Facebook and 'South Park' Blamed for Anti-Redhead Assault
While the first, clearly tongue-in-cheek "Kick a Ginger Day" drew some criticism, it went largely unnoticed, due to a lack of any serious violence. This year's "celebration" was unfortunately not so uneventful, as a student at A.E. Wright Middle School found himself on the receiving end of punches and kicks from as many as 14 classmates, according to the Associated Press.
Lieutenant Scott Chew, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, dismissed the notion of the assault being treated as a hate crime. It is, though, hard to ignore the irony here. What began as a humorously fictitious prejudice, meant to illustrate the arbitrary nature of racism, may have become an all-too-real hatred, thanks to the viral Web and its uncanny knack for stripping away context.
Of course, media outlets and bored pundits will likely blame Facebook and 'South Park' any minute now, but it would be ridiculous to do so (especially since it's this type of activity the show is lampooning). It's a parent's responsibility to teach children basic rules of conduct. Don't pick on someone for having red hair (or any other physical attributes), don't beat people up, and don't succumb to mob mentality. Before you start laying blame, take some responsibility, and stop expecting the Internet to raise your kids. [From: Associated Press and L.A. Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
numerwan said 9:04AM on 11-24-2009
South Park didnt come up with Kick a Ginger day... Some random punks did...
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Kris said 9:37AM on 11-24-2009
A hate crime is when a person is targeted based on his membership in a social group. This kid was targeted specifically because he was a red-head. If it was any other racial or social minority in this country, these kids could be accused of a hate crime. What a double standard in LA Sheriff's office. Each of these kids AND their parents should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. A message needs to be sent that hate crime in ANY form is not tolerated (except maybe in Calabassas).
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Dumb said 12:22AM on 11-27-2009
The very idea of a "hate crime" is dumb. Really. It is. Think about it - a guy robs a store vs a guy robs a store he "hates" -- end result, he still robbed a store....or a guy kills someone vs a guy kills someone he hates -- end result, he's still a murderer. What are you going to do, hang them twice? Just punish according to the existing law people.....why is that so hard to figure out?
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Cooper said 1:03PM on 11-24-2009
This is absolutely a "hate crime" as that term is defined (although I find the term sort of stupid since you can hardly call assaults, murders, etc. anything but hateful).
What I'm really left wondering is whether this was a real beat-down or just some annoying punches and kicks. There is a difference although neither should be tolerated in a school. Was this red-headed kid seriously hurt, or was he just tired of the stupidity - like the one kid who forgets to wear green on St. Patty's day and gets sick of being pinched all day?
At the end of the day, I'd have to agree that this all boils down to poor parenting - again. (This is just me, but I wouldn't even let my kids watch South Park. I get that their Ginger Day episode was satirical - I just think it's a stupid show. And, I think there are more productive things my kids could be doing than watching cartoons.)
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