A traditional English Christmas show titled "Snow White and the Seven Asylum Seekers" has been cancelled out of fears that the content might be too "racially sensitive," reports London's Guardian.
The pantomime was to be performed in the village of Merton, but city officials canned it after hearing from a couple of regional racial equality groups. The groups suggested that the play was not illegal, but warned that the committee putting on the show "had a duty to act in an inclusive and non-discriminatory way."
In the show, the seven asylum seekers work illegally at a quarry and live in "grotty" conditions in a cottage in the woods, where they are portrayed as living off baked beans and never bathing. The seven were named Chemical Ali, Comical Ali, Back Ali, Dark Ali, Bowling Ali, Ali G, and Ali-Kiss-Angel.
Truth on Campus
A group of students at Stanford University in California are demanding the ouster of the editor of the school's student paper because it published an ad with pictures of Palestinians celebrating the 9/11 attacks, reports The Stanford Daily.
The ad, paid for by a pro-Israel group, shows Israelis lighting candles in remembrance of Sept. 11 victims under the words, "On September 11, 2001, Israelis mourned in Tel-Aviv." Next to it is a photo showing Palestinian men and children cheering, beneath the text, "On September 11, 2001, Palestinians celebrated in Lebanon."
The offended students claim the ad violates the paper's advertising policy, which says the newspaper won't print any ad that "casts aspersions on individuals or groups on the basis of race, religion, sexual preference, national origin, age, physical disability, or other invidious grounds."
Mohammed Esam, president of the Islamic Society of Stanford University, said the ads were offensive and racist. "They're trying to demonize a whole population," he said.
That'll Teach 'Em
Two California elementary school principals who had the audacity to warn their colleagues of thieves operating in the area and mentioning the race of the alleged perpetrators were described as "blatantly racist" and will undergo sensitivity indoctrination as a result, reports the Oakland Tribune.
The principals -- one from Mission San Jose Elementary and another from Warm Springs Elementary -- sent e-mails to their colleagues reporting that two out-of-place African-American women were seen around their schools the day a purse went missing.
The e-mails were called "blatantly racist" and led to accusation of racial profiling. Both administrators have apologized, saying they were only trying to help.
Now There's an Idea
A California high school student who responded to her classmates' taunts with the retort "that's so gay" was issued a written reprimand for language deemed insensitive to people of alternative sexual orientations, reports the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
The parents of 15-year-old Rebekah Rice are suing Santa Rosa County schools alleging that the district's punishment was unnecessarily harsh.
The parents claim their daughter was harassed for being a Mormon during a human sexuality class that included a presentation on homosexuality and bisexuality by the school's Diversity Club. They didn't want their daughter in the class to begin with, they said.
"I send her to school to learn something and it's not bisexuality," Elden Rice said. "I want them to stick to academics."
Alienated in Orlando
School officials in Orlando, Fla., refused to allow students to enter a float in a homecoming parade that mentioned Jesus and another about the toppling of Saddam Hussein because they might offend Muslims, reports the Orlando Sentinel.
Officials from Dr. Phillips High School said the floats -- one depicting Young Republicans fighting "evildoers" and tearing down a statue of Saddam Hussein, and the other, by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, urging students to "Let Jesus Rock Your Night Away" -- were inappropriate and might "alienate" some in the community.
The officials later reversed themselves and decided to allow the floats after all.
Sanity Prevails
An affirmative action bake sale at Indiana University went on as scheduled despite protests from African-American students that it was racist and offensive, reports the Indianapolis Star.
The black students attempted to close the sale down before it even started, but university officials refused.
"It is a freedom-of-speech issue. I know some schools have approached these events differently, but prior restraint is not something we would normally engage in," said Damon Sims, associate dean of students. "This is one of the more significant social and political issues of our time ... It is exactly the kind of dialogue that should be encouraged on college campuses."
Thus It Begins
A student at Central Michigan University who put a feather in his cap and wore a breastplate of macaroni at a football game is now getting grief from American Indian students, reports Central Michigan Life.
Jared Parko said he intended no offense and he fully supports diversity. He just wanted to show his support for his hometown Chippewas in their homecoming match against Northern Illinois University.
Shockingly, the student's behavior does not violate CMU's student code of conduct so Jared will not face disciplinary action. He has promised, however, never to dress like that again, and his action has prompted introspection about whether the school mascot should be changed.
For a daily dose of politically correct shenanigans, head over to the Tongue Tied Web site.
Mailbag:
Bob P. writes:
I don't believe I understand what free speech means. I thought it meant that you could say basically anything you wanted as long as it wasn't treasonous. But now it looks like treason is OK, but everything else is at the whim of the speech police.
Amy M. writes:
I find it interesting that you neglected to mention that Mr. Switzer wrote the name of a classmate above the picture of the "Taliban fighter." Fair and balanced indeed.
Lynn writes:
I'm writing in response to "Dangerous Drawing." I'm an active duty officer in the U.S. military and I have to say I am flabbergasted by the moronic response of the teacher and the pricipal in this case. What do they think we are doing over here with armed Taliban terrorists? Playing checkers? That young teenager has every right to be proud of what his father does and exercise his protected freedom of speech by sharing his pride with others. I would love to see the parents in this school district ban together and pressure the school board to fire the principal and reprimand the teacher.
Michael C. in Nevada writes:
Just a few short years ago Fuzzy Zoeller was vilified, castigated and almost kicked out of the PGA. His career, for all intent, over. Why? Because he said about Tiger Woods, almost verbatim, what Junior Seau recently said about LaDainian Tomlinson. The press says, "[Seau} was just being funny."
What's the difference? Zoeller was a white guy talking about a minority; Seau is a minority guy talking about another minority. When will this country wake up and smell the coffee? Racism is racism, regardless of the race or ethnic persuasion of the racist. The double-standard must stop.
David K. writes:
What irks me about people like Michael Newdow is their absolute and utter hypocrisy. Newdow is going after the pledge of allegiance, "In God We Trust," and "God Bless America," wanting to rid them from American Society.
He is doing what he is accusing others of doing -- forcing his agenda on other people. The result of the unparalleled arrogance of this lawyer, if unchecked, will be one man's goals and agenda for others becoming law for everyone else.
You hear so much about the "religious right" but not much about the "irreligious left." There is as much of an agenda on the left as there is on the right.
John D. in Anchorage, Alaska, writes:
Just once I'd like to see one of your stories end with the sentence, "the person filing the complaint was directed to attend 'get-over-it training' to be more sensitive to the feelings of the majority in a diverse society in the future." Wouldn't that be swell?
Scott in Philadelphia writes:
Typically, my only bright spot on generally bland Monday mornings is your showing of PC run amok.
However, you've reversed the blinds of PC in your report of Junior Seau. The problem with those who run the PC train of thought is that they cover up facts that are essential to making an informed decision to further their agenda. You did this with your reference to Junior Seau's remarks about LaDanian Tomlinson.
While the two were teammates in San Diego, the entire team had a Friday night ritual -- eating fried chicken. This is what Seau's remarks referred to. No offense was intended in Seau's joke -- it was true.
Don't join the PC team in an effort to expose their antics.
Larry writes:
You RepubliKKKan car huggers are funny!
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