Watch Out! YOUR Children Are...RACIST!

BE WARNED: This is NOT about Kathy Lee Gifford. It is NOT about NBC. It is most DEFINITELY NOT involved with the TODAY show. There is nothing here asking ANYONE to sign a petition. If you're looking for something about any of the above topics, I suggest you stop reading now.

Still with me? Good. THIS is the news article in question:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/education/22613...

Toddlers who dislike spicy food 'racist'
By Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent
Last updated: 9:29 AM BST 08/07/2008
Toddlers who turn their noses up at spicy food from overseas could be branded racists by a Government-sponsored agency.
The National Children's Bureau, which receives £12 million a year, mainly from Government funded organisations, has issued guidance to play leaders and nursery teachers advising them to be alert for racist incidents among youngsters in their care.

This could include a child of as young as three who says "yuk" in response to being served unfamiliar foreign food.

The guidance by the NCB is designed to draw attention to potentially-racist attitudes in youngsters from a young age.

It alerts playgroup leaders that even babies can not be ignored in the drive to root out prejudice as they can "recognise different people in their lives".

The 366-page guide for staff in charge of pre-school children, called Young Children and Racial Justice, warns: "Racist incidents among children in early years settings tend to be around name-calling, casual thoughtless comments and peer group relationships."

It advises nursery teachers to be on the alert for childish abuse such as: "blackie", "Pakis", "those people" or "they smell".

The guide goes on to warn that children might also "react negatively to a culinary tradition other than their own by saying 'yuk'".

Staff are told: "No racist incident should be ignored. When there is a clear racist incident, it is necessary to be specific in condemning the action."

Warning that failing to pick children up on their racist attitudes could instil prejudice, the NCB adds that if children "reveal negative attitudes, the lack of censure may indicate to the child that there is nothing unacceptable about such attitudes".

Nurseries are encouraged to report as many incidents as possible to their local council. The guide added: "Some people think that if a large number of racist incidents are reported, this will reflect badly on the institution. In fact, the opposite is the case."

Uhm...What in the nine Hells? WHY is this even an issue? Toddlers who are faced with unfamiliar foods will, more often than not, NOT EAT IT. It's been that way since we HAD a variety of foods to PRESENT to toddlers!

This makes no sense to me. A toddler doesn't psychically KNOW that Mexican food is Mexican. He just knows that the food is weird, and it burns his mouth, so he doesn't want to eat it!

Thoughts? Does anyone else here think that this study was done by people who are high?

Tags: racist, toddlers

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Marc on July 8, 2008 at 3:16pm: Toddlers? Hell, when many adults are faced with unfamiliar foods they will often not eat it. Sushi is a perfectly edible food but many here in the United States refuse to touch the stuff. Likewise Thai food is certainly edible but it's so spicy that I generally won't eat it. Am I a racist? Toddlers often times won't even eat food we consider to be part of their own cultural heritage. I'm with you, Tsiyeria , kids don't reject food because they're racist.

Marc; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SIN on July 8, 2008 at 4:00pm: Is this for real? How retarded is this? What does a dislike for unfamiliar foods have to do with race?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave S. on July 8, 2008 at 4:14pm: This is way retarded -- I can come up with much better crap than this for far less than 12 million pounds.... There is a considerable difference between "It advises nursery teachers to be on the alert for childish abuse such as: "blackie", "Pakis", "those people" or "they smell"." and a child not liking spicy food -- What's next ? Kids that won't eat seafood are racist to mermaids ?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tsiyeria on July 8, 2008 at 4:19pm: Watch out! If you don't eat sushi, you hate Japanese people! Don't want that burrito tonight? YOU might get sued for a HATE CRIME!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by M. R. Sellars on July 8, 2008 at 4:57pm: Good Gods...

What will they come up with next?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Silver Moon Widow on July 8, 2008 at 5:25pm: Oh yes once again our government is putting their noses where they do not belong
first off it is not their place it is the parents and I am sorry the world is not perfect and pretty like
a fairy tale and they can not make it that way.

I don't like real spicy food does that make me a racist.
and children will be children and name calling is a part of growing up and learning
I went through it my ancestors went through it and so do my children now.

My child will not go to nursery school just another reason for me to home school.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ghost Bear on July 8, 2008 at 5:54pm: Yep, yet another nail in the coffin of common sense and reason.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Theia Raayne on September 20, 2008 at 10:36am: Speaking of common sense....Here's an email someone sent me I'd like to share.....

London Times Obituary

An Obituary printed in the LondonTimes........ Interesting and sadly
rather true.

'Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who
has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was,
since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the
worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend
more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children,
are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens
suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the
job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly
children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental
consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could
not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have
an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses;
and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common
Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar
in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in
her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death,

by his parents, Truth and Trust

his wife, Discretion

his daughter, Responsibility

his son, Reason

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

I Know My Rights

I Want It Now

Someone Else Is To Blame

I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If
you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do
nothing.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Skallagrimsson on July 8, 2008 at 9:14pm: This is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard of. I would think that this makes 99.9% of the world's population racist. I mean, just about every toddler somewhere has turned his or her nose up at something that they don't want to eat. (To this day I won't eat cauliflower). I can't believe this qualifies as a racist incident that should not be ignored.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SisterLittleWitch on July 8, 2008 at 9:18pm: That is absurd.......; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by DodiaFae on July 8, 2008 at 10:09pm: This is just so wrong on so many levels...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Solitary Amazon on July 9, 2008 at 1:11am: Y'know....*sigh* it's times like these I wish I had my own personal Island somewhere. :-); ▶ Reply to This