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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:
Flightattendant · 15/12/2009 20:11

Could we not have done without a word at all in that position in the sentence?

Flightattendant · 15/12/2009 20:12

I woulda put

' Racial discrimination arises out of the belief of some that characteristics specific to their race make them superior to those of another race'

tethersjinglebellend · 15/12/2009 20:13

Ah, also possible Georgimama...

tackyChristmastreedelivery · 15/12/2009 20:13

Ah well, I have never watched Friday Night at the Apollo. Maybe I am a poor control.

But I'm keeping the halo.

Flightattendant · 15/12/2009 20:13

but no cigar

night all.

tethersjinglebellend · 15/12/2009 20:14

Oooh, also good, Flight...

Georgimama · 15/12/2009 20:14

Regardless of whether or not she stuffed up the grammar, she's still right.

lostinwales · 15/12/2009 20:15

Why thank you gorgiammama, I treasure one person thinking I am normal anyway, I may have to print that out and keep it in my wallet! Off to shoehorn my trio of gingers to bed glad we won't have to burn down the cottages of people with 'normal' colour hair

tethersjinglebellend · 15/12/2009 20:15

Ah. See?

There's no argument which can't be resolved by a hearty dose of pedantry.

It warms my heart

Georgimama · 15/12/2009 20:16

We haven't really resolved it, though - more of a diversionary tactic. It's working so far.

tethersjinglebellend · 15/12/2009 20:17

Let me warm my heart for a few more minutes, Georgi...

verylittlecarrot · 15/12/2009 20:23

Agent Zigzag, you're going to have to publish that hierarchy for me then, so that I can apportion my sympathy correctly. Does it go something like black racism > disablism > sexism > asian racism > ageism etc...?

Is a black child more hurt by being called "blackie" than a red-haired child is hurt by being called "ginger minger"? Is one crime more serious than another? How do you explain that to a child?

Does it all boil down to what her ancestors were subjected to? Do we have to borrow someone elses suffering to lend credence to our own?

You seem to feel that the history of a group's suffering should have more bearing on our judgement today than the reality of an individual's suffering in the present. Whilst I don't agree with that viewpoint, perhaps it's worth pointing out that historically redhaired women were often accused of being witches and drowned for their crime. Does that bump redheads up in your hierarchy at all?

Can't we just accept that, as a principle, negative prejudice against any group on the basis of a shared characteristic is not on?

Do we have to insist on preserving small pockets of people who are fair game for us to vent our nastier human traits on? Jeez, it's like some people are desperate to have some scapegoat deemed OK to be prejudiced against.

verylittlecarrot · 15/12/2009 20:25

sorry tethers. took too long to type there...

Georgimama · 15/12/2009 20:26

verylittlecarrot, you are going to have to let the suggestion that sniggering gently at a card in Tesco which recognises the unfair and untrue stereotype that ginger is unattractive is in any way comparable with centuries of anti-semitism, racism and homophobia go. Please. You sound silly now.

Original poster
Northernlebkuchen · 15/12/2009 20:27

Sorry no, I still disagree!

The card clearly implies the setting apart of red headed children and is derogatory. I think VLC is absolutely right in her posts. Why is it ok to laugh at red heads but not say disabled people? If, as is being asserted, all humour resides in persecution then why can we not print a card saying 'Santa loves all children, even disabled ones'

What is Friday Night at the Apollo btw? I'm sure I have laughed at cruel jokes in my time but I haven't made a living from publishing them nor do I assert that they are absolutely beyond criticism.

OP posts:
verylittlecarrot · 15/12/2009 20:29

well, actually, georgimama, nope, I don't.

And if you want me to be convinced by your argument then you need to come up with something more compelling than "because I say so"

Because that makes you sound silly.

Are you unable to respond to my points?

midnightexpress · 15/12/2009 20:32

[http://britishaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/prejudice_against_redheads really Georgimama]]?? How silly are these cases?

Discrimination in the workplace? Check.
Violence aginast the person? Check.

Just because you 'snigger gently' does not mean that that is what everyone else does. I agree with VLC that we should accept that it is just plain wrong. Just because the degree of the bullying is different does not make it any more OK, IMVHO.

Georgimama · 15/12/2009 20:32

I can't possibly respond to your posts in any sensible manner because you don't seem to see that a gentle snigger at the suggestion that Santa might possibly have reason not to love ginger children (when of course he loves them very much) is in no way comparable with say, lynching black men in 1900s Alabama. TBH I'm becoming offended at the suggestion that you think that there is any comparison.

midnightexpress · 15/12/2009 20:33

sorry, here

Georgimama · 15/12/2009 20:33

Your link doesn't work.

Georgimama · 15/12/2009 20:35

4 people are upset by morons isn't really comparable to centuries of racism, is it? Morons attacked the homes of paediatricians some years ago because to them the word sounded a bit like "paedo". That doesn't make paediatricians an ethnic group.

shonaspurtle · 15/12/2009 20:39

Wish someone had been there when I was 14 and had "ginge ginge show us your minge" shouted across the dinner hall, and when a group of lads threatned to pull me into the bushes to check my collar and cuffs matched, to tell me that it wasn't comparable to centuries of racism so I should just suck it up.

Or that someone else had red hair and wasn't being singled out for it so I should just suck it up.

Or that some people found it funny to laugh at ginger people so I should just get a sense of humour and suck it up.

midnightexpress · 15/12/2009 20:41

Nobody is saying that redheads are an ethnic group. They are saying that the reality for lots of redheaded children is that they are bullied, taunted and their lives made a misery by ignorant twats who think it's acceptable to behave like that. A bit like the way that people from some ethnic groups/other 'target' groups are made to feel. It's really not that hard to understand. And selling 'jokey' cards about it doesn't help in any way.

I am getting really really now so I think I'd better go.

midnightexpress · 15/12/2009 20:42
Georgimama · 15/12/2009 20:42

I don't think anyone said that anyone being actually bullied should "suck it up", did they?

I'm a bit fat. I was very tall when I was young, compared to other people my age. I'm not trying to ban fat jokes, or lanky jokes.

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