Three little pigs story rejected in case it offends muslims

[SO19]

Three little pigs 'could offend builders, Muslims'

By Graeme Paton, Education Editor
Last Updated: 2:00pm GMT 24/01/2008

A story based on the Three Little Pigs has been rejected by a government quango in case it offends Muslims.



The digital remake of the children's classic was criticised by Becta, the education technology agency, because "the use of pigs raises cultural issues".

Officials also attacked the story - called The Three Little Cowboy Builders - for stereotyping the building trade.

The comments were condemned by the computer program's creator as "a slap in the face".

It is the latest in a string of bans slapped on seemingly innocuous children's stories and nursery rhymes.

In the past, Baa Baa Black Sheep has become Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep to satisfy race relations, the Seven Dwarfs have been axed from Snow White to avoid offending the vertically challenged and the ending of Humpty Dumpty has been censored for fear of upsetting sensitive children.

The latest controversy was sparked during an awards ceremony designed to honour the best educational stories, programmes and teaching aids for children.

Dozens of companies submitted entries to the annual BETT awards, led by Becta, which heaped praise on a robot with 67 different manoeuvres, a computer program which allows children to recreate Jackson Pollock paintings and a game helping pupils to learn French.

But Newcastle-based publishers Shoo Fly were shocked when judges told them that their interactive 3D book was unsuitable for children.

In a feedback form, Becta told the company: "Judges would not recommend this product to the Muslim community in particular."

They also said that the subject was "questionable for certain groups within the UK" and that "only an exceedingly creative teacher could find this innovative".

The story for primary school pupils replaces pigs with "cowboy builders" as part of a light-hearted tale designed to spark interest in reading and design technology skills.

Young children are encouraged to read the story and create their own versions using the software.

But its authors were also told that it portrays the building industry in a bad light.

Judges said "retelling a story" was acceptable, but it "should not alienate parts of the workforce", adding that builders should be "positive" role models for young children.

"Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down, and builders are like pigs?" the judges asked.

Anne Curtis, the founder of Shoo Fly, which won a prize at the prestigious Education Resource Awards for the story, said: "The feedback amounted to a verbal assault.

"I feel these criticisms aim to close the minds of teachers and young people to some issues."

Muslims criticised Becta's response and insisted that a computer program based on the Three Little Pigs should be welcomed in state schools.

Tahir Alam, the head of education at the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "We are not offended by that at all."

Yesterday, the quango stood by the verdict, which was made by 70 independent judges, mainly teachers.

A spokesman said: "The feedback makes clear that the issues highlighted were a small selection from a much broader range of comments."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... les124.xml

[SO19]

I'd be pulling my f*cking hair out now if I had any.

[sportbilly42]

My local pub no longer sells Pork Scratchings in case the word 'Pork' offends muslims and 'Scratchings' irritates eczema sufferers (crap joke...... . I'll get me coat..)

[tom163]

They need to get back to there own country, they should mess up there own country not ours.

[Mr_Kiwi]

I dont get it, why the f*ck should we change our culture so other people feel comftable in theirs!? If you dont like ours then kindly f*ck off back to your own country...

This country really needs a no bullsh*t leader who knows what Great Britain really is. You wouldnt see this stuff happening with Winston about., or any old Aussie PM

[jabcrosshook]

They need to get back to there own country, they should mess up there own country not ours.

No Tom, as many muslims are born in the country it is their country, I know a couple of muslims and to be honest the couldn't give a flying fcuk about the 3 little pigs, it's the goverment being rediculous trying to not misplease the hard right wing of Islam, which would be the only ones who would complain and cause any problems and this is turn would give the rest of the law abiding, sensible muslim community a bad name and reputation.
I don't believe that the right extremist wing of the Islamic religion are 100% to blame for religious tensions within Britain, but they started it first ,the blame partly falls onto the British public for labelling most muslims the same and having a "fearful hate" of the Islamic community.
Oooow get me.

[Chas]

This weak,venal and squalid New Labour administration
would never dare to be as blunt as the Australian Govt.
who have made it quite clear that muslims who object
to the Australian views on society should foxtrot oscar.
I doubt that any British political party would dare to be
so forthright. Many politicians are self serving avaricious
little shits who have never had a proper job in commerce
or industry.

[sportbilly42]

A 'spokesperson' for BATCA, Betty Idiot said "The story is just to risque for the awards - it would have offended police, Muslims, fat people, Jews and of course wolves."

"It's a shame" said 'Little Pig', one of the characters in the book "It's a real tragedy" said the porky star, shaking his head in disbelief. Also on the banned list, in case they offend Muslims, Jews, police, lard-asses and other fatties are Miss Piggy from the muppets, Kevin Bacon, Porky Pig, Pinky (but not Perky), West Ham, Old Macdonald and John Prescott.

The eventual winner of the award went to the children's book "The 3 little white young heterosexual Christians" - the only book which offended a group whose complaints are always dismissed.

[harry hackedoff]

As a builder I am incensed at the suggestion that a mere breath from a pig could etc etc
Yours, etc.

[harry hackedoff]

Further to that,


Peter Costello has lashed out at "mushy misguided multiculturalism," warning that Australian values are "not optional" — and that migrants who do not share them should be stripped of their citizenship.
In a hard-hitting speech to the Sydney Institute that immediately sparked anger from Muslims, the Treasurer said migrants should be forced to honour their pledge of allegiance to Australia or face the prospect of being kicked out.
In his strongest comments on the issue yet, he said anyone refusing to acknowledge the rule of law "stabs at the heart of the Australian compact".
"Those who are outside this compact threaten the rights and liberties of others," Mr Costello said. "They should be refused citizenship if they apply for it. Where they have it they should be stripped of it if they are dual citizens and have some other country that recognises them as citizens."
Mr Costello said the citizenship pledge should be "a big flashing warning sign" to Muslims wanting to live under sharia law.
"Before entering a mosque visitors are asked to take off their shoes," Mr Costello said. "This is a sign of respect. If you have a strong objection to walking in your socks don't enter the mosque. Before becoming an Australian you will be asked to subscribe to certain values. If you have strong objection to those values don't come to Australia."
His comments follow Prime Minister John Howard's claims this week that a fragment of the Islamic community is "utterly antagonistic to our kind of society". Last week Liberal backbencher Danna Vale said that Australia could become a Muslim nation within 50 years because "we are aborting ourselves almost out of existence".
People will not respect citizenship that explains itself on the basis of "mushy multiculturalism," Mr Costello said.
"We are more likely to engender respect by emphasising the expectation and the obligations that the great privilege of citizenship brings."
Mr Costello said he had attended an Australia day citizenship ceremony at the Stonnington Town Hall in his electorate of Higgins during which a state MP "extolled the virtues of multiculturalism".
He said the MP said becoming an Australian did not mean giving up one's culture or language or religion — and it certainly did not mean giving up the love of their country of birth.
"The longer he went on about how important it was not to give up anything to become an Australian, the more it seemed to me that, in his view, becoming an Australian didn't seem to mean very much at all, other than getting a new passport."

I don`t see anything wrong with that.
Don`t like it here? Then fark off home

[harry hackedoff]

And further to that,

a state MP

means a Labour MP as you will have guessed
So, selling our heritage is a tradition on both sides of the globe then