Human Rights complaint-no more "Albino" at Earl's

Hugh Freaking Dillon

This is getting bloody ridiculous. Their beer is called Albino Rhino. Someone lodged a human freaking rights complaint about it, so Earl's is removing the logo from it's business.-HFD



http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/albino-off-earls-menu-193488591.html

Earls restaurants are taking albino off the menu.

The chain made the announcement in response to a human rights complaint about its Albino Rhino beer and Albino Wings Wednesdays.

"Earls Restaurants Ltd. has chosen to remove the word 'albino' from all of our products and marketing in response to a human rights complaint by a group of persons with the condition of albinism," it said in a statement. "The change to the menus in all our restaurants will be completed by April 24, 2013."

That's good news for people with albinism, said Paul Ash of Winnipeg, whose complaints to the chain were brushed off earlier.

"None of us has the power to force respect from anyone," said the businessman and philanthropist who has albinism. "But public and private institutions that serve the public in this country have a duty to presume all whom they serve are worthy of respect until there is a legitimate reason to assume otherwise."

His brother in B.C., Peter Ash, and a woman with albinism named Ikponwosa Ero filed a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal early last year. The complaint said the names of the products were derogatory and offensive and asked the popular chain to drop the word "albino" from menu items.

Albinism is a rare, genetically inherited condition that results in a lack of pigmentation in the hair, skin and eyes, causing vulnerability to sun exposure and bright light. Almost all people with albinism are visually impaired, with the majority being classified as legally blind.

The Earls Albino Rhino beer label showed a cartoon white rhinoceros wearing large sunglasses.

"It did not occur to us that the name would be associated with albinism, neither did it occur to us it would offend," Earls said in a news release. "We do not believe the use of the word 'albino' reflects any intention to discriminate against persons with albinism."

The brand was created 25 years ago and the company said it didn't learn until the human rights complaint that "many persons with albinism are genuinely offended and feel that their dignity is negatively impacted by the use of the word 'albino' in our marketing. Albinism is a very rare condition and like many Canadians, we knew very little about the condition or the very real discrimination persons with albinism experience, both in Canada and around the world," Earls said in a prepared statement.

In Tanzania, the Ash brothers founded a charity called Under the Same Sun to help people with albinism. In that African country, people with the condition are outcast and have been attacked and slain for their body parts, which are used in folk medicine.

When Ash's complaints about Earl's "albino" menu items appeared in the Free Press in 2011, the Winnipegger was criticized. Online commentators said he was "selfish" and "taking political correctness to the extreme." Ash was told his visible minority should "get over yourselves."

Although Earl's said it "did not agree with the complaint," it wanted all members of the public to feel welcome at its restaurants and won't use "albino" in its marketing anymore, the release said.

"Persons with albinism are a stigmatized group that face prejudice and exclusion in many areas of Canadian society."

Hugh Freaking Dillon

I'm going to have to go buy a few of the Albino Rhino beer glasses before they have to pull them.

even flow - question mark

Yeah, but what did the rhinos have to say about the situation?

BinauralJam

even flow - question mark wrote:

Yeah, but what did the rhinos have to say about the situation?

Meeeeerhhhhghhh..................................knuggghuhhh,hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinmffffffff honknknofffffffffff

Hugh Freaking Dillon

BinauralJam wrote:

even flow - question mark wrote:

Yeah, but what did the rhinos have to say about the situation?

Meeeeerhhhhghhh..................................knuggghuhhh,hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinmffffffff honknknofffffffffff

hedonist

BinauralJam wrote:

even flow - question mark wrote:

Yeah, but what did the rhinos have to say about the situation?

Meeeeerhhhhghhh..................................knuggghuhhh,hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinmffffffff honknknofffffffffff

Ha!

Complaints like this just make me shake my head. Human rights violation?

(I'm curious about the Winter Brothers' take on such nonsense :think: )

cincybearcat

You have got to be shitting me?!?!?!?!?!

Jason P

Several thoughts ...

