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Thread: Wick Gala makes national news for all the wrong reasons !

  1. #1
    BetterTogether is offline Banned (Sock Puppet of previously banned user)
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    Default Wick Gala makes national news for all the wrong reasons !

    It seems Wick Gala has made front page of the telegraph for a racism debacle which shows three people dressed as Gollies during the parade.

    This has caused national embarrassment to the town and created a complaint which is now being dealt with by the Police.

    As we are all aware modern sensitivies around racial issue are higher than ever and the law is quite clearly written, I'm surprised these people where allowed to take part as anywhere else in the UK they would of been refused or arrested.

    If they appeared in a major town or city they'd be lucky to escape uninjured given the sensitivities around the Golly and is racial overtones.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...wn-parade.html

  2. #2

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    Quote Originally Posted by BetterTogether View Post
    It seems Wick Gala has made front page of the telegraph for a racism debacle which shows three people dressed as Gollies during the parade.

    This has caused national embarrassment to the town and created a complaint which is now being dealt with by the Police.

    As we are all aware modern sensitivies around racial issue are higher than ever and the law is quite clearly written, I'm surprised these people where allowed to take part as anywhere else in the UK they would of been refused or arrested.

    If they appeared in a major town or city they'd be lucky to escape uninjured given the sensitivities around the Golly and is racial overtones.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...wn-parade.html
    WHilst not condoning this I feel that it was an innocent mistake made by youngsters in a community with very little non whites...now if it was done in some parts of the UK, yes in all probability they wouldnt have done it as they would have been aware of the concequences which may have involved violence to them. Does send out all the wrong messages though

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    I'm 52, so I was born in 1963, from where I stand, as a child it was perfectly acceptable to have a golly as a toy, and think nothing of it. I think it was Robertson's Jams that had them on all their jars. It certainly was not intended as a racist slur, on my part anyway. My parents used to listen and watch Al Jolson. Then you had the Black and White Minstrel Show on a Saturday evening and I highly doubt they will ever repeat Love Thy Neighbour again. All that is totally unacceptable now.

    But then you turn on it's head what was acceptable then, is not now, and what was unacceptable then, say homosexuality which was a criminal offence, is accepted now.

    While I never intended any harm, by using the full term Golly***, and I am surprised they printed that, ( in the link ) I now know that it is a highly offensive term, and certainly would not allow my children / youngsters to dress like that.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cptdodger View Post
    I'm 52, so I was born in 1963, from where I stand, as a child it was perfectly acceptable to have a golly as a toy, and think nothing of it. I think it was Robertson's Jams that had them on all their jars. It certainly was not intended as a racist slur, on my part anyway. My parents used to listen and watch Al Jolson. Then you had the Black and White Minstrel Show on a Saturday evening and I highly doubt they will ever repeat Love Thy Neighbour again. All that is totally unacceptable now.

    But then you turn on it's head what was acceptable then, is not now, and what was unacceptable then, say homosexuality which was a criminal offence, is accepted now.

    While I never intended any harm, by using the full term Golly***, and I am surprised they printed that, ( in the link ) I now know that it is a highly offensive term, and certainly would not allow my children / youngsters to dress like that.
    Times change and the term and dress is now offensive end of. As I said, comming from a largly almost exclusive white area maybe the message hasnt got through....although you would have thought that schools would have hammered home the message....but then maybe not ! Perhaps schools should re visited by police and remind people of the law

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    Quote Originally Posted by rob murray View Post
    Times change and the term and dress is now offensive end of. As I said, comming from a largly almost exclusive white area maybe the message hasnt got through....although you would have thought that schools would have hammered home the message....but then maybe not ! Perhaps schools should re visited by police and remind people of the law
    That never occurred to me, that it would'nt occur to people here, that dressing up as a golly might be deemed as offensive. Although, granted there is not the same level of diversity in nationalities here, surely they watch the news and read newspapers? It would dawn on them quick enough if they were put where I lived in East London for a month !

