How Victimized Are You?

The culture of victimization that has infected much of Western society has led to the creation of a culture consisting largely of victims.

John Leo offers a handy summary of some of the most absurd victim stories of 2005.

EXCERPTS:

CHILDREN OF WITCHES ARE VICTIMIZED BY HALLOWEEN. Coming to class dressed as a witch on Halloween is a violation of "equitable schools policies," according to the Toronto district school board. The board said it feared "traumatic shock" if children treat "the Christian sexist demonization of pagan religious beliefs as ‘fun.’"

BRITISH MUSLIMS ARE VICTIMIZED BY PIGLET AND PIGGY BANKS. Novelty pig calendars, toys, and even a tissue box featuring Winnie the Pooh and Piglet have been banned in the benefits department at Dudley Council, West Midlands, out of deference to Muslim sensibilities.

STUDENTS ARE VICTIMIZED BY THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LOW WEEKEND PRICES IN BARS. Pressured by the University of Wisconsin and a federal campaign against binge drinking, 24 bars near the Madison campus agreed to end cut-rate weekend prices. Three students and a Minneapolis law firm failed to convince a Wisconsin circuit judge that this represented conspiracy and price-fixing. But they are suing again in federal court. Legal costs to the bar owners so far: $250,000.

FIRED CBS EMPLOYEE IS VICTIMIZED BY VIACOM, CBS, VICIOUS BLOGGERS, THE PANEL THAT INVESTIGATED HER, AND A "MCCARTHYITE" PANEL MEMBER WHO ASKED IF SHE IS A LIBERAL. Mary Mapes complained last week that people were saying mean things about her and the discredited "60 Minutes II" segment she produced about President Bush’s military service. She felt "extremely battered" by "having my head kicked around a soccer stadium by much of the western world." No apology, though. For unknown reasons, Mapes’ new book is titled "Truth and Duty" rather than "I Messed Up Big Time and I’m Sorry."

GET THE STORY.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

8 thoughts on “How Victimized Are You?”

  1. Those are ridiculous. Boo!
    Oh, and a mentally ill person is victimized by his parents. Not sure I got that right (did I phrase it wrong?) but that is also ridiculous.

  2. Ooh! I want to play too!
    Umm…
    As a dumpy, pasty white guy, I seldom see people like myself portrayed in the media in a positive way.
    Most leading actors, newspeople, spokesmodels, and other media stars are trim and good looking, and are often tanned.
    “Big Media” needs to be more sensitive to the self esteem of dumpy white guys, by placing into prominent roles men who have ample backsides and skin like a frozen turkey.
    If changes are not made, I will be contacting my attorney. But first, another beer!

  3. As a blonde woman I want to protest the discriminatory treatment of blondes in many internet circulating jokes. It is not fair to characterize blondes as stupid, clueless, air-heads! Blondes are almost, I mean just as smart as everyone else! Besides I’m not even a real blonde — oops.

  4. As a Pharisaical-American, I am offended by the Bible’s meanspirited portrayal of Pharisees and demand an immediate apology and retraction.

  6. The problem is that sometimes it’s not clear whether one should be offended, shrug one’s shoulders, laugh, or ignore.
    Frex, this link I found through Wittenburg Door:
    http://www.ourladyofweightloss.com/
    First off, it is presented as a joke. But this joke uses old holy cards of Our Lady and Jesus, and makes them look kinda creepy to my mind. Also, should I be offended that at times the webmistress designates herself as Our Lady of Weight Loss? And what about all the other titles that the webmistress comes up for the art in her store, like “Our Lady of Self-Esteam Your Vegetables” and “Our Lady of Sugar-Free Jell-O”? (Well, okay, that last one is funny.)
    I honestly don’t know what to think about this kind of stuff. On the one hand, we are allowed to have fun with our family. On the other hand, it’s not as if this website is promoting Marian prayer. (In fact, prayer seems to be the only form of self-help not advocated in this otherwise reasonable advice site, for all the liturgical wallpaper.)
    So this website has me nonplussed.

  7. A professor of mine has failed me for the inability to do work within a deadline.
    Doesn’t the ADA do anything to cover slackers?

  8. JD
    … yes, if you are diagnosed with ADHD / ADD then the ADA covers you all the way from your toes to the top of your head…. to the “past-due” date of your assignments.

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