I wonder if you can still order a Black & Tan or a White Russian at Earls?

Ikponwosa ... wonder how many times she (he?) has been asked to spell that again?

Can't Earls just tell them to take off, eh?

Jason P

Wouldn't an albino be a ninja in Canada? Nature's perfect camoflauge.

:geek:

even flow - question mark

hedonist wrote:

[(I'm curious about the Winter Brothers' take on such nonsense :think: )

I was trying to find the video of Homer Simpson saying "die you goons" and running the Winter Brothers down. Couldn't though.

even flow - question mark

Jason P wrote:

Wouldn't an albino be a ninja in Canada? Nature's perfect camoflauge.

:geek:

The is the myth. But due to the fact they infiltrate polar bear clans, one has never been seen.

pandora

Good for Earl's to listen to those offended, I have a feeling most every person effected
with albinism have probably been stared at and teased since they were small,
and far worse like the article said.
I like what Mr. Ash said about respect. They have done good work to help many
with their charities.
Walk a mile...

PJ_Soul

I saw this on the news a while ago... My first reaction was, "WTF?! Jesus! Everyone is so fucking sensitive!!"
.... And then I thought about it, and realized it makes some sense. I mean, sure no person is actually an Albino Rhinoceros (or an albino tiger, or whatever). But what if rhinos were prone to, say, sever cirrhosis? Or MS or muscular dystrophy? Would it be appropriate to then call a beer "Muscular Dystrophy Rhino"? No. Everyone would think that was terrible and inappropriate, and people with that disease would be really pissed. Or maybe call it "Homo Brew"... would gay people mind? (well okay, maybe they would like it, bad example ). I assume that "Albino Rhino" is no different if you're actually an albino person(especially one who was tortured because of it, which is the case with someone connected to the complaint). I'm not one for PCism to say the least (as I said, my first instinct was like most people here - WTF, are you kidding me??"), but in this case, I think the request and the agreement on Earl's side seem logically justified. It's just that no one is used to being sensitive to the feelings of albinos, who I'm sure suffer a great deal because of their condition.

hedonist

pandora wrote:

Good for Earl's to listen to those offended, I have a feeling most every person effected
with albinism have probably been stared at and teased since they were small,
and far worse like the article said.
I like what Mr. Ash said about respect. They have done good work to help many
with their charities.
Walk a mile...

Sometimes I think people are just looking for something to be offended by.

Seems like an unnecessary waste of time and money to me. It's a play on words, fer chrissakes! Albino rhinos are actually quite beautiful in their own way.

If overweight people are offended by the Fat Cat Bar, should they have to change their name? Where's the line drawn?

Anyway, the phrase "I'm a rhinocerus and my skin is two feet thick" seems appropos here. Smart animal!

peacefrompaul

Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:

I'm going to have to go buy a few of the Albino Rhino beer glasses before they have to pull them.

PJ_Soul

hedonist wrote:

pandora wrote:

Good for Earl's to listen to those offended, I have a feeling most every person effected
with albinism have probably been stared at and teased since they were small,
and far worse like the article said.
I like what Mr. Ash said about respect. They have done good work to help many
with their charities.
Walk a mile...

Sometimes I think people are just looking for something to be offended by.

Seems like an unnecessary waste of time and money to me. It's a play on words, fer chrissakes! Albino rhinos are actually quite beautiful in their own way.

If overweight people are offended by the Fat Cat Bar, should they have to change their name? Where's the line drawn?

Anyway, the phrase "I'm a rhinocerus and my skin is two feet thick" seems appropos here. Smart animal!

But keep in mind, it wasn't just random people with a normal skin colour who complained and were offended. It was albinos and those who represent their interests. Who are any of us to tell them whether or not they should be offended when people are cavalier about their disability? They are the experts on that matter, no? Yes, generally people do need thicker skin sometimes... but does that apply to people with disabilities or physical conditions who don't want that condition to be taken lightly? Probably not.

