If you ever say "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe", you're a racist.

[The_Penguin]

KAUKAUNA (AP) - A River View Middle School teacher accused of using a racist rhyme in class has been suspended.

The teacher allegedly used the rhyme - "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" - Monday while trying to pick a student to do a task.

Kaukauna Area School District officials learned of the incident Tuesday and put the teacher on leave with pay Wednesday, Superintendent Lloyd McCabe said. They are still investigating.

-snip-

http://www.myfoxnewisconsin.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=D20EF571FB49656D423200587C1B5ABB ?contentId=4954808&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

wtf? Seriously. How in the name of everything that bad and rotten is this racist?

[Excel-2008]

That's news to me. I can't even tell who it's supposed to be offensive to.

[SlickWilly440]

Let's see if I remember how that saying goes: "Eney, meeny, miny, moe. Catch a tiger by his toes. If he hollers make him pay. Fifty dollars everyday. My mother told me to pick the best one and you are not it."

I don't see how that is racists, except against tigers maybe. Maybe one of the children was part tiger and the tiger mother got mad and called the school about the racial slurs.

Maybe by tigers it's referencing to Panthers, which have black fur. So the rhyme is referring to not pick the African-American child.

I see it clearly now, I've cracked the deeply rooted racial code that children use.

[Decade]

Poor moe's, they've finally got someone speaking up for em.

http://www.blogdelossimpson.com.ar/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/moe.gif
"Amanda Hugankiss? Im looking for Amanda Hugankiss? Oh why cant I find Amanda Hugankiss?"
"Maybe your standards are to high!"
"Oh, you again?! Listen you, when I find you I'm gonna stick sausages down your throat and stick starving dogs up your butt!"


:rofl: Classic

[Roxie]

The idea is that while it's "tiger" now, it used be another word used to describe a black person...a word that rhymes with tiger and begins with "n" (no imagination, any of you?)...but I've heard that was a myth?

[Chuckles]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eeny,_meeny,_miny,_moe

Read it. But yes, it's stupid to say that using it is racist.

[Roxie]

this is silly.

[Digital Masta]

The idea is that while it's "tiger" now, it used be another word used to describe a black person...a word that rhymes with tiger and begins with "n" (no imagination, any of you?)...but I've heard that was a myth?

No, that would be tigger...now you see why I never like Winnie to Pooh...fuckin' racist.

[4letterwords]

Cool. In about 15 years we won't be able to say or do anything at risk of inadvertently offending someone. Yippee Skippy (<possibly racist).

[Candyvan Stan]

I don't see how 'tiger' rhymes with 'nigger' in the first place.

I don't understand why everybody is accusing everybody of racism, either. People should stop getting worked up over nothing.

[Roxie]

OMG.
Think "tigger" from Winnie and the Pooh.

[Shuft]

Let me tell you something about the word "good," brotha. Good is an ancient anglo-saxon word, go-od, meanin the absence of color. I.E. it’s all good, which it is, OR Good Will Huntin', meanin, "I'm Huntin' Niggas!" So when you say good morning, what your telling me is "I'm gonna kill yo black ass, first thing in the mornin'!"

My love for the movie Undercover Brother is only rivaled by my love of Babe 2: Pig in the City.

[The_Penguin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eeny,_meeny,_miny,_moe

Read it. But yes, it's stupid to say that using it is racist.
:frypan:

That's so fucking dumb. Seriously.

[RandomPasserby]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eeny,_meeny,_miny,_moe

Read it. But yes, it's stupid to say that using it is racist.
Hmm.. according to wikipedia, it's only racist if you are from USA, because only american versions of it from the 20th century have the N-WORD! in them.

[The_Penguin]

Hmm.. according to wikipedia, it's only racist if you are from USA, because only american versions of it from the 20th century have the N-WORD! in them.
Even then it's a stretch and some more.

[Shishio]

I don't understand why everybody is accusing everybody of racism, either. People should stop getting worked up over nothing.

My belief is that people are selfish morons but wish to convince themselves they're not without expending any actual effort on anything.

So they make a big fuss about equality and all that shit to show how good and wholesome they are when in fact they are nothing but pompous, ignorant cunts.

[Roxie]

I don't know if it's that Shishio.

It might be racist to some, who grew up only hearing the particlar "n" version used as a taunt. Althogh I don't know anyone like that...all things being possible, they exist. Like the wiki entry said, that was just one version, but a lot of people think it to be the original and that's probably what's going on here.

[rl*united]

LOL We have a saying here - If it wasn`t so tragic it would have been hillarious.

