny(wouldn't believe that now) bullies just pick on a persons weak spot.

edam · 15/12/2009 19:00

The card's clearly not racist as red hair is not a distinguishing characteristic of one particular race.

But neither is it big or clever. It's not OK to pick on someone because of an aspect of their appearance, especially one over which they have no control.

I dislike all these jibes at red hair and really don't understand where they come from, either. What's wrong with red hair? It looks bloody gorgeous. Is it just because it's unusual?

Remember being puzzled when I was little by Anne of Green Gables complaining about her hair, as I'd never heard anyone bitching about red hair.

tethersjinglebellend · 15/12/2009 19:05

I found it funny. And I'm ginger.

I'm not sure which side of the debate this puts me on.

Docbunches · 15/12/2009 19:06

I have two ginger DCs. My DS thought the card was funny, but my DD thought it highly offensive and said she'd rip it up if anyone gave her one. I agree with my DD.

NancyDrewRocks · 15/12/2009 19:07

You are surely not arguing that people see the colour of hair as the primary determinant of an individuals personality? Maybe an aspect, I'll give you that, but very sure people are not generally defined by hair colour: Teasing the local redhead may not be kind but it is not akin to apartheid or the systmatic extermination of a generation.

I can't believe I am even having to argue this

dustythedolphin · 15/12/2009 19:10

"You are surely not arguing that people see the colour of hair as the primary determinant of an individuals personality?"

Doh!

Nancy just doesn't get it..

NancyDrewRocks · 15/12/2009 19:11

And to clarify hair colour is only a determinant of personality in so far as it provides a reference to a third parties reaction. No one is suggesting if you have red hair you're not as bright/sporting/funny etc

flight what is with the "sic"??

nickytwotimes · 15/12/2009 19:13

The card is in very poor taste, but so are others.
It is NOT racism.

Red haired people (like me) were not brought on slave ships to this country and worked to death.

They have not been scapegoated by police, etc in the past.

They are not routinely interoggated at airports for the crime of being-ginger-while-travelling.

You get my point?

Fwiw, i was bullied, but not for my lovely hair either.

NancyDrewRocks · 15/12/2009 19:13

Well please dusty explain. It must be my brain shutting down at the ridiculous suggestion that taking the piss out of red hair is racist....

tackyChristmastreedelivery · 15/12/2009 19:13

I do not find that card amusing or acceptable. Haven't read thread as it's the bedtime witching hour here.

Nor would I find it funny if it said big noses, big feet, small noses, small feet, blonde hair....whatever.

It is true that bullies will pick on something, where they smell a victim. If they picked on skinny kids, lets have a card saying Santa loves even the skinny kids. No...hang on...that would be crazy. So why is it ok for redheads to see this card? Why is it funny to have a card highlighting a weak spot. Why is red hair a weak spot that a card producer though funny enough to sell cards about?

I also really resent being asked if I [or the dd's] have a temper. Why would I have a temper? Why?

The only other bullies I can easily think of, that adults can imagine the horror of being subject to, are domestic violence purportrators. As a card saying 'Santa gives presents to all women, even ones who tolerate a good kicking at home' would be unimaginable.

This topic is close to home as my two have flame flame red red red hair. Reaction from total strangers in the street swings between sympathy, and over-compensatory 'Oh I love it soooooo much I wish I had it...'. People have stopped me int he street to tell me I am lucky they are not boys.
I have never stoped someone to comment on their skinny child, tall chid, black child, white child, blonde child, afro child.....and so on.

I wish people would simply not notice my DC's hair. Then I'd know society wasn't going to single them out for their hair colour - be it in a negative or positive way.