I had no idea until I read an article in the paper yesterday that redheaded Britons have suffered the slings and arrows of discrimination for centuries. I was flabbergasted to read that redheads in Great Britain have been evicted from their homes, fired from their jobs, physically assaulted, their property vandalized with anti-redhead graffiti, and worse. Sure, I (a redheaded American) took a lot of teasing in school, but by the time I was in my late teens I had grown to like my red hair -- just because it was different. I never imagined that other people might be subjected to a lifetime of taunts and teasing because of their hair color. That just makes me see red.
The problem is apparently so bad in Britain that a guy by the name of Simon Cheetham has founded a Web site about it.
I spent a little time exploring the site and was fascinated by what I saw (and appalled by a few other snippets of information). Good heavens, the very idea of tormenting people over their glorious crimson hair color seems so ridiculous. I mean, who on earth in their right mind would even think of insulting Nicole Kidman or Julianne Moore or Bonnie Raitt about their beautiful red tresses? My sisters are blonde and brunette and I could have changed my hair color at any time to more "blend in," but I never had the slightest inclination to do so.
The undoubtedly mousy-haired anti-redhead people are perhaps simply jealous of some of the world's famous redheads, people like
Gillian Anderson
Lucille Ball
Marcia Cross
Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson
Marg Helgenberger
Sissy Spacek
Prince Harry
Ron Howard
David Caruso
Conan O'Brien
and, though I am loath to say so, Lindsay Lohan
It probably didn't help the reputations (or fates) of the redheaded Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots that Shakespeare chose to bewig his more evil characters in red. And it was perhaps jealousy that caused so many redheads to be denounced as witches during the Middle Ages. There may be some truth to the theory that Britons' unusual distaste for redheads could be linked to an atavistic hostility toward Scotland. About 13% of the Scottish population, after all, has red hair, compared with only 1% of the world's population as a whole. In the U.S., an estimated 2% to 5% are born with red hair.
It's true that a lot of Vikings, not such nice guys, had red hair, but then so did the venerable Irish king, Brian Boru.
Tori Amos and Rita Hayworth don't look like teased, unhappy redheads, do they?
If you ask me, red hair -- whether it's auburn, strawberry blonde, russet, chestnut, or flaming fire engine red -- is fabulous. But then, what else could I say? I've been red of head all my life. I've tortured it into faddish styles, defended it from the teasers, and learned to live with it, never mind that I've been tempted to cheat on it from time to time. I'm comfortable with it, though, and I'm pretty sure my head will continue to flame until it ends up whatever color old age doles out to it.
Today's TWISTED LINGUISTICS were apprehended and brought to justice by my friend, Roxan -- not a redhead but a stalwart Irish lass nonetheless. These Words Gone Wild are so self-explanatory that they don't even require definition. Not that such would be possible in any event.
season fanally
in the meen time
maybe i am just obsest
going to kiss dometime
sorry i geuss
sneek peek
it is true i was on youtube and i saw Matt Dallas eatting a worm
i had a fue questions
what typ of cancer does Andy have?
IM SO EXCIDED... BUT BUMBED AT THE SAME THIME!!!
would really apreacate it
Hoo-cha!
| You Are 48% Politically Radical |
 You've got some radical viewpoints, but you aren't completely nuts. You're more of a visionary than a radical. |
49 comments:
RED?????
Did I see red?
Hmmmmm....
Let me check this out more closly......
Red hair is my biggest weakness. I still carry a torch for my red headed ex and it has been 12 years. They are evil yes, but addicting. I love redheads.
Yep, I do believe you saw red, G. Check it out, up close and personal, but red is red and there's red all over the place.:-)
Kan, I don't know about your ex, but most redheads aren't evil. They're simply ... bewitching. LOL. Oh, man -- 12 years?! I have GOT to get busy matchmaking for you.:-)
***You Are 44% Politically Radical***
You've got some radical viewpoints, but you aren't completely nuts. You're more of a visionary than a radical.
I like red hair, just not on me. Right now I am a dark mahogany brown, according to the box. It goes with my really dark eye brows.
Remember, there's a strawberry blond in my future, maybe. LOL
What a travesty!!
I've always thought that red-heads sort of had this "Mystique" about them...
A little like lefty's..
But Red-Heads to me are sexy, fair skinned, and very beautiful...
Green-Eyed Red heads are stunning!
...But Red-Heads that are talented, creative, artistic, literary, and happen to be named Serena Joy, are "Off the Chart" HOT!!!!!
Sherry, even without your very gorgeous Crimson Tresses, you are without a doubt one of the most beautiful people that I have ever met, your Magnificent Mane is like the perfect topping to a perfect dessert....Yummy!!!!
