Baa Baa African American sheep...

The Bollox · 07-03-2006 10:27AM #1

I heard on the radio this morning, while en route to college, that the popular childrens song 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' has been now deemed racist, and hence forth should be sang "Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep". I mean what the fúck? I sang 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' when I was younger and I am not a racist. Does this also mean the the phrase 'the black sheep of the family' should be changed to 'the rainbow sheep of the family'?

Kojak · 07-03-2006 10:29AM

That is political correctness gone mad - I, personally, don't see anything racist about it.

elurhs · 07-03-2006 10:35AM

And we're lecturing the Muslims on freedom of speech?

Femelade · 07-03-2006 10:35AM

kids who sing that song are between the ages of 1 and a half and about 3, (well iknow my daughter was sick of it by the time she was 4 anyway)

kids cant be racist at that age..ah and there are such things as "black Sheeps"

what a load of crap.

Binomate · 07-03-2006 10:35AM

How stupid.

The Bollox · 07-03-2006 10:37AM

Femmy wrote:

ah and there are such things as "black Sheeps".

perhaps they had a 'million sheep march' :rolleyes:

connundrum · 07-03-2006 10:43AM

TBH, black refers to the colour of the sheep, not the race of the sheep. If it were a yellow sheep then it would be called a yellow sheep, but we all know that you cannot get yellow sheep (naturally). You can indeed get black or white sheep. I'm guessing that back when the rhyme was created there weren't many black sheep around (as is the case today) and one can imagine that their wool would be quite the precious commodity ie. no need to dye it etc. Hence the inclusion of the black sheep. There may be some other parabelletic meaning to it, but I don't really care anymore.

The whole thing is getting a bit old really.

Riamfada · 07-03-2006 10:43AM

you know its gone mental when the KKK change their songs

ZiabR · 07-03-2006 10:45AM

Marts wrote:

I heard on the radio this morning, while en route to college, that the popular childrens song 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' has been now deemed racist, and hence forth should be sang "Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep". I mean what the fúck? I sang 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' when I was younger and I am not a racist. Does this also mean the the phrase 'the black sheep of the family' should be changed to 'the rainbow sheep of the family'?

I dont see anything wrong with Baa Baa Black Sheep. We all sang it when we were young and nothing was said then.

Sifo · 07-03-2006 10:45AM

yeah ok,

but what about all those black sheep coming over here and stealing our women

Blisterman · 07-03-2006 11:10AM

Rainbow sheep doesn't even fit the rhythm of the song.

stevenmu · 07-03-2006 11:14AM

Isn't the term 'rainbow' sheep terribly prejudiced against things which do not currently exist but thanks to genetic engineering may at some point in the future ?

FFS people, things which do not currently exist but thanks to genetic engineering may at some point in the future have rights too !

Hagar · 07-03-2006 11:19AM

Eeny meeny miney moe, catch a ?????? by the toe...

The sheep thing is mad, but not all kids' rhymes are nice.

po0k · 07-03-2006 11:21AM

mmmm...lamb chops

Blisterman · 07-03-2006 11:21AM

Is rainbow sheep not offensive to homosexuals?

connundrum · 07-03-2006 11:22AM

Hagar wrote:

Eeny meeny miney moe, catch a <piggy> by the toe...

Thats what I learned in school anyways..

Blisterman wrote:

Is rainbow sheep not offensive to homosexuals?

LOL, maybe this sheep would cause more rows?

DonkeyStyle \o/ · 07-03-2006 11:52AM

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baa_Baa_Black_Sheep_(nursery_rhyme)
In 1999, guidelines from Birmingham City Council in England suggested that the rhyme should not be taught in schools because it was seen as racially negative and could cause offense. These guidelines were dropped by the council early in 2000 when black parents described the advice as "ridiculous"

Makes me wonder if this is kind of crap is coming purely from bored white people on some tiresome PC crusade.
God, find some other way to deal with your guilt. :rolleyes:
Why not ask the people if they find it offensive, then change it... or better yet get over it and stop being an uptight shít.
tbh I never even made the whole black-sheep connection with 'black' people... and it makes me wonder what kind of racist it takes to see that song as racist in the first place.

Attol · 07-03-2006 12:04PM

I live in Birmingham and over here it's ridiculous. No baa baa black sheep, black boards can only be called chalk boards, Christmas is Winterfest and any councils saying otherwise will have funding taken away from them, brainstorming must now be called mind mapping as brainstorming could offend epileptics.

Dermington · 07-03-2006 12:14PM

is this official? i mean is the playschool curriculum being amended?

because if its just some guy saying it needs to be changed then who cares.

Adam · 07-03-2006 12:15PM

LadyLotts wrote:

brainstorming must now be called mind mapping as brainstorming could offend epileptics.

