And in a small triumph for non-PC sanity, a British school has reversed its decision to drop Unclean Animals from a school play.
The show must go on, so an English school’s play will go ahead and feature three little piggies and not three little puppies.
The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday that even the mention of pigs was yanked from the script and a trio of dogs written in so as not to offend Muslim children or their families, although no complaints had been reported about the planned appearance of the pigs in West Yorkshire.
But organizers of the Kirklees Primary Music Festival in Huddersville reversed the ruling and will allow the children from Honley Church of England Junior School to sing porcine songs.
Mind you, no complaints had been received before someone decided to assume that other folks would be offended by something that had been around for years. In the actual Daily Telegraph story:
Gill Goodswen, who is one of the organisers of the festival behind the changes, had said: “We have to be sensitive if we want to be multi-cultural. It was felt it would be more responsible not to use the three little pigs.”
She said the committee had to consider the feelings of children who would be singing along, not just the performers. “We feared that some Muslim children wouldn’t sing along to the words about pigs,” she added. “We didn’t want to take that risk. If changing a few words avoids offence then we will do so.”
And we will assume folks are offended, even if they haven’t said they are offended, and will change as many words as we fear might cause offense as we can, regardless of whether they are, in fact, causing offense.
Um, and aren’t dogs were considered “unclean” animals, too in Muslim cultures, among others.
Mohammed Imran, of the nearby Hanfia Mosque and Educational Institute, said he welcomed the thinking behind the original decision but did not think it was necessary. He pointed out that Islam does not ban the mentioning of pigs, but added: “They are obviously trying to involve children rather than exclude them.”
Which, I suppose, is to be lauded — but let’s also not lose the difference between children who might be excluded by the event and children who might be excluded by their parents feelings of the event. Acting primarily to avoid the latter is a never-ending game of finding the most inoffensive pablum — and someone will always find something to be offended by …
Coming up next — the whole show is canceled for fear of PETA protests! “Save the wolf! Save the wolf!”
(via J-Walk)