Whew!!!!
I guess you know how I feel about Red-Heads now don't you?
....just don't post about pink toes tomorrow OK?
xoxoxbgxoxoxox
You've got a few unusual political ideas, but overall you're a pretty mainstream person. Chances are that you're turned off by both the radical right and looney left.
The first coloour I ever died my hair was red. Mind you, it was more of a fire engine than anything.
"States that don't agree with US policy should be able to succeed" hahaha. Wouldn't want them to secede, now would we?
You Are 60% Politically Radical
You've got some radical viewpoints, but you aren't completely nuts. You're more of a visionary than a radical.
Its funny about that, since the Brits have all of those Druids and Wiccans and such. Why is it we have to glean the group of man of those that are different? We all have more in common than we have different. If we can't find something physical to differentiate people then we start in on their beliefs. I hate it when I'm discriminated against because I'm not a Republican. Dang Republicans. ;D
You Are 52% Politically Radical
You've got some radical viewpoints, but you aren't completely nuts. You're more of a visionary than a radical.
WOW! I thought for sure I would get more. I am happy I am not completely nuts. I have got to share that with my parents who are convinced I am.
12 years ain't that long.
I have a strawberry blonde niece, Roxan. She's gorgeous. Go for it!:-)
Wowzer, G-man, I think I'm blushing here. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you had a thing for redheads. And we both know that ain't possible.:) And, um, you have a problem with pink toes because?
Fire engine rocks, Seeley. All reds are good if you ask me. In politics, sounds like you're pretty middle of the road -- like me.
I did notice that Twisted Linguistic right off the bat, Charles. LOL. Yup, I think we non-Republicans had better form a coalition.:)
I wouldn't have pegged you for a 52-percenter, Kan. Hmmm. And listen -- Kan. Sweetie. 12 years is WAY long.:-)
It is? So I probably should not say I had to refigure and it is actually 14 years. 93-2007.
Kan. Kan. 14 years? {{Serena sighs}} Baby, there are OTHER WOMEN! And I am going to find you one if it kills me.:)
Mind you, this is just my opinion and while I'm not saying this is true for all natural blondes, I find them a bit on the homely side. I've seen more ugly natural blondes than pretty ones. The prettiest ones are usually former brunettes or reds.
Handsome blond men, for the most part, are fairly handsome.
Did I just say that? LOL
***You Are 44% Politically Radical***
You've got some radical viewpoints, but you aren't completely nuts. You're more of a visionary than a radical.
_________________________
The same thing bothered me that bothered Charles (SECEDE!). ...And don't even get me started on the inappropriate use of the '.
My all-time favorite old boyfriend was blonde. He was gorgeous.:-)
I knew you'd catch that boo-boo, Camille. And the apostrophe abuse.:)
We need to start a Visionaries Club.
Somebody should run a grammar checker on that site. It'd be fun to tear their stuff up, but it'd be better to have them fix it.
I wonder why I'm the most radical amongst all of us? It might be that I answered that gays should be allowed to marry. I think they should be allowed to go through divorce and pay the "marriage penalty" just like the rest of us. Quit protecting them from the real harshness of life.
I support gay marriage. The funny thing is that most gay people I know don't. They love that they have the perfect excuse to not make that commitment.
"I would love to marry you, but it would be illegal."
Tell me no straight people ever wished they could duck behind that great excuse.
I don't have any problem with gay marriage, so I'm not sure which of my answers was pivotal to my score.
All of the quiz sites need somebody in charge who's capable of running a spell-checker.
You make a good point, Kan. It's kind of like, "Why ruin a good thing?"
SJ, I can tell you my cute friend Jeff worships the ground redheads walk on!! :)
--snow
Actually if they wanted to press the issue, it could be perceived as an equal protection under law question, therefore a Constitutional issue.
I personally wonder what exactly the government is doing involved in the issue at all.
They have their tax base to worry about. That and the religious right pushing to keep them from doing whatever it is that they perceive as wrong. Never mind that it probably is unconstitutional. I think most of it is the worry that somebody might not pay taxes like before, never mind that any savings made by individuals would likely help the economy and bring the tax base up higher. Then again, maybe its like you pointed out, maybe they just want the excuse for their pages and assistants, like so many of them seem to have their gay trysts with. I wonder if any of them actually think about this stuff, or if they are like so many others who only think when somebody else thinks it for them?
That Jeff's a smart boy, Snow. He sounds like a keeper.:-)
Charles and Kan, I agree with you both. IMO, it's a personal issue and none of the government's business.
