News and Politics Forum

Holy shit that's insane.

£12 million a year

Money well misspent.

This appears to be a poorly titled and terribly written article.  As such, I will be the diversity devil and submit the following questions:

A.) Where in the article is a quote from the book in question, suggesting that in fact, "Toddlers who dislike spicy food 'racist'"?

B.) How can "unfamiliar food", or, "a culinary tradition other than their own" by definition mean that the child has knowledge of it being "Spicy"?

I am going to see if I can find a copy of the actual book.

Last edited by Charles Taylor (07-08-2008 05:17 PM)

Well when you live somewhere so mind-numbingly bland, with even blander and more boring food...

Qwinn wrote:

A.) Where in the article is a quote from the book in question, suggesting that in fact, "Toddlers who dislike spicy food 'racist'"?

Answer:

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."

B.) How can "unfamiliar food", or, "a culinary tradition other than their own" by definition mean that the child has knowledge of it being "Spicy"?

"Spicy" was just one chosen-at-random reason why a child might react with "yuk" to tasting an unfamiliar food, CT.  It's certainly not limited to or defining the issue in question.  A child might similarly say "yuk" because he finds it too bland, or too sour.  The point is - in a list of "racist" things to watch out for, the book suggests watching out for a child rejecting food from "a culinary tradition other than their own" by saying "yuk".

Qwinn

The article doesn't do a good job of supporting the postulation though.

I feel that I need to actually read the book and determine for myself if the author is suggesting that rejection of the food itself is an example of case closed racism, or if perhaps behaviour of racist tendency in children MAY be illustrated by the following actions... x, y, z etc.

For example:

If you tell a child who has never had Mexican food before (meaning they don't have a clue what attributes the food has, spicy, sour or otherwise), and they say "yuk" when you suggest it to them.  That may represent a "casual thoughtless comment", that MAY be racist in origin.  That is not suggesting that it absolutely is racist at all, but would you disagree that the posibility exists?

Futhermore, (and I think this is more important than the article) would you disagree that racism in children is something that early childhood development should be cognizant of/recognize?

Last edited by Charles Taylor (07-08-2008 06:30 PM)

Qwinn wrote:

If you tell a child who has never had Mexican food food before (meaning they don't have a clue what attributes the food has, spicy, sour or otherwise), and they say "yuk" when you suggest it to them.  That may represent a "casual thoughtless comment", that MAY be racist in origin.

Would you disagree with the example listed?

Yes.  To look for such venal motives in a perfectly ordinary reaction in a child that young is risible all by itself, and enough to support the headline and attitude in question.

Qwinn

I caught it when I re-read it...

"would you disagree that the posibility exists?"

Qwinn wrote:

The possibility exists that the child is in fact an alien hybrid from the planet Caligula.  That is not sufficient to warrant state action, intrusion or evaluation of "wrong thinking".

Qwinn

Probably right... but I'm not sure if the book is suggesting any of the 3.

Qwinn wrote:

I mean, come on, CT.  Imagine someday you got a hold of the file that the government keeps on you.  And in it, near the top, you found this entry:

05/17/1982 - Age 6 - Reacted negatively to presentation of Mexican food.  Possibility of latent anti-Mexican racism indicated.

This remains with the confine of your "It's a possibility!" distinction.  Are you telling me that doesn't creep you out to an insane degree?  Is there anything about that that can be described as less than utterly totalitarian?

I agree, it might be a bit overboard.  The point is... it's certainly not the same statement as:

05/17/1982 - Age 6 - Reacted negatively to presentation of spicy food.  Possibility of latent anti-'anyone with cultural tradition of spicy food' racism indicated.

Which is what the article's title might lead one to believe.

Qwinn wrote:

Probably right... but I'm not sure if the book is suggesting any of the 3.

The quotes in the article are enough to make it pretty clear that at the very least, reporting and recording the incident (i.e. "evaluating wrong thinking") is recommended.

Qwinn

Well, it's not the teacher that'd be "evaluating the thinking", and the school board shouldn't evaluate the thinking either.  The school board, (hopefully) evaluates the policy that most effectively resolves specific concerns from parents/teachers.  In this case, that might mean international food tasting day, for example.  Hmm, that sounds familiar.

Last edited by Charles Taylor (07-08-2008 06:57 PM)

zukiphile wrote:

Interesting idea - that an individual would dislike the food of a group he dislikes.  You would think americans would have been closer allies with the chinese and italians.

Or been at a constant state of war with England.

Charles Taylor wrote:

zukiphile wrote:

Interesting idea - that an individual would dislike the food of a group he dislikes.  You would think americans would have been closer allies with the chinese and italians.

Well I doubt seriously Hitler was enjoying Matza balls and Gefilte fish twice a week, sir.

He was a vegan.  Reason #17 he was an ass, m'lord.

While it is obviously most desirable to examine everybody's most minute steps/missteps and analyze them in hopes of identifying racism, latent or otherwise, I'm just wondering if it could perhaps be true that children might dislike foods based on motives other than their inherent racism?  Even white children - obviously the most intolerant and prone to bouts of racial hate and bigotry?

Put another way - most people who look under every rock at every innocuous statement or preference for some "ism" are morons whose opinions should carry little weight. 

The U.K. has other fish to fry - they're too busy making sure no Muslim ever has to see an offensive, hideous puppy again. 

To add to questions posed above - if America is as racist as we are toward our neighbors to the south, can somebody explain to me our love for Mexican cuisine?  Just because I dislike French cuisine does that mea.... N/M

Then again, I knew all you here who have insulted Guinness were bubbling cauldrons of anti-Mick sentiment.

zukiphile wrote:

He was a vegan.  Reason #17 he was an ass, m'lord.

:D

Raoul Duke wrote:

Then again, I knew all you here who have insulted Guinness were bubbling cauldrons of anti-Mick sentiment.

That's very unfair.  Everyone likes all the other facets of irish cuisine, what with the boiled potato and the....uh....

...need a little help here.