I first developed a distaste for the notion of “hate crimes” when I became a victim of one.
Many of my American friends have trouble believing this (because, Michelle Bachmann excluded, most Americans are sensible, rational people) but in Britain I got picked on for the color of my hair. A lot.
So much so that I couldn’t even walk down a bustling street without getting catcalls of “Oi! Ginger!” and “Your head’s on fire!”
This casual abuse was worse in a relaxed setting like a pub. I can’t remember a single time in a busy bar — not a single time in a fifteen-year professional drinking career — in which some stranger didn’t come up and accost me because of the color of my hair.
“Oi, Ginger!”
“Coppertop!”
“Ron Weasely!”
“Do your pubes match your hair?”
The problem was drunken Brits tend to be naturally combative, so when I’d confront them on their behavior — politely but firmly explaining the sheer, fucking unacceptability of shouting vulgar abuse at a total stranger — I’d often end up backed into a corner trying to talk my way out of a fight.
(Anybody who rags on the concept of so-called “male privilege” needs to remember that this “privilege” includes being twice as likely to be the victim of a violent crime.)
The fact is, everywhere I went in England, I was singled out and target for abuse and even violence because of the color of my hair — and that was never considered a “hate crime.”
I’ve always found this somewhat difficult to swallow, because I didn’t understand the difference between picking on somebody because of the color of their hair as opposed to the color of their skin, or the suspicion that they might be homosexual.
This is why, even after I moved to a more civilized country like America, I have remained a fierce and vocal critic of the notion of “hate crimes.”
Many of my American friends have trouble believing this (because, Michelle Bachmann excluded, most Americans are sensible, rational people) but in Britain I got picked on for the color of my hair. A lot.
So much so that I couldn’t even walk down a bustling street without getting catcalls of “Oi! Ginger!” and “Your head’s on fire!”
This casual abuse was worse in a relaxed setting like a pub. I can’t remember a single time in a busy bar — not a single time in a fifteen-year professional drinking career — in which some stranger didn’t come up and accost me because of the color of my hair.
“Oi, Ginger!”
“Coppertop!”
“Ron Weasely!”
“Do your pubes match your hair?”
The problem was drunken Brits tend to be naturally combative, so when I’d confront them on their behavior — politely but firmly explaining the sheer, fucking unacceptability of shouting vulgar abuse at a total stranger — I’d often end up backed into a corner trying to talk my way out of a fight.
(Anybody who rags on the concept of so-called “male privilege” needs to remember that this “privilege” includes being twice as likely to be the victim of a violent crime.)
The fact is, everywhere I went in England, I was singled out and target for abuse and even violence because of the color of my hair — and that was never considered a “hate crime.”
I’ve always found this somewhat difficult to swallow, because I didn’t understand the difference between picking on somebody because of the color of their hair as opposed to the color of their skin, or the suspicion that they might be homosexual.
This is why, even after I moved to a more civilized country like America, I have remained a fierce and vocal critic of the notion of “hate crimes.”
Excellent points, as usual. I'm all for anti-bullying campaigns, but bullying is bullying is bullying. It's no more heinous to beat the snot out of someone for one reason than it is for another. Violence is not acceptable under any circumstance.
I agree wholeheartedly with everything you've said. Being a fellow redhead, I also understand being singled out simply, unjustly, and nonsensically for having bright hair.
I understand your point...but, people with red hair haven't been slaughtered wholesale, enslaved, had their land and rights stolen from them, put into camps, etc etc. People with red hair don't get more severe treatment by the criminal justice system because they're ginger. People with red hair don't live in segregated poverty-stricken neighborhoods, or lose job opportunities, get treated like potential criminals, or get shunted into shitty schools because they're ginger. People with red hair don't automatically get followed around stores simply for the crime of having red hair and trying to shop.
Look, I'm not dismissing the experience of people who have been bullied. I have been bullied and it's horrible. But comparing having red hair to being an historically oppressed minority in this racist country is more than a bit of a stretch, IMO.
Dear PussyPurr,
I'm not claiming anything of the sort; I'm just saying why is violence towards one person treated as more seriously than violence against another person? Where's the 'equality' in that?
Also, I fear you might think I'm bring flippant about the ginger thing. Don't worry, a lot of Americans are; because they're rational people who think the notion sounds absurd. My wife laughed when I told her about "gingerism" in England; but she stopped laughing when she moved there and saw it for herself. There are folks who are stabbed for being ginger, driven from their community for having red hair and just generally get treated shittily in a way that would be unacceptable to treat any other minority. I'm not claiming it's "as bad" as the centuries of abuse other minorities have endured; but I was always under the impression fighting against discrimination and marginalization wasn't about scoring points as to "who's the more abused."
As my article says: the motivation for hate crimes isn't important. The fact that they're committed is.
great article! and a lot of people don't know about how people with red or "ginger" hair are treated in England (because of possible Celtic background?).. violence is violence (thinking of the word "violation" too).
that said, some people think verbal abuse 'isn't really abuse' but i guess if u haven't gone thru a certain experience as well, it's hard to relate to how psychically damaging it can be. for example, being harassed because of a visible 'abnormal' body part (now what is not humanly possible for anyone to have in the definition of "normal" there?), like a disability, etc. we'd all benefit from being more supportive of each other in violent behavior, no matter what form it takes.
lol Pussypurr hasn't been reading thier history, apparently. Red heads where at one point treated horribly here in america because they could not hide their scotish or irish heritage. I agree with Mr. Rolands' point of view. As to the England thing, wow people have short term memories, Braveheart remember?