PJ_Soul

peacefrompaul wrote:

Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:

I'm going to have to go buy a few of the Albino Rhino beer glasses before they have to pull them.

That is exactly what I said when I first saw the news item! I'm definitely going to snag a couple - I bet they'll just give them away if you ask nicely.

hedonist

PJ_Soul wrote:

But keep in mind, it wasn't just random people with a normal skin colour who complained and were offended. It was albinos and those who represent their interests. Who are any of us to tell them whether or not they should be offended when people are cavalier about their disability? They are the experts on that matter, no? Yes, generally people do need thicker skin sometimes... but does that apply to people with disabilities or physical conditions who don't want that condition to be taken lightly? Probably not.

They absolutely have a right to be offended; anyone does about anything - I just find it ridiculous in many cases, this one included. Like I said, wordplay. Struck me as cute, not mean.

Knowing some people are offended and supporting elimination of the name and the change of the logo, you're still cool with having the glasses bearing said albino rhino?

That said, I understand what you're saying in the bolded part of your quote.

PJ_Soul

hedonist wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

But keep in mind, it wasn't just random people with a normal skin colour who complained and were offended. It was albinos and those who represent their interests. Who are any of us to tell them whether or not they should be offended when people are cavalier about their disability? They are the experts on that matter, no? Yes, generally people do need thicker skin sometimes... but does that apply to people with disabilities or physical conditions who don't want that condition to be taken lightly? Probably not.

They absolutely have a right to be offended; anyone does about anything - I just find it ridiculous in many cases, this one included. Like I said, wordplay. Struck me as cute, not mean.

Knowing some people are offended and supporting elimination of the name and the change of the logo, you're still cool with having the glasses bearing said albino rhino?

That said, I understand what you're saying in the bolded part of your quote.

Sure I want some free beer glasses! I don't find d it offensive myself, and I don't k ow any albinos so likely will never have any to my house for beer, so I don't care. I just think it was the right decision given the feelings of those who complained.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

hedonist wrote:

pandora wrote:

Good for Earl's to listen to those offended, I have a feeling most every person effected
with albinism have probably been stared at and teased since they were small,
and far worse like the article said.
I like what Mr. Ash said about respect. They have done good work to help many
with their charities.
Walk a mile...

Sometimes I think people are just looking for something to be offended by.

Seems like an unnecessary waste of time and money to me. It's a play on words, fer chrissakes! Albino rhinos are actually quite beautiful in their own way.

If overweight people are offended by the Fat Cat Bar, should they have to change their name? Where's the line drawn?

Anyway, the phrase "I'm a rhinocerus and my skin is two feet thick" seems appropos here. Smart animal!

excellent point. how long before Junior's has to stop serving the Fat Boy burger? there are some menu items called the Heart Attack (insert food item here). Are people who have had heart attacks going to cry over that?

Hugh Freaking Dillon

maybe mothers of kids with alopecia are going to sue Mr Clean because their kids get teased and called Mr Clean at school.

maybe people with one leg will get offended at a wooden legged pirate at a kid's playground.

my mother is physically challenged (she contracted polio in one leg when she was 4). she was obviously teased alot (one leg is shorter than the other, and she wears a brace for it). even ADULTS stare at her in public, along with their kids. But you know what, she would find something like this hilarious. people have to have a sense of humour about it. laugh at yourselves a bit.

and it's not a HUMAN albino. it's a fucking RHINOCEROS. get a life.

sure Earl's had no choice but to bow to this nonsense. it would have been a PR nightmare had they told that guy where to go. But I liked how they put in their statement "it never crossed our minds that this would offend anyone". BINGO.

PJ_Soul

Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:

hedonist wrote:

pandora wrote:

Good for Earl's to listen to those offended, I have a feeling most every person effected
with albinism have probably been stared at and teased since they were small,
and far worse like the article said.
I like what Mr. Ash said about respect. They have done good work to help many
with their charities.
Walk a mile...

Sometimes I think people are just looking for something to be offended by.

