Schoolgirl in 'rude' T-shirt protest
10:11am Wednesday 25th June 2008
Comments (16)A SCHOOLGIRL aged just seven took action after being offended by a T-shirt hanging outside a shop.
Seven-year-old Bernadette Davey, of Scarborough, contacted the council and police to ask for the "rude" T-shirt to be removed from outside the shop.
"I thought it was very rude and I felt very offended by it, and so did my grandad. My granddad said I was right."
Bernadette Davey, aged seven
However, instead of taking offending article down the shop owner covered the area in question with a sign saying "lift me".
Bernadette said: "It was horrible seeing the T-shirt all the time. I don't want to see things like that and I still think the T-shirt should be taken inside.
"I think it is disgusting and I was hoping that it would be taken down and out of view. I don't think adults consider us children enough."
Bernadette and her grandad Hugh Davey, regularly walk past the shop on their way to the Harbour Bar.
When passing the shop recently Bernadette pointed out the T-shirt to her grandad saying that she did not think it should be on show to the public.
She said: "I thought it was very rude and I felt very offended by it, and so did my grandad. My granddad said I was right.
"I went in to the shop to ask if the lady behind the counter would take it down but she said she is legally allowed to have it there.
"That's why we went to the Town Hall to complain and they contacted the police for us. A policeman came to meet me and said he would go to the shop and ask for it to be taken down. It is still there though."
The owner of the shop, which does not yet have a name, did not want to comment.
However a spokesman from the police said: "It was reported to us so we went to visit the shop. In this sort of case all we can do is give suitable advice to the shop owner."
Mr Davey, Bernadette's grandad said: "I am very proud of Bernadette for taking action and not ignoring issues she feels are important.
"She's just a great little girl and I can't tell how pleased we are that she has the courage and confidence to do things like this.
"It is a pity more young people aren't like her. I agree with her that the T-shirt was disgusting.
"This is supposed to be a family resort and having images on show like that is not appropriate.
"It goes against public decency. We are still hoping that the T-shirt will be removed from view but whether that will actually happen I don't know."
Your Say YourThe Northern Echo
angel, m'boro says...
1:39pm Wed 25 Jun 08
Also childrens views should be respected like adults views after all they are human.
It doesnt mean they are dictating.
Look at it this way if a local shop to you were to display naked images of your mum, wife, sister or daughter and you were offended. Would you ask for them to be removed?
And if so, why should we be dictated to of men?
j, bishop auckland says...
2:02pm Wed 25 Jun 08
Wilko, Sausage Lane says...
2:10pm Wed 25 Jun 08
Chris, Durham says...
2:29pm Wed 25 Jun 08
ChrisWhite, Spennymoor says...
2:31pm Wed 25 Jun 08
"Also childrens views should be respected like adults views after all they are human."
You'll be in favour of giving them the vote then?
Besides, nobody's views deserve an automatic respect. There are people who genuinely think the world is flat: I certainly don't respect their views.
Look at it this way if a local shop to you were to display naked images of your mum, wife, sister or daughter and you were offended. Would you ask for them to be removed?
I wouldn't ask for them to be removed, because free expression trumps the right not be to be offended every single time, largely because the latter right doesn't -- and shouldn't -- exist: free public discourse is too precious a thing to squander.
Any view can potentially cause offence even if unintended, so, to reverse your no-longer-rhetorical question, would you be willing to silence something that caused you offence if it also meant that you yourself weren't allowed ever to express an opinion?
Besides, finding things "offensive" is childish; it's indistinguishable from a tantrum. At least in this instance it's a child doing it, though most adults are no better.
And what did this "rude" t-shirt even say?!
Rob Robinson, Orlando, Florida says...
3:20pm Wed 25 Jun 08
Rich Caffree, Plymouth says...
6:45pm Wed 25 Jun 08
angel, m'boro says...
1:43am Thu 26 Jun 08
Chris wrote:I was not dictating to anyone. And i would call that childish, picking up on a spelling mistake.I've seen children do it when they can't find another reason to bully someone.
angel, to be honest, I don't think anyone would take any dictation "of" you if they wanted it to make sense.
I commented because i think all children should be respected by adults and vice versa. I do discuss things with my son and ask how he feels about things before going ahead with them. I treat people (children too) how i would like to be treat.
Chris, Durham says...
8:27am Thu 26 Jun 08
angel wrote:angel, while I did have trouble makin g sense of your comment, it was more that your point was flawed than anything else, you implied that the opinions of "men" should have a similar weight to children's (of course sexual discrimination is just another type of the bullying you seem so to be fond of highlighting). And personally I think there's a big difference between a supposedly rude t-shirt and naked images of someone's family, but that's just me I suppose.
Chris wrote: angel, to be honest, I don't think anyone would take any dictation "of" you if they wanted it to make sense.I was not dictating to anyone. And i would call that childish, picking up on a spelling mistake.I've seen children do it when they can't find another reason to bully someone. I commented because i think all children should be respected by adults and vice versa. I do discuss things with my son and ask how he feels about things before going ahead with them. I treat people (children too) how i would like to be treat.
Just because a child's view is respected it doesn't mean you have to do what they say. If we took stock of everything children said we'd be in a pretty poor state, don't you think? and unless you are millionaire who happens to have magic powers and an ice cream factory it's fairly difficult to treat children how they would like to be treated.
Ann, Darlington says...
11:19am Thu 26 Jun 08
angel wrote:This article highlights that childern are growing up way too fast in todays world, they know too much!
i have a little boy who is 9 and one who is 5 and they are being taught sex education at school, so they do know more than you think. Also children of that age tend to talk in the playground about what they hear from older siblings. I have my son asking questions along the lines of whats a gay? and do i have aids mum? because children at school say all sorts. Also childrens views should be respected like adults views after all they are human. It doesnt mean they are dictating. Look at it this way if a local shop to you were to display naked images of your mum, wife, sister or daughter and you were offended. Would you ask for them to be removed? And if so, why should we be dictated to of men?
If you look at the child's statement it (IMO) appears that words have been put into her mouth. What 7 year old speaks like that!
angel, says...
4:46pm Thu 26 Jun 08
I dont go in for all this sexism crap.
I also agree that children grow up too quickly, i could cry everytime my 9 year old comes home saying things he shouldnt know.
Lastly i agree that i think words have been put into that childs mouth.
dave, spain says...
6:35pm Thu 26 Jun 08
she is going to be one of those mary whitehouse bitc*es when she goes up!! my god, teachin a kid to complain and waste police time over that type of cr*p is a complete waste of police time!!
teach the kid proper things like how to keep her mouth shut!!
Tim, Houston says...
11:37pm Thu 26 Jun 08
lowtax, sa says...
11:48pm Thu 26 Jun 08
angel, says...
11:33am Mon 30 Jun 08
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David, Redcar says...
1:04pm Wed 25 Jun 08