UK NEWS
THREE LITTLE PIGS FAIRYTALE 'OFFENDS' MUSLIMS
The Three Little Pigs fairytale is ancient
By Emily Garnham and Macer Hall for express.co.uk
A pop-up book based on a popular children's fairytale has been dismissed as "offensive to Muslims" by a Government agency.
The Three Little Cowboy Builders, targeted at youngsters aged five to 11, re-tells the classic fairy-tale of The Three Little Pigs.
But Becta, the Government's educational technology agency, turned down the digital book for an educational award because it might offend Muslim groups.
Feedback from the BETT Awards explained that the judges "could not recommend this product to the Muslim community" and even that it "might alienate parts of the building trade."
They also accused the book's creators of typecasting the fictitious pigs: "Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down and builders are like pigs?" it read.
In fact, the digital book sends a moral message to young children.
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The modern, 'offensive' version
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It even emphasises to youngsters the value of a full education, saying: "Go to school, make the grade, take advice and learn a trade or you'll end up as Woolfie's tea!"
But the judges for BECTA insisted that the "the use of pigs raises cultural issues."
Tonight, campaigners against bureaucratic censorship savaged the warnings from members of the judging panel.
John Midgley, of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: "This is over-the-top political correctness.
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It beggars belief that a Government agency should want to waste it's time on such things
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John Midgley, of the Campaign Against Political Correctness
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"It beggars belief that a Government agency should want to waste it's time on such things.
"Who is going to be offended in the slightest about what is essentially a children's tale?"
Used by teachers nationwide to develop key literacy and design technology skills, the digital pop-up book has already won two awards for innovation and best primary school resource.
Anne Curtis, the book's creative director from publisher Shoo-Fly, says the judges' ruling is like 'a slap in the face'.
She said that, rather than avoiding 'cultural clashes', the judges will spark racial tension and 'close minds rather than open them.'
The original fairytale can be traced back to the 18th Century, but it's thought the tale of The Three Little Pigs is much older.
In the much-loved children's story three young pigs come across a big bad wolf who huffs and puffs and blows their houses down. But the wolf gets his come-uppance when he falls down their chimney into a pot of boiling water.
A spokesman for Becta said: "Becta with its partners is responsible for the judging criteria against which the 70 independent judges, mostly practising teachers, comment.
"All the partners stick by the judging criteria."
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Children study the digital book
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A statement from Becta added: "The reason The Three Little Cowboy Builders, from Shoo Fly Publishing, was not short listed was that it failed to reach the required standard across a number of criteria.
"The feedback makes clear that the issues highlighted were a small selection from a much broader range of comments which in the round make clear why the product did not win.
"In particular, the product was not sufficiently convincing on curriculum and innovation grounds to be short listed.
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Anne Curtis: "It's a slap in the face"
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"There was a very high standard of entries to this year’s BETT awards and four high-quality products were eventually short listed in this category."
The competition follows a series of rows over the alleged sensitivities of Muslims, including moves to downgrade Christmas and Easter.
Video 
C'MON.LET'S HAVE A HUGE SIGN AT EVERY PORT OF ENTRY
27.01.08, 1:24pm
PIGS............kept,cooked,eaten ,worn here.
Enter.......AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Those in doubt,your arrival plane is being re-fuelled and you can catch it now for the return journey.
Have a nice day.
• Posted by: rozipoz • Report Comment
THREE PIGS
26.01.08, 5:20pm
THREE CHEERS FOR PINKY AND PERKY.
• Posted by: teddybear • Report Comment
THREE PIGS
26.01.08, 5:20pm
THREE CHEERS FOR PINKY AND PERKY.
• Posted by: teddybear • Report Comment
THREE PIGS
25.01.08, 3:35pm
Probably very few Muslims would be offended by the tale.
Undoubtedly the people making this decision are PC morons.
However, many folk in the West (post 9/11,7/7,Madrid,van Gogh,demonstrations over Danish cartoons etc etc) feel the intimidation of the Muslim minority uninvitedly in their midst.
This is part of the scheme to overcome the infidel: immigrate, outbreed, ,intimidate.
They are winning.
If you are OK with this then do nothing; if you want to fight to get your counrty back then; be active.
Become an activist for your family, your community, your traditions.
Write to the power-that-be, Mps, Police, Church anyone and everyone, and write real letters not emails thatcan be erased with a button.
Good luck, God Save Us.
• Posted by: Davidoverhere • Report Comment
LIVING AMONGST FRIENDS (OF OTHER FAITHS)
25.01.08, 11:24am
I work for the tourist industry and I get to meet a whole lot of people from everywhere in the world. When I ask them about how their stay has been they usually point out a little boulevard.
This boulevard is adjacent to the Tourist Board Main Office and opposite our local Anglican Cathedral. Theres a little park mums go with their kids to. Now, the extraordinary thing about this is that, any given sunny afternoon you'll find Christian, Muslims and Jewish kids playing together and their mums chatting away without mentioning any pork related b%*&^cks.
Mind you Nativity plays are still going strong and its a big part of our communities, with other non christian faiths not complaining one iota about the cow being misrepresented, a pig being used as a tempting prop or any such nonsence. Wake up Britain and smell the rot eminating from the PC Brigade offices.
:))
• Posted by: AffenKid • Report Comment
OOMPH! WHERE'S MY BACON SARNIE?
25.01.08, 1:50am
The author of this must have a wry sense of humour. It's absolutely true about the cowboy builders. In my experience they take no pride at all in their work - they sit in their vans noshing on bacon sarnies and chip butties wasting time... basically stealing from their clients.
A friend recently got a plumber round to check his boiler. Let's call him Alf. Alf started the job by asking for a cup of tea. "And two sugars please, darling." Poor Alf was so fat that he had to climb up the stairs sideways like a lame crab. Then he huffed and puffed - just like one of the pigs! - bending to look in the boiler... then dropped the screwdriver in it and couldn't get it back out. What a farce!
Compare that with the lithe Polish lad I around to fix my boiler. What a star. Diagnosed the problem straight away, fixed it, tidied up and left. And couldn't be more polite.
Thank heavens (and the EU!) for all our lithe and eager Great East European Workforce!
• Posted by: RationalMan • Report Comment
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