[Vic_Rattlehead]

Haha, complete news to me!

"Baa baa black sheep" has racist connotations I believe. Though, I suppose its very easy to figure out why.

I feel dirty; I used to sing these rhymes all the time as a kid. So did my black mates actually. :P

How about the "10 Green Bottles" song? You think the rhyme will soon be dirtified (not even a word but nevermind!) if it was changed to "10 milk bottles"?

[Roxie]

10 Green Bottles?

[RandomPasserby]

Off topic, but shishio, can you explain the "meat lovers with root beer" joke to a foreigner?

[Shishio]

I don't know if it's that Shishio.

It might be racist to some, who grew up only hearing the particlar "n" version used as a taunt. Althogh I don't know anyone like that...all things being possible, they exist. Like the wiki entry said, that was just one version, but a lot of people think it to be the original and that's probably what's going on here.

It's possible, but I find it hard to believe considering we were all surprised by this. In any case, I was actually commenting on this type of behaviour in general, not this specific case. Shit like this happens all the time, and now you know why (in my opinion, at least).

Off topic, but shishio, can you explain the "meat lovers with root beer" joke to a foreigner?

Assuming this isn't some sarcastic quip, the joke of that strip was that I was insinuating the cashier was a prostitute. The idea was if she was willing to demand payment for "reading" a shirt that depicted a number of sexual positions, she would also be willing to perform sexual acts for payment.

My ordering a meat lovers slice with root beer wasn't meant to be a joke of any kind. In Canadian pizza shops, you can buy pizza slices topped with various types of meat, and they are typically called "meat lovers". I like meat, and I like root beer.* So meat lovers and root beer it was.

*"Meat" is not meant to be taken as a euphemism for cock or other such thing. Nor is "root beer" meant to be a euphemism for semen or anything like that.

[RandomPasserby]

Oh, I didn't read the free slurpees on the t-shirt (that is the t-shirt she is meant to be pointing at, right?). I thought meat lovers with root beer was maybe slang for an sexual act (and here fast food cashiers read out your order to confirm it so I thought it was that).

Okay, others can continue with the "she said a nursery rhyme that can be linked to the n-word"-topic.

[Shishio]

Oh, I didn't read the free slurpees on the t-shirt (that is the t-shirt she is meant to be pointing at, right?).

Uh... yeah. I forgot that's what the shirt was, I was confusing it with the shirt that inspired the strip. (It also, as you might have guessed, inspired strip #71).

(Those two strips aren't actually autobiographical like most of my strips, sometimes I don't have a funny true story to tell, so I pull something out of my ass. Sorry for the confusion).

Carry on, people.

[PopCulturePooka]

I read the title of the topic and instantly new what it was about.

The nigger variant is/was used in Australia while I was growing up, and even now if I use Eeny Meeny, I need to catch myself on it. Just because it was the widesrpead version when I was an 80's kid.

[Swede]

The idea is that while it's "tiger" now, it used be another word used to describe a black person...a word that rhymes with tiger and begins with "n" (no imagination, any of you?)...but I've heard that was a myth?


If you watch Pulp Fiction, in the Deliverance scene the redneck says that variation of it... that's the only reason I could think it's racist.

[stsparky]

How the fuck is Kipling American?

But yes this is simply stupid.

[japanat]

StSparky,

I grew up in the '60s and never heard the 'n' variant. Did you?




To me, this would be a case of trying to be offended, I think. But I never grew up hearing it as a taunt, either.

[Ichisan]

Hmm.. according to wikipedia, it's only racist if you are from USA, because only american versions of it from the 20th century have the N-WORD! in them.

Hmm, no, I'm British and I remember hearing that rhyme first when I was pretty small complete with the 'N' word and using it too. I was only small and didn't know any better!

I think everyone uses the 'tiger' version nowadays.

[Citizen]

I hope they give that monster the chair.

[erbiumfiber]

My mother, age 72, grew up in New York City using the "n"-word version. She told me about it many times. It was never used as a taunt, it was just what they said.

I doubt my mother knew any actual black people in those days...

I grew up (60s and 70s on Long Island) using the "tiger" version. Probably taught to me by the very same person who used the "n"-word version as a child. Never heard the "n"-word version used by anyone. In fact, I don't think I ever really heard the "n"-word very much as a child.

[MNJetter]

This is the first I've heard of it.

I don't think disciplinary action should be taken against the teacher, unless she actually used the n-word version. It didn't sound like it in the article, but you never know.

