Political Correctness - what is the point ?

DublHelix · 07-Mar-2006, 01:24 PM #1

Today it was reported that a pre school here in England have decided to reword the well known nursery rhyme 'Baa baa black sheep' to 'rainbow sheep.'

The supposed motivation is so that children are not corrupted or confused, and that white children do not attribute negative connotations to the colour black.

This mindset has its roots in the 1980's, here in Britain. Some city / metroploitan authorities banned anything as innocuous as supposedly racist songs, titles, anecdotes - in a spirit of inclusiveness.

I would like to hear any feedback on this subject whether you are in favour - or oppose such revisionist thinking.

FWIW - A number of the most prolific anti racist groups have dismissed the measure as unconstructive, futile, and pervesely, likely to creeate differences where previously none existed.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=X&oi=...56.stm&e=10458

Nursery opts for 'rainbow' sheep

See ewe... sheep really can come in many colours
Pre-school children attending two nurseries in Oxfordshire are being taught a new version of Baa Baa Black Sheep - Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep.
Critics say altering the words of the traditional nursery rhyme is an example of political correctness gone too far.

But the charity running the nurseries, Parents and Children Together (Pact), said the move was educational, not motivated by racial concerns.

Pact said children were encouraged to use a wide range of words in songs.

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full;
One for the master,
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane

Baa Baa Black Sheep

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"Pact has established that children sing a variety of descriptive words in the nursery rhyme to turn the song into an action rhyme," the charity said in a statement.

"They sing happy, sad, bouncing, hopping, pink, blue, black and white sheep etc and they also exchange boy and girl at the end of the rhyme.

"This encourages the children to extend their vocabulary and use up some energy."

While the words have been altered at two Oxfordshire nurseries - the Abingdon Family Centre and the Sure Start Centre in Sutton Courtenay - other nurseries in the area have not taken such steps.

"We sing Baa Baa Black Sheep and Baa Baa White Sheep because that's reality, that's what the children see in the fields and it encourages them to look around them," said Jill Edge, from the Sunshine Centre in Banbury, north Oxfordshire.

"Realistically, they are not going to see rainbow sheep in the fields. There are much better ways of addressing these issues."

In 2000, a warning that the nursery rhyme Baa Baa black sheep should not be taught in schools because it was "racially offensive" was scrapped.

The guidelines by education chiefs at Birmingham City Council were dropped after black parents condemned the advice as ridiculous.

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WW2 American pacific air ace memorial rejected :

http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/...ack-sheep.html

According to World Net Daily, the (University of Washington) student body recently rejected a proposed memorial for WWII flying ace (and Washington alumnus), Lt Col Gregory "Pappy" Boyington.

Boyington, who attended the university from 1930-1934, gained fame as a Marine Corps fighter pilot during the Second World War. After a stint with the famed American Volunteer Group (the famed "Flying Tigers") in China, Boyington commanded Marine Fighter Squadron, the legendary "Black Sheep." Lt Col Boyington shot down 26 Japanese aircraft in aerial combat over the South Pacific, making him the leading Marine ace of the war. Shot down on a combat mission, he spent 20 months as a Japanese POW before being liberated in 1945. For his heroism, Boyington received the Navy Cross and the Congressional Medal of Honor.

According to minutes of the meeting, student senator Jill Edwards said she didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce." Another senator, Ashley Miller, said the school already had many monuments that honor "rich white men." As a compromise measure, another member of the senate amended the resolution, removing a clause that referred to Boyington's 26 aerial victories, saying that the Marine pilot should be honored for his service, not his killing of others."

Mulderator · 07-Mar-2006, 01:36 PM #2

Absurd!

**AcaCandy** · 07-Mar-2006, 01:49 PM #3

So, what are they going to do, paint the sheep?

peril0us · 07-Mar-2006, 01:57 PM #4

Black is used with negative connotations all the time. This is actually hindering the children's ability to interpret litterature.

DublHelix · 07-Mar-2006, 02:02 PM #5

First off - thanks for correcting the typo in the thread title.

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As regards the issue of P.C - I cannot fathom why such measures are implemented.

I can relate to a genuine desire to eliminate racism from society - it's unjustifiable and indefensible in any, let alone a truly modern society.

Yet the people who think up such measures are for the most part, white and middle class. No black person would ever waste their time or energy on such a trivial issue.

As indicated, most people asked to give their opinion, state that it is unnecessary, unhelpful, and even paradoxically likely to create resentment where there was none.

bill.aam · 07-Mar-2006, 02:12 PM #6

Quote:

Originally Posted by DublHelix

Today it was reported that a pre school here in England have decided to reword the well known nursery rhyme 'Baa baa black sheep' to 'rainbow sheep.'

I've never seen a rainbow colored sheep..

Mulderator · 07-Mar-2006, 02:17 PM #7

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill.aam

I've never seen a rainbow colored sheep..

They have them at the Rainbow Coalition!

**AcaCandy** · 07-Mar-2006, 02:25 PM #8

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill.aam

I've never seen a rainbow colored sheep..

This may call for genetic engineering

**bassetman** · 07-Mar-2006, 02:29 PM #9

Quote:

Originally Posted by DublHelix

First off - thanks for correcting the typo in the thread title.

---------------

As regards the issue of P.C - I cannot fathom why such measures are implemented.

I can relate to a genuine desire to eliminate racism from society - it's unjustifiable and indefensible in any, let alone a truly modern society.

Yet the people who think up such measures are for the most part, white and middle class. No black person would ever waste their time or energy on such a trivial issue.

As indicated, most people asked to give their opinion, state that it is unnecessary, unhelpful, and even paradoxically likely to create resentment where there was none.

YW!