Below are the specifics of this incident. Jonathan Finestein is a very sensible chap, yes, yes, my good man! And the op-ed which began this thread is correct to point out:
If children learn that they are to be more strictly punished for teasing the brown boy than for teasing the spotty white boy, we won’t have to worry about racism. That will follow right behind, all of its own accord.
But the biggest victims of this madness are the people I love most, the elderly. I cannot imagine being 75 years old in today's society--this type of "litigiousness mania"(savage victimhood, blind blame-game playing...) has surely to offend our elders sensibilities beyond repair. What must they think of our collective future? I dare not ask them!
Judge: Race Charge 'Crazy'
Updated: 10:16, Friday April 07, 2006
A district judge has branded the prosecution of a schoolboy accused of racially abusing a classmate in the playground "political correctness gone mad".
Jonathan Finestein said he thought the decision to haul the 10-year-old before court was "crazy" and urged the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to drop the case.
He told Salford Youth Court: "Have we really got to the stage where we are prosecuting 10-year-old boys because of political correctness?
"I was repeatedly called fat at school. Does this amount to a criminal offence? This is political correctness gone mad, it's crazy."
The judge added: "In the old days the headmaster would have got them both and given them a good clouting.
"He would have said they had behaved like idiots, given them the slipper or whatever he used to get and they would have gone away to shake hands.
"This is how stupid the whole system is getting. There are major crimes out there and the police don't bother to prosecute."
The criticisms came as the schoolboy from Irlam, Greater Manchester, was summonsed to court accused of racially abusing a fellow pupil.
Appearing at court with his parents, he admitted admitted using one racial insult but denied a racially aggravated public order offence.
He said he did not use any other racist terms, claimed the complainant had called him "white trash" and said they were now friends.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the force took all reports of crime seriously and the Crown Prosecution Service said it would continue to review the case.
The case has been adjourned until April 20.
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...217944,00.html