If she used the tiger version, I would argue that she didn't even use a racist phrase. It can't be proven that the original version was racist, and if people changed it to tiger, it's not disguising a racist phrase, it's actually taking the racist intent out of it. I understand how someone could mistake it for a racist phrase and complain to the school, but I don't think disciplinary action against the teacher is warranted.

[Black Dog]

Did anyone here used to play tag as kid ? Me and my friends used to play tag, team tag, hide and go seek, British bulldog, cops and robbers, American gladitors ....etc
We would play these games at school and home., which proberly part of the reaon I have always been thin

"Eeny, miny, moe catch a nigger by his toe. If he hollers let him go, Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" - It's just a child's song use to determine who be "it". My Mom used this version of the rythem when she a kid. Her foster Father was quite the bigot and she picked up some bad habits from him. Whelther she understood the meaning of such words or not.Later on, the rythem was changed.

"Eeny, miny, moe catch a tiger by his toe. If he hollers let him go, Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" - This is the version me and my friends used.

there are other rythems for tag that we used, but I can't remember the words to the other ones.

[Digital Masta]

Mickey Mouse built a house, how many bricks did he put in?

[rl*united]

Mickey Mouse built a house, how many bricks did he put in?

Onche bonche schupeno pironche riba shtuka mahai se ot tuka - otivai na bokluka - da iadesh pamuka - maika ti se kara za edna zigara.....

Yeah... it sounds just as retarded when you actually understand Bulgarian.

Onche bonche (doesn`t mean anything really) a broken nail, you shtuka fish (http://www.sportsmansresource.com/myliesplace/justie41test.jpg) - get out of here - off to the dumpster - go eat some cotton (??!) - your mom`s angry with you and yelling, because you smoked a cigarette....

[stsparky]

Sparky, I grew up in the '60s and never heard the 'n' variant. Did you? To me, this would be a case of trying to be offended, I think. But I never grew up hearing it as a taunt, either.

It was in a book I read, about the Raj circa 1900. And then "Indians" were considered Black to the colonial apologists. It showed up in an early Agatha Christie book too. But making Kipling American would spin the man in his grave.

[Vic_Rattlehead]

10 Green Bottles?

"Ten green bottles, standing on the wall
ten green bottles, standing on the wall
..and if one green bottle were to accidentally fall
there would be nine green bottles, standing on the wall."

nine...blabla

eight...bla bla
See, change it to "milk bottles" and create a white man killing context! mhuahah!

Pretty much the exact same system as the "99 bottles of beer on the wall" song.

[suncrafter]

If you read the whole story you will see that she used the "N-Word" in the ryme.

[Roxie]

the whole story where?

N/M. My Google Fu brings all the boys to the yard
Kaukauna Teacher Suspended Over Classroom Slur
(http://www.wfrv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=635fb6b1-fcad-4db0-a5c8-de2fa54c2a6c)
A middle school teacher in Kaukauna will be suspended without pay and attend sensitivity training after using a racial slur in her classroom.

Riverview Middle School teacher Deb Denis used the 'Eenie Meenie Minie Moe' rhyme in class, but instead of the 'catch a tiger' version, Denis used a racial term.

"It's 2007. I thought we were way past this," said Stephanie Carrington, legal guardian of a Riverview student that brought the slur to her attention.

Carrington confronted Denis about the slur, and recorded the conversation on tape. "I apolgogize wholeheartedly. I've got to tell you the stress I've been under.." Denis said on the tape.

Kaukauna School District Superintendent Lloyd McCabe gave Denis a 5-day suspension without pay, as well as mandatory enrollment in a sensitivity course. That punishment did not sit well with Carrington.

"Something this extreme... you would think that firing would be what would happen, but that didn't happen. I'm just a little shocked at how it didn't happen," she said. "I'm just surprised they found that 5 days was okay. That tells me it must be ok in this community or something."

Other Riverview parents agree. "Teachers using that word when we're teaching our kids not to be racial towards other kids of colors, and ethnic backgrounds, that's not right" said parent Matthew Turner.

"It's not a slap on the wrist," said superintendent McCabe. "A slap on the wrist is a memo or one day suspension without pay." McCabe says this is the most severe punishment short of firing, and Denis would likely be fired if this were to happen again."

"I'm somewhat surprised by the leniency here," said Jerald Podair, a professor of history at Lawrence University specializing in the Civil Rights Movement. "Virtually everyone should know that this is a vile word and that it should not be used."

