A BB Gun and a Minor Facial Injury

FatVonD

Claree__x wrote: »

I'm sorry but are the IRA the only white "terrorists" in the world?

I wasn't suggesting they were the only white terrorists? Perhaps I should have said for example...

Treevo

mcja wrote: »

Oh crickey..the more I hear about teenage boys the more I want to keep my little sweetie 8 forever or lock him in the playroom with his lego.

Just keep him busy enough in activities that develop his sense of responsibility. And will keep him away from chavs.;):D

keystone

FatVonD wrote: »

Had they said 'you'll make a great bank robber one day' or 'oh no, another Columbine massacre(sp?)' then that wouldn't have been racist, the fact they said 'you'll make a great terrorist one day' suggests they were influenced by the boy's ethnic origin.

I continue to find this assertation/association both illogical and irrational.and although I keep asking why nobody ever answers. So I'm going to ask again. Why please?

Actually in the interim I have though of two possible answers why:

1. Those proposing it are just "projecting" their own prejudices and opinions.

2. Those proposing it seem to expect teenagers to think like adults and to be of like mind to themselves. Err - no! .

Would they have said it if he were white? I doubt it

Why? Or you also projecting?

I also notice my question about certain high profile WASP terrorists (Anders Brevik, Timothy McVeigh and the Unabomber) went unanswered too in relation to the demand of to know whether the boy is asian/arabic/middle eastern. He isn't. (see below) So fact I'm going to venture to suggest that such an automatic association is possibly verging on the racist in itself..

I'm not excusing his behaviour in any way whatsoever but you say that if she were more seriously hurt you'd be straight to the Police so why not now? His actions were the same. What if the next kid isn't so lucky?

I think I've already answered that earlier in the thread.

That now being off my chest an update from today (seeing as I promised it) following some internal investigations within the school:

1. The boy concerned is mixed race AfroCaribbean/White English.
2. My daughter's friend who made the dare is also mixed race AfroCaribbean/White English.
3. It was my daughter who made the "terrorist" comment within the Group of girls.
4. It was made far enough away from the boys group that not one of them heard it.

I suppose (sigh) there will be another feeding frenzy now.

Cheers

Desperado99

I think, regardless of who did what, and whether or not he was bullied (rascist or otherwise), the police should be involved. I'm not saying anyone should be charged, but anyone who thinks that a BB is a toy that can be aimed and shot at anyone needs a stern talking to.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

I think your daughter needs to wind her neck in a little and stop menacing people.

This is what happens when you think you are untouchable...

p.s...if she made the terrorist comment and didn't tell you that up front, what else is she not telling you up front?

mumps

keystone wrote: »

I continue to find this assertation/association both illogical and irrational.and although I keep asking why nobody ever answers. So I'm going to ask again. Why please?

Actually in the interim I have though of two possible answers why:

1. Those proposing it are just "projecting" their own prejudices and opinions.

2. Those proposing it seem to expect teenagers to think like adults and to be of like mind to themselves. Err - no! .

Why? Or you also projecting?


Cheers

I am Irish by heritage, and I look it. In the 70s I got alot of comments about it, remarks about IRA etc. Hasn't happened for years, maybe the 80s was the last time.

I am afraid that since 9/11 anyone with brown skin, regardless of where they are from etc, are likely to get terrorist remarks in my experience. My DH is in his 60s and we have still had remarks about the Taliban when we are out and he is disabled and the biggest threat he is to anyone if he fell over on you.

It does get a bit annoying after a while, so does being ignored in shops. We live in a predominantly white area and I think this makes it worse. We went to a National Trust place a couple of weeks ago, a woman was paying and I stood behind her. The woman on the till took her money, gave her a leaflet and explained where to go etc. Another woman came and stood next to me. The woman serving pointedly turned away from us and dealt with this woman, again gave her the leaflet and talk. I was feeling a bit agitated now. Another couple came and stood behind us. Woman looked over my shoulder and asked them if she could help them. I then asked why I couldn't pay. She looked annoyed and said, "Yes." I asked for two tickets and she took my money and pushed tickets over the counter. No chat. I asked where I should go and she just pointed towards the door and said, "through there." No info like the other couples got. Now why do you think that was? All the customers were in their 50s/60s all dressed smart casual. The only difference I could see was DH colour. If you are feeling OK you let it go but sometimes it really gets you.

