An ad campaign for ice cream in the United Kingdom featuring the nursery rhyme "Eeny, meeny, miney, mo" was withdrawn following complaints from black groups that the ad was racist and brutal, reports the Guardian.
Operation Black Vote forced Masterfoods to yank the ad for Galaxy Ice Cream, which features five different-sized spoons with the chocolate ice cream.
Consumers are expected to use the counting rhyme to pick a spoon.
The group's Simon Woolley used the dust-up as proof of the need for affirmative action. "The amazing thing is what this says about the advertising industry," he said. "It shows how few minorities there are in senior roles in these companies."
The group is apparently taking its cue from the unsuccessful effort against Southwest Airlines earlier this year.
Song Sung Blue
The U.S. Naval Academy has changed the language of its school song because the 81-year-old ditty unintentionally excluded women from the school's heritage, reports the Washington Post.
The original version of "Navy Blue & Gold" tells of "college men from sea to sea" singing songs of colors true and "sailor men in battle fair since fighting days of old."
The new version begins: Now colleges from sea to sea may sing of colors true. The third line will read: For sailors brave in battle fair since fighting days of old.
"Without changing the meaning of the song, these words make our Alma Mater inclusive of all who cherish it," Vice Adm. Rodney P. Rempt, superintendent of the academy, said in a written statement. "This is a decision consistent with our values."
Respecting All Beliefs
The last remaining graduation invocation in one Indiana county is no more since the Indiana Civil Liberties Union threatened to sue if the school proceeded with the non-denominational prayer, reports WISH-TV.
Avon High School was the last school in Hendricks County to still do the prayer at commencement ceremonies. Graduating senior Laura McGinley, however, put a stop to it with the help of the ICLU.
McGinley said she was raised to respect all beliefs and the best way to do that is not to force prayer on other people. Some students say they wanted the invocation.
Any Catholics Offended?
The University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, is ditching its Crusader mascot because the name is linked to religious atrocities committed against Muslims and might be considered offensive, reports the San Antonio Express News.
The school has opted to start calling its teams the Cardinals instead. Its officials decided not to go with the "Saints" either, as it also might also be considered offensive in some circles.
The Crusader served as UIW's mascot since 1980, but the school decided that the symbol now was offensive to Muslims and inappropriate for a Catholic institution that welcomes students of all faiths.
(Sigh)
A teachers' union in Oregon is urging its school board to change the name of the traditional two-week recess in the final month of the calendar year in order to show more sensitivity to non-Christians, reports the Oregonian.
Teachers in Hillsboro, Ore., are asking that the break be renamed "winter break" from "Christmas break" so the district can be just like everyone else.
Ike Maness, president of the union, said the number of non-Christian students in the district is growing rapidly and that continuing to use the old name "would be at the least insensitive and noninclusive. And it certainly could be considered insulting."
'Shockingly?'
Reuters reports that under-worked politicians in Britain are peeved about the government's new online arts project because it is insensitive to people with mental disabilities.
The government wants the new MadforArts program to provide a multimedia online forum for people with mental health issues to express their views on art, architecture and music. It will launch on Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day.
Parliamentarian Don Foster of the Liberal Democrats, however, called the name "shockingly insensitive."
For a daily dose of politically correct shenanigans, head over to the Tongue Tied Web site.
Mailbag:
Keith S. in Atlanta writes:
I worked at a McDonald's restaurant in Southern California in 1980. As a white male I grew up in an English-speaking household. At McDonald's, for my own job security, I was forced to learn enough of the Spanish language to take an order, count change and generally complete a smooth transaction with a Spanish-speaking guest.
Jeff P. writes:
As a Cherokee Indian, I can safely say "who cares" if they use an Indian as a mascot. Traditionally the mascots are held with respect by their schools and are NOT made fun of. They love them.
If you are offended by the Indian, I would have to ask, do you hate us so much that you don't want us in the public eye?
Noodles the Dancing Bear writes:
As a distinguished member of the National Bear Society living in the Colorado mountains, and having just awakened from my winter hibernation in time to join this discussion, I would like to voice my disapproval of harmful mascot stereotypes.
Having been elected by a congregation of my fellow Rocky Mountain black bears, and having been ratified by the United Polar Bear Federation, I am fully qualified to speak for my brother and sister bears when I say we demand the Chicago Bears drop their slanderous moniker, and issue a public apology to bears of all nations for their insensitivity.
And I can warn other prejudicial sport franchises that more is to come. Badgers, wombats, tigers, sharks, mighty ducks, cubs, giants and Trojans are uniting to end this oppression and racial intolerance.
We will not rest until all sports franchises fall to our will.
Michael D. writes:
I am an anthropologist, a historian, and a microbiologist. I do understand the desire to hang onto one's culture in a sea of cultures, but lets face it, the most difficult to define culture in the world is that found in the United States. We're made up of so many cultures, it's hard to find a great deal in common.
What is the glue that holds us together? The English language is one, and the will to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and do what is right is the other. Both of those are disappearing in a tide of political correctness and liberalism. I believe that the erosion of our language and our moral fortitude will lead to the destruction of this country and culture. Something no external power could ever accomplish.
Christine S. writes:
For crying out loud! Most of us are born one gender or another. Unless you're a hermaphrodite, you are one or the other, regardless of what you want or think you ought to be. Sexuality and gender are two different issues. Just because I am bi-sexual doesn't give me the right to walk into men's bathrooms and make them uncomfortable with my presence during their private moment. What does sexual ambiguity have to do with it anyway? Being sexually ambiguous is not society's problem, it's yours! Deal with it!
Kris B. wonders:
If a person can't look into his or her own pants and figure out if he or she is a boy or girl by the time he or she is old enough to go to college, how did he or she get into Harvard?
Douglas in Ft. Lauderdale writes:
I agree with you that the ACLU should have been involved with the case of the students with anti-gay t-shirts. However, they should have been called on to further ridicule those disgusting little bigots. These little hate-mongers should have had a more severe punishment.
Although I agree with much of what you write in this column and your website, I personally think you should have your ass kicked and lose your Fox column for defending these #$&@%. As a fairly well balanced, moderate, not-very-PC straight white male, I think that you have really crossed the line pal.
You are a total lowlife! You better watch your back.
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