Seems like an unnecessary waste of time and money to me. It's a play on words, fer chrissakes! Albino rhinos are actually quite beautiful in their own way.

If overweight people are offended by the Fat Cat Bar, should they have to change their name? Where's the line drawn?

Anyway, the phrase "I'm a rhinocerus and my skin is two feet thick" seems appropos here. Smart animal!

excellent point. how long before Junior's has to stop serving the Fat Boy burger? there are some menu items called the Heart Attack (insert food item here). Are people who have had heart attacks going to cry over that?

I really don't think that fat and Albinoism are comparable. Especially when fat is a thing and somethig we actually eat and cook with and not exclusively a state of being or a physical disability.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:

maybe mothers of kids with alopecia are going to sue Mr Clean because their kids get teased and called Mr Clean at school.

maybe people with one leg will get offended at a wooden legged pirate at a kid's playground.

my mother is physically challenged (she contracted polio in one leg when she was 4). she was obviously teased alot (one leg is shorter than the other, and she wears a brace for it). even ADULTS stare at her in public, along with their kids. But you know what, she would find something like this hilarious. people have to have a sense of humour about it. laugh at yourselves a bit.

and it's not a HUMAN albino. it's a fucking RHINOCEROS. get a life.

sure Earl's had no choice but to bow to this nonsense. it would have been a PR nightmare had they told that guy where to go. But I liked how they put in their statement "it never crossed our minds that this would offend anyone". BINGO.

I'm with Hugh (et al) and his position throughout this thread.

Seriously? I mean why do we have to sanitize society to the points we do? At some point in time... someone's going to have to tell someone to "go fuck themselves" instead of just caving- which now seems to be the only acceptable response to such nonsensical charges.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

PJ_Soul wrote:

I really don't think that fat and Albinoism are comparable. Especially when fat is a thing and somethig we actually eat and cook with and not exclusively a state of being or a physical disability.

well people who are obese because of glandular issues might disagree with that.

PJ_Soul

Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:

maybe mothers of kids with alopecia are going to sue Mr Clean because their kids get teased and called Mr Clean at school.

maybe people with one leg will get offended at a wooden legged pirate at a kid's playground.

my mother is physically challenged (she contracted polio in one leg when she was 4). she was obviously teased alot (one leg is shorter than the other, and she wears a brace for it). even ADULTS stare at her in public, along with their kids. But you know what, she would find something like this hilarious. people have to have a sense of humour about it. laugh at yourselves a bit.

and it's not a HUMAN albino. it's a fucking RHINOCEROS. get a life.

sure Earl's had no choice but to bow to this nonsense. it would have been a PR nightmare had they told that guy where to go. But I liked how they put in their statement "it never crossed our minds that this would offend anyone". BINGO.

But if Mr clean was called Mr alopecia, I think we'd have a problem. They wouldn't have said anything if it was called White Rhino, and they aren't offended by pale ales either.
But of course they didn't ever think it would offend anyone. Who the hell thinks about the sensibities of albinos?? Most people have never even seen someone with that condition, much less thought about whether or not they are sensitive about people throwing the word around like it's not something that causes those who have it difficulty in life. But hey, now they know. Albinos aren't cool with it. Fair enough.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

PJ_Soul wrote:

But if Mr clean was called Mr alopecia, I think we'd have a problem. They wouldn't have said anything if it was called White Rhino, and they aren't offended by pale ales either.
But of course they didn't ever think it would offend anyone. Who the hell thinks about the sensibities of albinos?? Most people have never even seen someone with that condition, much less thought about whether or not they are sensitive about people throwing the word around like it's not something that causes those who have it difficulty in life. But hey, now they know. Albinos aren't cool with it. Fair enough.

it's a RHINO. if a rhino were offended by it and opened a case with the Rhino Rights Commission, then fine, call it something else.

and it wasn't that they weren't concerned with the sensibilities of albinos, it's that it's just so fucking ridiculous to be sensitive about.