I am not saying your daughter is some sort of racist and I know kids often say things they don't mean just pointing out that it can be much more significant than they mean it to be.

keystone

Desperado99 wrote: »

I think, regardless of who did what, and whether or not he was bullied (rascist or otherwise), the police should be involved. I'm not saying anyone should be charged, but anyone who thinks that a BB is a toy that can be aimed and shot at anyone needs a stern talking to.

Oh I quite agree actually. The Police are certainly not off the radar or the agenda. As a result of yesterday I decided a course of action I am happy with the way the school are handling it at the moment and then we'll see how the parents react and then it may very well be BIB time. Sorry if I didn't make that clear in yesterdays postings.

Cheers

keystone

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

I think your daughter needs to wind her neck in a little and stop menacing people.

Thats a very interesting observation. I'm genuinely interested to know how you formed the conclusion that she has been.

This is what happens when you think you are untouchable...

and equally how did you come to that conclusion?

p.s...if she made the terrorist comment and didn't tell you that up front, what else is she not telling you up front?

Good point. She may have said it on Monday night - I may not have been listening properly. I reported yesterday my recollection. I did not take notes. To be honest my main concern at that stage was to determine the extent of her injuries and get them treated - I am sure you can understand that. You may have noticed that yesterday I posted that I had not discussed it further with her last night and I haven't tonight. I'm too close to it you see. What I reported earlier this afternoon is what the school have told me and I am happy for them to continue to conduct the investigation. However, I think I also made it clear yesterday that I do not expect her to be blameless and the extent of that when it comes out will determine any eventual sanctions.

Cheers

keystone

mumps wrote: »

I am afraid that since 9/11 anyone with brown skin, regardless of where they are from etc, are likely to get terrorist remarks in my experience.

Yes you are right. However, surprisingly enough, my daughter doesn't remember that and it's not on the History Curriculum so she hasn't formed nor been steered to form an opinion about it.

I am not saying your daughter is some sort of racist

Oh I know she isn't - one of her friends is mixed race AfroCaribbean, another is 100% AfroCaribbean. She certainly hasn't been brought up that way despite at least one offensive suggestion on this thread that she has.

and I know kids often say things they don't mean just pointing out that it can be much more significant than they mean it to be.

Indeed so but I wonder to whom it's more significant? Certainly not the kids I would venture to suggest. Notice how the tone of the thread changed yesterday after I this subject came into the discussion?

Cheers

barbiedoll

duchy wrote: »

Good grief-Mine's 21 now but I'd not tolerate that even now.

They don't use the nicknames in front of their parents! My son doesn't call his friends by these names when he's at home, I've only heard them when he's been on the phone or speaking to his mates on the X-Box etc. He comes home and tells me his latest nickname, it's not a big deal, boys are just mouthy and full of it at that age. I'm not going to discipline him for calling someone a stupid name, unless it was very offensive or racist, but I definitely would if I found out that he had a BB gun, and I'd probably call the police myself if I knew that he had fired it at a girl's face.

The word "terrorist" has been claimed by the kids, like lots of words, the original meaning is totally lost. "p@edo" is another one, it's used as an insult (usually directed towards a completely harmless teacher) without any thought given to the proper definition. My pet hate is the word "gay" which has been discussed at length many times on this forum. Labelling kids as racists because of their thoughtless use of a term which they hear every day, is the real crime. Most London kids never give a thought to someone's skin colour, by the time they have had a few years at school, they know children and adults from every corner of the globe.

The use of a gun is the real issue here, not the use of a vaguely insulting term which may or may not have even been heard by the boy.