Monday, November 24, 2008

The colour of hate

All rise.
Court is now in session.

Judge Kitty presiding.

If you didn't know about it, November 20th was National "Kick a Ginger Day". Don't know what a Ginger is, it's a redhead with fair skin... think of that kid from the Harry Potter movie... Ron Weasly (Rupert Grint)


Well a Facebook page was created, based on an episode of South Park urging kids to go to school on the 20th and kick all Gingers (red heads). People are saying this was only meant to be "a joke" Yea, violence is hilarious. Well, since it's so funny then I think ever kid that was kicked should be able to kick back, everyone that kicked them in the first place, and this time the kicks should be to the the original perpetrators heads, to 'kick some sense into them'. Not so funny is it? EXACTLY.

Here's what Judge Kitty would do...

Each and every person involved in these incidents should be expelled for the school year. The police should lock down the Facebook page, take all names and investigate, as well as record statements from everyone kicked that day. If there is proof of an individual being involved (That is witness or admission that they willing took part and targeted individual) criminal charges should be laid. And for the hours and hours of man power involved the fees should be divided between all the parents of the children that did the kicking.

I won’t say that Facebook is entirely to blame, you’d need to add in all the parents as well for not raising their children better AND allowing them onto a website that was originally designed for College students but to allow a group to form that expressly promotes violence is categorically wrong. End of discussion. They should also foot some of the bill involved in the investigation.

And if anyone thinks that this is an over reaction, this was a premeditated mass attack of innocent individuals, it is at the least a school prank taken too far, but in my mind it is an act of terror*, a hate crime**. To consider it anything less is to completely have no concept or understanding of History. It is simply not acceptable in this day to hate someone and hurt someone, planning to physically attack them simply because of the colour of their hair, sex, sexual orientation, religion and so on.

And for the asstard in the comments section of the CTV news article***: 'James T.' Thanks for trying to draw attention away from poor parenting and kids with the moral compass of a twig in a glass of water. Yes, absolutely the atrocities you mention are horrendous and deserve attention and global outrage. And yes, something needs to be done… what are YOU doing to help save all those girls in China and Afghanistan? This wasn’t an isolated instance of school yard shenanigans; this was a premeditated action against a defined group of people for no reason at all other than to hurt, to spread hated in the guise of a joke.

Ah but that’s right, this was only a joke, nothing serious. Please, let us know exactly what you would consider over the line in this instance? What would you say was serious and not a laughing matter? Premeditated violence against all females at school? Premeditated against all black people while at work? Premeditated violence against all Jews in your town? Premeditated violence against all Canadians? …all for no other reason that they are Women, or Black, or Jewish or Canadian.

But hey, I was only joking, I wasn’t serious, get over it, get over yourself, grow a pair, hate isn’t hate if you pretend it’s not.

Shame on all the people that took part in this sorry event and double shame on all their parents!

- - - -

*Terror:
–noun
violence or threats of violence used for intimidation or coercion; terrorism.


** Hate Crime:
–noun
a crime, usually violent, motivated by prejudice or intolerance toward a member of a gender, racial, religious, or social group.

*** I did comment on CTV but they closed the comments before mine was added. The contents of this post was what I submitted

7 comments:

Bob said...

I'm just shaking my head at the whole thing.
How many parents have actually WATCHED an episode of that waste of airtime called South Park?
It's sad to think that something like the Internet, which has made the world a more open, communicative place, can be used for such stupidity and hatred.

Cheryl (a.k.a Sherri, and vice-versa) said...

As a fan of South Park, who's actually seen the episode in question, it was quite clear in that episode that picking on "ginger kids" was a dumb-assed thing to do. The character who started it was ridiculed. I am always disturbed when people blame TV -- it's such a soft target. I was raised on a steady diet of The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour, and I never felt the need to drop an anvil on someone. Parents need to discipline their children and teach them to respect people, and to bear the consequences of their actions. So, these little asstards who kicked other kids should be punished, in the same way they would be if they hit another kid under any other circumstances. I

Cheryl (a.k.a Sherri, and vice-versa) said...

Ignore my superfluous "I" at the end of my wee rant.

Ma Horton said...

I love it when you guys irately verbalize without me .

Bob said...

Don't get me wrong: South Park isn't my cup of tea, but I defend anyone else's right to watch it.

Ah, yes, Bugs Bunny cartoons. That's where I learned the little that I do know now about classical music, not to mention hillbilly square dancing.

Leonard said...

I do not condone violence nor hate but I did giggle at the term "Kick a Ginger day" it sounded funny and I didn't know what a ginger was. It's South Park, this is by far not the worst episode they have done. I don't watch it but I've see a few episodes. ;)

Sean Newbury said...

i can see where someone might have initially conceived this as an innocent, albeit poorly formed joke, seemingly out of context of it's inspiration, as amusing, the fact that it did incite violence is totally and completely without excuse and as such those involved should pay the price for their (whether intentioned or not) hate filled targeting of innocent individuals.

Just an incredibly sad and embarrassing day for Canada... almost makes you wonder if Harper had anything to do with it...