Being straight and single (yes, I must clarify both of those) I oppose all marriage tax breaks and the like. I see no real purpose to marriage outside of the religious. Maybe I am just bitter....14 years and all.
Did you know red heads have the lowest hair density of all the hair colors, and blonds have the highest? It does make me wonder where the strawberry blonds fall in there, though.
You Are 28% Politically Radical
You've got a few unusual political ideas, but overall you're a pretty mainstream person. Chances are that you're turned off by both the radical right and looney left.
Dare I say I am a true blonde...yes it's been "enhanced" but I am a towhead since childhood. Am I homely? :-\ gosh I hope not..
Kan, I am going to hook you up if it's the last thing I ever do. You don't have to get married, but you do have to have a female companion. Maybe I'll raffle you off in a ladies-only contest.:-)
Charles, what does hair density mean? Am I going to go bald or something?:-)
Middle of the road, Leelee. Yeah, that's the way to go. And listen, trust me, honey, there is NOTHING homely about you.:)
The number of hairs per a given area.
Red heads have fewer hairs in a square inch than the same area from a similar area of the head than the other hair colors. You're not going to be any more likely to go bald than your siblings, you just were born with less hair, already. :D
Well, the science makes sense, but the fact is I have thicker hair than anyone in my family. Hairdressers have been known to cuss trying to get a comb through it when it's wet.:)
whew! ;-)
My ex-girlfriend had blond hair, and I know she had an awful lot of them, but they were very fine thin hairs. Probably an equivalent amount of keratin as anyone else, but a lot more of the them. You'd never think how many she had left on her head judging by the number everywhere else in the house.
I've been red, white, blond, brunette and blue hair. Oh yeah and no hair.. as in bald (chemo). The red was really red with a permanent fixer on it. It took hours to do. Right now I'm blond with highlights. People ask me if it's my natural color. Are they kidding? Most of my friends thought the red hair was my best color but it is really hard to keep on gray. I have to say the worst was bald, followed closely by blue (what was I thinking?).
I am 14% politically radical, oddly enough. As a far-left liberal, pro-choice, socialized-medicine-pushing, anti-global-warming/anti-SUV freak, I thought for sure I'd be more radical than that.
I think that quiz was, in more ways than one, flawed.
...Unlike you, of course, one of my favorite redheads ever! Even your FLAWS are cute! ;) I'm a redhead, but only in natural light. It's sad...I look like a brunette under fluorescents. But I've got the freckles, the hazel/green eyes, the rosacea, the skin cancer, the spitfire spirit--the whole red-head package. I puzzle people indoors. Once we hit the sunshine, they get it.
Rock on, Red. You're beautiful!
Fancy that! My mother had beautiful auburn hair and her mother, my grandmother had deep chestnut-colour hair.
So, your ex shed, Charles? My doggie does that. Judging by the hairballs I get up, she should be bald by now.:-)
I don't know, Corn Dog -- I can kind of see you with blue hair. I'll bet it looked adorable. I mean, look how precious Camille looks with hers. Blonde is a great color, though. I've been tempted more than once to try it. I haven't done it yet, but I never say never.
Most of the quizzes are flawed, Greeny, some more so than others. LOL. Sweetie, regardless of your color under various lighting conditions, you're just darling. You could try a rinse, I suppose, to bring out your red, but I think your hair with its natural glow is beautiful. You have the redheaded complexion and temperament; that's the most important thing. It's all ATTITUDE, dahling.:-)
Your mother and grandmother sound like great beauties, Lee. Of course, I've seen pictures of you, and SO ARE YOU.:)
Hey! In your list of redheads you forgot someone - maybe one of the most beautiful of redheads - Ann Margaret!!
From my posts, you know I have an affinity to redheads - especially ones in taxis!
Oh, you're right, Mike! I did leave out the fabulous Ann-Margret. My bad. She is still gorgeous. Ahem, yes, I'm well aware of your affinity for redheads in taxis.:-)
With any luck,Redheads will be the death of me!..I LOVE 'em!
With any luck,Redheads will be the death of me!
That's a loaded statement to make to a redhead, Sling. LOL.:-)
readheads are cool Serena. specially redheads with green eyes are a killing combination. I wish I was a redhead. I henna my hair to condition it and although the black hair cannot be colored easily without bleaching ( which I would never do to my hair) my hair does catch a glint of crimson in the sunlight after I henna it!
ps> click on my profile picture to see d effect of hennaing black hair
You have very pretty hair, Mona. I didn't know that henna conditions. I swear, I learn something new every day.
You already know my position on redheads. Prone!
Is that an indecent proposal, Puggy?:-)
You should run this through google:
(d5d1.com virus)
You'd like the #1 response.
Heh. How 'bout that.:)
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