Multiculturalism has brought about the need to consider other ethnic and religious groups’ sensitivities for many aspects of life, such as foreign policy, the educational system, the medical establishment and so on. It makes sense that we be open-minded when it comes to those who are different if we’re ever to hope of living in harmony. In the midst of all this hyper-culturalism and globalization, however, it struck us that today’s society is becoming inevitably entangled in a web of political-correctness and the overwhelming desire not to offend others, to the point where even general conversation is becoming a ridiculous affair fraught with pitfalls.

Consider the following story of a digital children’s book, the Three Little Cowboy Builders, released in the UK that was based on the age-old Three Little Pigs fable. An award-winning interpretation of the original, the Three Little Cowboy Builders was eliminated from the running at a prestigious government awards ceremony because the judges,

“could not recommend this product to the Muslim community,“

and because it might,

“alienate parts of the workforce (building trade).”

The implication is that Muslims are so sensitive about even thinking about pigs, let alone reading childish stories about them, that they might, say, rise up in revolt. Or perhaps commandeer an aircraft. Further, it seems builders are such nancies they couldn’t overcome such a slur against their vocation. Certainly, all the builders we know are similarly inclined. The esteemed judges went further,

“Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down and builders are like pigs?”

It’s an astonishing prospect that a children’s book involving pigs could possibly constitute racism or be considered inflammatory. But we’re neither Muslim nor Jewish so perhaps we haven’t the background to comment. Any Jewish or Muslim embryos out there who would like to comment? Here’s how we see it: So Muslim and Jews are forbidden by their religion to consume pork products. Does that really mean pigs and all representation of them (visual, auditory, olfactory) should be abolished from their respective communities? Does reading about pigs really interfere with a person and his or her religious beliefs? Imagine the precedent this would set for other literary works involving swine. Animal Farm, a masterpiece, comes to mind and was noted by the book’s creative director as a title that might be prohibited should such thinking make its way into legislation. Living together in harmony needn’t mean avoiding all possible controversial issues. Indeed, most of the time, it seems that the autocrats and bureaucrats are screaming “Wolf” when there aren’t any canines in sight, if you catch our drift.

In conclusion, here’s to multiculturalism, eliminating prejudice and pigs whose vocation might be masonry and whose hobbies sometimes involve corralling cattle. And to hell with everyone else.
See the BBC article HERE.

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