Three Pigs story ruled ‘offensive to Muslims’

January 24, 2008
Three Pigs story ruled ‘offensive to Muslims’
Alexandra Frean

A children’s story based on the tale of the Three Little Pigs was rejected for an award after judges became concerned that it would offend Muslims.

The animated virtual book for primary school children, The Three Little Cowboy Builders, was also criticised for its potential to offend builders.

The row centred on the Bett awards, which were supported by Becta, the Government’s technology agency for schools. The judges’ remarks, reported on the education technology website Merlin John Online, included: “Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down, and builders are like pigs?

“The idea of taking a traditional tale and retelling a story is fine, but it should not alienate parts of the workforce. Judges would not recommend this product to the Muslim community in particular.”

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/children/article3241394.ece

that'll shut them up

I know about the potential for inflammatory cartoons, but builders? This is comically strange.

n/t

Because they were cowboys? Were they cowboy pigs? I am so confused. How is not eating pork translated into never mentioning something that might REMIND you of a pig because that would offend a Muslim?

HEY! Jews don't eat pork either! Anybody worried about offending US?

I have never been offended by the Three Little Pigs. OR the piggies who went to market on my toes. Am I culturally insensitive?

If only our country weren't being run by one....

It sounds silly to me, though the weight put on the 'pigs' or 'cowboy builders' references is unclear, as others have pointed out.

and all of this shit is extremely offensive to most of the rest of us.

But the Bett award’s backers — Becta, the Besa trade association and Emap Education — said that the book was rejected for a range of reasons. In a joint statement, they said: “The reason The Three Little Cowboy Builders was not shortlisted was that it failed to reach the required standard across a number of criteria. The . . . issues highlighted were a small selection from a much broader range of comments.

“In particular, the product was not sufficiently convincing on curriculum and innovation grounds to be shortlisted.”

But why waste a chance to fan the flames of ignorance

for:
Singlemuslim.com USA"s leading muslim marriage service...was that planned...lol

What's this now, they skip dating and go straight to marriage?
Nice way to spoil the fun. :thumbsdown:

Note the comments in the report

'But the Bett award’s backers — Becta, the Besa trade association and Emap Education — said that the book was rejected for a range of reasons. In a joint statement, they said: “The reason The Three Little Cowboy Builders was not shortlisted was that it failed to reach the required standard across a number of criteria. The . . . issues highlighted were a small selection from a much broader range of comments.

“In particular, the product was not sufficiently convincing on curriculum and innovation grounds to be shortlisted.”'

(Ah, "the product was not sufficiently convincing on curriculum and innovation grounds" - the oh-so-familiar joys of management-speak in education.)

It also seems that perceived unfairness to builders played a larger part than offending Muslims!

Personally, I have worked in a number of British schools with a significant number of Muslim children, and books about pigs (and builders!) are certainly not excluded!

"The Times" has gone down in accuracy and become more RW since Murdoch took it over in the 80s; and I suspect that the headline-writer was allowing herself to be influenced by standard British right-wing prejudices (anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, anti-'PC')

BTW, a friend of mine is an Orthodox Jew who really likes pigs and has a wall covered with pictures of them. When questioned, she said, "I like pigs - I just don't eat them!"

little pigs and Looney Tunes comics with Porky and Petunia.

And Alison Uttley's lovely "Sam Pig" books.

are starting to get on my nerves. This is insane and extremely off-putting.