  6. #6

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    agreed, everyone knows of the racist over/undertones, but 'blacking up' seems to be a bit of a laugh up here because they think only black people are offended by racism.

    it's a shame such a great even has been marred by this - Donna needs to admit the mistake and make sure it doesn't happen again, to deny any of the organisers even saw them is a bit of an arse covering exercise.

    (otherwise how would have this one below been collecting for them?)


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    Not being funny, but the Policeman is not exactly running after her to arrest her.

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    What a sad sad world we live in.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cptdodger View Post
    Not being funny, but the Policeman is not exactly running after her to arrest her.
    Again Im not condoning this but it was the gala and the cop possibly never thought anything of it, to stop further infringements maybe the gala committee could offer written guidelines on what is accpetable, not war and peace, but do's and dont's so people are kept right

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by cptdodger View Post
    Not being funny, but the Policeman is not exactly running after her to arrest her.
    you're right, but he'd have to do something if he'd received a complaint at the time of it happening... or have i got that wrong ?

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    Quote Originally Posted by rogermellie View Post
    you're right, but he'd have to do something if he'd received a complaint at the time of it happening... or have i got that wrong ?
    I do'nt know, but the Police are investigating it now so surely if it is against the law to dress like that, regardless of whether a complaint was made, or not, when she walked past him she was already breaking the law.

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    BetterTogether is offline Banned (Sock Puppet of previously banned user)
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    My feeling is, it just goes to show how out of touch some are to the modern world just because we live in a remote Higland area and is considered a bit of a giggle by some locals we should never forget that we are at the height of the tourist season with people from all over the world passing through. This wouldn't be acceptable anywhere else in the UK nor in any part of Europe let alone the USA. I noticed in some of the Gala photos there where also other people dressed up in Oriental costumes that would be considered equally offensive.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BetterTogether View Post
    I noticed in some of the Gala photos there where also other people dressed up in Oriental costumes that would be considered equally offensive.
    Dear me, I remember when I was a child going to my one and only fancy dress party, I went as a Japanese girl. My aunty is Japanese and had sent myself and my sister kimono's over from Japan. Again, never gave it a second thought, if I think back now though !

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    My daughter went dressed as Michael Jackson at wick gala some years ago. So much fuss over nothing. They should have got the prize for most original and they've got a lot of publicity for the gala.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fran View Post
    My daughter went dressed as Michael Jackson at wick gala some years ago. So much fuss over nothing. They should have got the prize for most original and they've got a lot of publicity for the gala.
    So negative press for Caithness is a good thing makes us look bad throughout the country that's a new one on me. Maybe you should go down to a large town and city and express the opinion that blacking up is original and should get prizes I don't rate your chances of not needing a police escort out of town !


    But then the police waste their time investigating race crimes I guess or don't you realise that what it comes under. Just because some locals may consider it just a bit of fun doesn't mean others don't find it grossly racially offensive.
    Last edited by BetterTogether; 29-Jul-15 at 17:24.

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    So can a Coloured person dress as a Golli_ _ _ and get away with it

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    Now other media outlets are picking up on the story it doesn't give the town good reputation despite how some with outdated views may try and justify it or make light.


    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...Golliwogs.html


    http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotlan...llys-1-3844293
    Last edited by BetterTogether; 29-Jul-15 at 17:52.

  18. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by andyw View Post
    So can a Coloured person dress as a Golli_ _ _ and get away with it
    using the term 'coloured' means you're what i would call an Old Skool Racist, bit like Fran, not an out and out racist, but pretty ignorant none the less.

    just to be clear, you don't have to be black to be offended by racism

  19. #19
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    Let's put this into context if you're entire family had been sold into slavery a few centuries ago, then your people spending since then trying to get some form of respect and equality from the country who forced all that upon them would you still consider it just a bit of harmless fun.

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    Just wondering...

    Is using fake tan racist?

    Is a man in drag sexist? (what is the difference between a man wearing womans clothing & a woman wearing mens clothing)
    “We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine....
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