PJ_Soul

Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

I really don't think that fat and Albinoism are comparable. Especially when fat is a thing and somethig we actually eat and cook with and not exclusively a state of being or a physical disability.

well people who are obese because of glandular issues might disagree with that.

If it was called Obese Burger or Obese Boy they would have a point.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

PJ_Soul wrote:

They wouldn't have said anything if it was called White Rhino

I tend to disagree with that. if it was the same picture (white rhino with large sunglasses) but just called white, people still would have bitched. it's human nature now to bitch about every little thing that bothers us to bring attention to the world about our problems.

i'm overweight and have a slowly receding hairline. did I sue NBC/Seinfeld for portraying the short stocky bald man as the loser of the group?

it was nothing more than a marketing gimmick. their signature beer is a pale ale. pale, as in white. albino rhino just flows off the tongue better than tanless rhino. if it had been a white shark with red eyes called "Great White" I bet they wouldn't have had an issue with it.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

PJ_Soul wrote:

Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

I really don't think that fat and Albinoism are comparable. Especially when fat is a thing and somethig we actually eat and cook with and not exclusively a state of being or a physical disability.

well people who are obese because of glandular issues might disagree with that.

If it was called Obese Burger or Obese Boy they would have a point.

are you serious? you think it's called "Fat boy" because of the fat content of the burger??? the picture on the menu is of a fucking fat kid!

Thirty Bills Unpaid

PJ_Soul wrote:

Hugh Freaking Dillon wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

I really don't think that fat and Albinoism are comparable. Especially when fat is a thing and somethig we actually eat and cook with and not exclusively a state of being or a physical disability.

well people who are obese because of glandular issues might disagree with that.

If it was called Obese Burger or Obese Boy they would have a point.

Semantics. Obese/Fat... the same thing and I think everyone can agree on that.

You could make a case for virtually anything as being potentially offensive to someone. Have we gotten to the point that we can take offence to virtually anything given our level of sensitivity?

The grotesque assaults on people or characteristics of people deserve our attention and our efforts. This is just garbage.

PJ_Soul

I just can't stop thinking about it by replacing the word albino with any other disease that people suffer from, and that is when I have to admit they have a good point. What if you had cistic fibrosis and you were given a fibrosis Rhino beer glass? Weird, right? I just think on a logical level it must feel like to them. The fact that people in Africa suffer torture and murder when they have the disease doesn't help I suppose. These are the symptoms of albinism. It just makes me think it is a term that is best not used casually as a fun adjective if we're assuming other diseases shouldn't be.


The symptoms of albinism depend on the specific type of albinism and are mainly related to the eyes, skin and hair.

Symptoms of The Eye -

The color of the iris is usually blue/gray or light brown with some people having a reddish or violet hue reflected through the iris.

Vision problems in albinism result from abnormal development of the retina and abnormal patterns of nerve connections between the eye and the brain. People with albinism have an unusual pattern for sending nerve signals from the eye to the brain.

One major abnormality of the eye in albinism involves lack of development of the fovea. The fovea is a small but most important area of the retina inside the eye. The fovea is the area of the retina that allows sharp vision, such as for reading, and this area of the retina does not develop in albinism. This results in lack of sharp vision and blurring of objects.

Other symptoms of the eyes include -

Decreased sharpness in vision (visual acuity)

Functional blindness

Involuntary, irregular and rapid movement of the eye (Nystagmus)

Lazy eye (Amblyopia)

Sensitivity to bright lights or glare (Photophobia)

Wandering eyes (Strabismus)

Distortion of a viewed image (Astigmatism)

Symptoms Affecting The Skin -

Patchy or total absence of the melanin pigment leaving the areas pale

Symptoms of The Hair -

Forelock (portion of the hair near the forehead) turns white (seen in Waardenberg syndrome)

Complete absence of pigment in the hair resulting in white hair

Other Symptoms include -

Bleeding tendency (seen is Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome)

Problem with bowels (seen is Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome)

Breathing problems due to lung fibrosis (seen is Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome)

Deafness

Increased susceptibility to infections

Nervous system disorders