Okay. I need some help - I think we all know that to be true. The way my mind and mood and all that palaver is at the moment I need to check one thing to be true, because I nearly very much lost my cool today…
Over a campfire song.
This is the offending item:
The Indians they are
High minded
Bless my soul
They’re double jointed
They climb hills and
Don’t mind it
All day long
As soon as I saw this my Political Correctness alarm went off. Especially considering that this is to be sung by children. Am I being too sensitive or is this one of those songs that should be deleted from any list that it appears on? To me it just feels offensive… Am I losing my mind?
The second thing I need hep about is from someone who has/ had ties with a Boy Scout of America Troop. To explain. My brother has nearly finished all his work for his Scout Leader Warrant. He needs to do one more section - International. He is doing the good ol’ US and is going to host a meeting filled with all things American on… wait for it… July 4th! He needs help with any traditions, games, activities, food or anything else that the Boy Scouts of America may do/ have at their meetings… any help would be greatly appreciated!
Also it was decided today at work that I should get into politics and become Prime Minister… There are a lot of things that need sorting out - like a careful rota for people with buggies to go out when other people don’t need to use the streets… and making it a crime to use Marks and Spencers at lunch time to do your weekly shop… or not buy lunch.,,
Obviously an overhaul of the NHS and schools - how would I pay for this?
Every single time someone complains about a mobile phone being used to play music without the use of headphones the manufacturer of the phone gets fined a billion pounds? A little excessive? No… no… no… And the person holding the phone at the time gets headphones surgically implanted in their ears.
Another thing that I’m sure will be a vote winner is my new improved punishment for litter droppers (this will include dropping ash from a cigarette on the ground). They get the choice of an on the spot fine of £1000 (for anything smaller than a Mars Bar wrapper (anything larger and it’s £5000 an item) or 120 hours picking up litter dressed as an animal of the local Judge’s choice.
There was a suggestion for Chav parks, like Dog Parks - sectioned off parts of public parks where the idiot children of Britain can hang out safely away from the good people. These would be surrounded by the lovely mosquito teenage alarms just in case they tried to escape… and they would have to be dropped off and picked up by their parents.
Oh and for the little sods that did manage to annoy anyone? A 2 year stint in either the Army or a tough boarding school… if their grades slipped to the Army they go…
It’s a start. Who wants to be my campaign manager?
May 8th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Bec for PM. Bec for PM. Bec for PM. I’m still a British citizen, so I’ll vote for you!
The thing I hate is when you go to the Post Office in your lunch break and someone is applying for their passport.You stand there for 20 mins and the queue just gets longer and longer. We need appointments for passport applications, people!
I know nothing about the Boy Scouts, I’m afraid. But I do agree - that song is borderline offensive. I am surprised it is still in circulation.
And I just have to say it one more time - Bec for PM!
Selma’s last blog post..The Old Family Homestead
May 8th, 2008 at 1:43 am
I don’t know what the hell to think with political correctness anymore. But considering the hot water the Scouts have been in recently with their stance on homosexuality, you’d think they’d be a little more cautious.
kapgar’s last blog post..Evil thoughts and evil doings…
May 8th, 2008 at 3:47 am
I think you’re a bit oversensitive about that campfire song. I don’t really see anything horribly offensive with it.
Avitable’s last blog post..Musings
May 8th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Yayyy I’ll vote for you and absolutely agree with your marvelous manifesto!
I’m sure there are some issues I could think of too, but my brain isn’t awake yet…I’ll get back to you ;o)
(The M&S thing made me snort…Oh Hell Yeah!)
Penelope’s last blog post..In which I show my legs.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Most nursery rhymes and camp fire songs are terribly politically correct.. you’d think the camp counsellor/Scout leaders would be more sensitive.
Nat’s last blog post..Can I help you?
May 8th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I’m sorta with Avi and Kevin on this one, but please don’t take this harshly! I think we’ve become overly sensitive in this day and age and I get so frustrated when people want to change age old songs, poems or whatever to fit that bill.
But that’s just me…a displaced liberal from the state of CA!
Hilly’s last blog post..Snackie’s Confession Both: Sins Of Spring
May 8th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I heard kids were recording those mosquito things on their phones, to give them a ring tone that’s teachers can’t hear.
If I’m to support your campaign to be leader of the Tories I want some pledges that you’ll give us back the liberties that Tony Blair got rid of. The Terrorism Act 2000 in particular needs a good going over.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Selma - excellent! I shall be heavily relying on the ex-pat vote!
I totally agree about the passport applications thing. Also, people that don’t know what they want when they go to post office or bank - do I want my money in £5 or £10 notes, or shall I have a mix? Do I want to send my parcel by air? What’s the difference between plus and premium? Do it outside of the rush hour people!
kapgar - I didn’t know about the ‘gay issue the BSA were having. A quick Googling and I do now! Just for the record the Scout Assoc of UK’s stance is:
“It’s OK to be an adult in Scouting and be gay!
…
A leader’s sexual orientation has no bearing on their suitability to fulfil a role in Scouting…”
However, if you are an atheist - see you later Captain!
Avitable - I’m being to think it was the hormones… I was looking for a fight…
Penelope - a good snort is all I’m looking for. I went in today and there was a woman with not one but TWO trolley loads. TWO. At half 12! Some people don’t have the sense they were born with.
Nat - you’d think so but not last night… I’m staying the hell away from it and am just hoping no one complains.
Hilly - You too are right - this is one time when I can see both sides of the coin (dammit). I think we are getting too sensitive… but I just wanted to see if any of them had ever had even the slightest thought that there could be something wrong. And no. Mind you these are the same people that think a sketch about someone identifying dog crap by eating it is funny… hmmm.
They have dropped the second verse from it though which is about Scouts and reverses all the statements maing them lazy and uncoordinated though…
yorksdevil - more proof that kids are basically evil. Liberties? Which ones do you want back? You can’t mean you want back the right to walk on a cycle path?!
Bec’s last blog post..Help Needed