McCabe says that "The message that we want to send is that we take this very seriously and this will not be tolerated and behavior of this type will be met with pretty serious consequences."

Denis' attorney released a statement that she deeply regrets what she said and achknowledges that it was unacceptable. But judging by parent reactions around the school, that may not be enough.

"we're teaching our kids not to be racial"???

[Shishio]

Oh, well then. At least this makes sense now.

"It's 2007. I thought we were way past this,"

Hahahahaha.

[Roxie]

Wow, I wonder why fox news left that VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL out of the story?

[RoxFontaine]

I love how people assume the particulars of what happened. Sounds ridiculous on the surface, but there had to be some sort of issue if a parent was notified and found it necessary to contact the school.

[4letterwords]

Im glad it turned out not to be some ridiculous jumping to conclusions thing. Although if it was, it wouldn't have surprised me in the least. Stupid shit happens all the time in the US, but I'm glad his punishment was warranted.

[PopCulturePooka]

Firing a teacher over that?

Jesus fuck.

[Urameshi YuSooKey]

Firing a teacher over that?

Jesus fuck.

Uh yeah. If my child's teacher said the n-word to or around my child, I'd slap the shit out of him/her. That shit doesn't fly in the states man.

At the very least, a suspension of a couple weeks, without pay. If it were something she said subconsciously, that worries me even more.

[MNJetter]

I don't think disciplinary action should be taken against the teacher, unless she actually used the n-word version. It didn't sound like it in the article, but you never know.
Hah! I knew there was more to it.

[rl*united]

OH look at what time it is O_O It`s time for :P European culture education hour :):):)

Actually here in Bulgaria the n-word as you like to refer to it is used widely and without any prejudice or harmful intention put into it. That comes partly from the fact that our country has never had any history with exploiting slavery - more like the Ottoman Empire exploited us for 500 years. Anyway as far as Bulgarian heritage goes the term black used for a person would be much more offensive because in all our history black has been linked to the color of the devil, something that brings misery and misfortune. Like we have that saying "Keep some white money stashed, for when black days come." (Beli pari za cherni dni.).

In Bulgarian the n-word is also pronounced with a low first 'e' like 'e' in 'peg'. It`s part etymology part history part cultural background but I`m sharing this only so you`re not surprised if you happen to hear it or think - OMG why are those people so racist! :P

[MNJetter]

We're talking about two different languages here, rl. Whether or not they sound similar, or even have similar histories, they are technically two different words, since they belong to two different languages, and thus are likely to have two different connotative definitions.

It's not the n-word in Bulgarian, because the n-word is largely an English phenomenon, begun in the Americas.

[RandomPasserby]

Is it "neger" in bulgarian?
To my understanding, only english has badly tarnished it's version of the latin word "niger" which means black.
Finnish word "neekeri" is still quite acceptable even though racists and xenophobes are using it as an insult and are trying to turn it into a negative slur.

[Sakari]

Had I heard this news about a year ago, I might have been surprised.

Since then I've heard things like that one teach (jailed I think?) who had a buy draw and label a penis during health education class.

Also I think this was in England (not sure) that schools were forbidden to make happy father's day cards etc, in case it hurts the feelings of children with no fathers...

[rl*united]

I was just throwing that as a curiosity. I`m not making any generalizations based on it. Just saying that the word in Bulgaria holds no racial or offensive content in it whatsoever. :)

And I`m saying that the different meaning our two countries put into the word is based firstly on history secondly on cultural background and lastly on the pronunciation. So yeah it`s 'ne' just like the kana.

BTW Yes the latin word is of course used in pharmaceutical prescriptions and science in general.

PP: The third inclination of Latin is hell on Earth! It`s like they were "Let`s classify our language into a set of rules. Hmmmm - a third of the words fit into the first inclination - the same amount fit into the second...... oh well what should we do with the rest..."

[Shishio]

That shit doesn't fly in the states man.

You sure about that (http://www.outpostnine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9649)?

[Excel-2008]

I wonder if it's possible to insinuate Avril Lavigne's music as racist so she can be banned from the music world forever.

[MNJetter]

I was just throwing that as a curiosity. I`m not making any generalizations based on it. Just saying that the word in Bulgaria holds no racial or offensive content in it whatsoever.
Yeah, I know. And I wasn't trying to be mean or anything. Just pointing out that you can't say that "the word" in Bulgaria holds no racial/offensive content, because it's not "the word." It's a Bulgarian word that happens to have a similar etymology.

....y'know...nitpicky linguistics stuff. I just can't help myself. (¬_¬);;