Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Crayola threat!


The Crayola Factory in Easton, Pistolvania is a wonderful place. Lots of things to see and do. If any of you have small children I would strongly suggest that you take the little rugrats to experience it.


I took my six year old niece a couple of years ago and she had a ball. Why am I talking about the Crayola Factory? Because sadly, it seems that they too have come under attack from the wingnuts over at FOX.


"Despite the diversity of America, the America of "America's Newsroom" is distinctly melanin challenged with only a few, select, darker hues allowed. And while much of the world beyond Fox "News" welcomes diversity, Fox knows that the residents of their world do see color in very stark terms. One has only to see the comments on "Fox Nation" to see that the rainbow is not welcome in the land of Fox. Thus, earlier this week, "Fox & Friends" expressed disgust that Crayola, in attempting to be "ethnically sensitive" (Oh, the Horror, The Horror) is marketing "multicultural" markers. (The "flesh colored," albeit more Mediterranean, Brian Kilmeade referred to them as crayons.) America's favorite "anchor baby," (by the standards of those who want to change the 14th Amendment!) Michelle Malkin (definitely more than taupe) said that this was "pandering" to evil libruls. Interestingly, the original source for this un-American move by the free market, which has been around since 1992 in response to Maryland children who wanted a color, other than black, with which to color MLK, Jr., seems to be the right wing Volkh Conspiracy site. And also interesting is that in true Fox "News" style, this right wing and borderline racist story was repeated on today's Fox & Friends. I guess the message is that when it comes to crayons/markers, yellow isn't mellow, brown shouldn't stick around and black needs to get back - but if it's white, it's all right! [Now now Mr. Newshound man, they might have a point about Crayola having an agenda. For instance, look at the Crayola box. Why can't the white crayon and black crayon be next to each other? And why is the black crayon in the back?]


Weekend Fox & Friends warrior Dave Briggs introduced the segment against a visual backdrop of a photo of Crayola boxes with "Crayola Goes Multicultural" over it. His "Cavuto marked" chyron set the agitprop message "PC Gone Too Far? Crayola Introduces Multicultural Markers." The melanin challenged Briggs described the markers and asked if "political correctness has gone too far?" Briggs said that "nobody is against multicultural sensitivities" and asked conservative (not mentioned by Briggs) African American radio talk show host *James T Harris [Remember him? He was the "slave catcher" who wanted John McCain to do something about Obama.] "If crayon companies should teach our children about it."Harris felt it was "dangerous territory" to label products as multicultural. His voice dripping with sarcasm, Briggs read the lesson plan that accompanies the markers which includes how this enables children to build their sense of self. Briggs asked African American author, Lavaille Lavette if there was "a trap here" if you "don't fit one of these particular colors." She responded that she supports this marketing because it's a "teachable moment" that opens up "an opportunity for dialogue." She cited how when she was young she had only one color - "flesh tone." Harris asked why Crayola is "giving us these labels" and said that this kind of labeling is "what's happening in our society." [Source]


Yes, because nothing will bring down a civilization faster than too many crayons.

*I need a Red Stripe*

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