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At least the 'Wise Monkey' got it right.

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anotheoldgit | 15:43 Sun 04th Mar 2012 | News
27 Answers
http://www.telegraph....key-cartoon-case.html

/// Amongst the 15-strong committee criticised was one black man, who called the image “insulting”. The chairman of the union’s National Black Members Committee went further, saying it was “offensive and racist”. ///

After a four-and-a-half year legal battle, costing £100,000, it has been pronounced, 'not racist'.

At last a victory for common sense, don't you think?
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Yes.
Next!
200 grand, AOG !!!!!!
Absolutely ridiculous that this even went to court in the first place.
I find them and their behaviour offensive.

I imagine theyll want all pictures and references to monkeys banned as being offensive to them.

"chairman of the union’s National Black Members Committee"

i take it theres a chair for the White members.
Yes
Yes, a victory for common sense. I can't believe these things make it to court.
"At the 2007 conference another official was criticised after remarking about seeing a “sea of orange” in reference to a display of voting cards. He explained that the comment was not a reference to the politics of Northern Ireland."

what on earth is going on in this country, these people want to control what we think as well as what we say.
Question Author
exdc

Yes you are quite right, or perhaps not, it is the Telegraph who have printed conflicting amounts.

/// The leaflet produced by four disgruntled ex-officials from Unison: after four and a half years and £100,000 it has been pronounced 'not racist' ///

/// Now, after a four-and-a-half year legal battle costing up to £200,000, the matter has been settled, after an Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled in favour of the four and criticised the union’s reaction. ///
Yes.
Ludicrous that anyone should choose to be offended by the image or analogy with monkeys.

I have news for anyone who thought that it was an insult aimed at black people:

All human beings look like monkeys!

And why would that be a bad thing?
Yes I do.
Old Git

maybe the conflicting figures relates to Unison spending 100,000 themselves and now having to compensate the 4 at 25,000 each.
Question Author
Zeuhl

Maybe, never thought of that.

I bet the membership are not too pleased about that.

Apart from the 4 that is.
When football fans made monkey noises and threw bananas at black players wasn't that racist? There seems to be a small section of the British public who see the words, 'black man', and 'black monkey' as interchangeable.
I can't see this judgement as a victory for anybody.
Well let's consider what might be racist.

The portrayal of black people as monkeys and therefore less evolved is the key element of racism.

We've had footballers taunted with "monkey guestures".

So the question is does the cartoon make that comparison?

Well it certainly doesn't look as if it does and the court agreed.

But consider this had the comittee consisted of just three people and had they all been black it might very well have been considered racist.

Context is everything

Common sense is just a fantasy of people who think the world should all think like they do
// But consider this had the comittee consisted of just three people and had they all been black it might very well have been considered racist. //

Yes, and if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle. But she doesn't, and the committee didn't just have three members who were all black.
It’s interesting to note your slant on “Common Sense”, jake.

One purveyor of decent reference books defines it thus:

“...sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts.”

Compare this with your definition (“...a fantasy of people who think the world should all think like they do) and there’s quite a discrepancy. Occasionally (as in this case) judgements have to be made to resolve issues. Those making those judgements have to consider many things including the law, the facts, the circumstances and the context. A combination of all these considerations often comes down to what many people know as “Common Sense”. Those blessed with it and able to utilise it are not indulging in a fantasy.
Yet more information that tends to confirm my view that 'racism' is alive and well . However I think it is now the '' Non white minority'' who start the majority of ''racist'' debates.
Take for example the case reported on AB where a child was asked to sign a statement that they had made a rasist remark at school. All that happened was that the child asked another classmate '' are you brown because you come from Africa ?'' The brown childs mother rasied a complaint to the school that the remark was racist. The remark was not racist but the brown childs mothers reaction was .
when is this crap going to end? are we now going to call Blackpool ( Whitepool in case we offend?
what about the Black Country, shall it be called the Green Country to please?

Paddy (No problem here)
Taffy ( No problem here)
Jock ( No problem here)
Polls ( No problem here)

"P All hell brakes out, discrimination, court cases, who is taking the pizzz? OK do goodies you can answer.
Free Speech is no longer one of our human rights.
Info, you have got that one right.

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