ROFL!

rubadub · 07-03-2006 12:36PM

Ribena- the refreshing rainbowcurrant drink

Surf- now gets your clothes more devoid of colour than ever

MorningStar · 07-03-2006 01:00PM

Marts wrote:

I sang 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' when I was younger and I am not a racist. Does this also mean the the phrase 'the black sheep of the family' should be changed to 'the rainbow sheep of the family'?

They used to also say a lot of Irish jokes on TV when I was growing up, just because it was acceptable in the past is certainly not a way to judge if it is acceptable now. Gollywogs for example and the Minstreals shows and lyons tea used them for a long time.

It seem quite ridiculous that it has gone to this level but cultural sensitivity is not a PC thing as people think. Some things you find acceptable here simply aren't else where or two other people here.

My friend who is a nurse for years dealing with children siad "come here you little monkey" to a kid like a million times before. The mother went mental becasue she disliked her child being called a monkey. To the mother it was racial issue but in Ireland it was general term used. The nurses have been warned of the dangers of such expressions now. Is that fair enough to you or is that PC gone wild? What about a Paddy wagon should they still use the expression?
Calling somebody a dog is a real big insult in some countries where here it just seems to be a a minor insult. Sucking in through your teeth to others is a massive insult.
Some things will clash and adjustments must be made some will over shoot the mark but many people don't even realise how insulting some things they say are due to education. Is an insult about be gay acceptable? Derrogatery terms do lead to violence and dehumanisation of the peraon and group of people. There are consequences.

Megatron · 07-03-2006 01:08PM

MorningStar wrote:

There are consequences.

yes i can see it now , the mass revolt of all the SHeep.

The rhym is about the economic stress of Blackwool , as it can't be dyed as easy as white wool can, hence they blacksheep was either just left to it's own devices or culled.

The seriously need to cop on with themselves.

next thing you know Winne the Pooh will be banned as Pooh might offend people :rolleyes:

The_Minister · 07-03-2006 01:31PM

Are you sure that this isn't a joke?

Sam Vimes · 07-03-2006 01:37PM

connundrum wrote:

Thats what I learned in school anyways..

LOL, maybe this sheep would cause more rows?

it used to be catch a <negro, but not negro if you know what i mean> by the toe

MorningStar · 07-03-2006 01:46PM

Megatron wrote:

next thing you know Winne the Pooh will be banned as Pooh might offend people :rolleyes:

It will come as many of the stories are poking fun at him for being fat which will be an issue.

I still think the sheep issue is silly but there are many valid reason to insist on certain changes. People should know this stuff to be able to better insult people on an individual basis.

The Bollox · 07-03-2006 02:05PM

Firespinner wrote:

Are you sure that this isn't a joke?

satisfied?

Terry · 07-03-2006 02:12PM

MorningStar wrote:

They used to also say a lot of Irish jokes on TV when I was growing up, just because it was acceptable in the past is certainly not a way to judge if it is acceptable now. Gollywogs for example and the Minstreals shows and lyons tea used them for a long time.

It seem quite ridiculous that it has gone to this level but cultural sensitivity is not a PC thing as people think. Some things you find acceptable here simply aren't else where or two other people here.

My friend who is a nurse for years dealing with children siad "come here you little monkey" to a kid like a million times before. The mother went mental becasue she disliked her child being called a monkey. To the mother it was racial issue but in Ireland it was general term used. The nurses have been warned of the dangers of such expressions now. Is that fair enough to you or is that PC gone wild? What about a Paddy wagon should they still use the expression?
Calling somebody a dog is a real big insult in some countries where here it just seems to be a a minor insult. Sucking in through your teeth to others is a massive insult.
Some things will clash and adjustments must be made some will over shoot the mark but many people don't even realise how insulting some things they say are due to education. Is an insult about be gay acceptable? Derrogatery terms do lead to violence and dehumanisation of the peraon and group of people. There are consequences.

there are still Irish jokes on tv. check out the paramount comedy channel and those little vignettes they do between shows. they offend me. not because they make Irish people out to be stupid, but because they are really crappy jokes. i'm still not going to complain to the channel though.

as for the monkey incident. yes, it's a comm,on term used here and if people are going to come to this country, then they need to learn our customs and respect them, not dictate to us what they deem acceptable.

Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.

mammy, what's a rainbow?
it's something with lots of colours in it.
then why doesn't the rainbow sheep have lots of colours?

*Tripper* · 07-03-2006 02:14PM

Personally, i think it has a good ring to it.

Setun · 07-03-2006 02:29PM

I can't believe that. Rainbow sheep? FFS like.

How many other nursery rhymes in accordance will have to be changed aswell?

What about the 3 Blind Mice???

Ok all together now:
# 3 visually challenged mice,
3 visually challenged mice,
see how they run #

Terry · 07-03-2006 02:52PM

Baa, baa, black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, Yes sir,
Three bags full:
One for my master,
And one for his dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
the entire thing should be banned. the master part denotes ownership.

lyrics courtesy of india parenting

Baa Baa African American sheep...

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