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01/22/2004: "Baa Baa Green Disabled Lesbian Muslim Sheep."
An American flight attendant who tried to get plane passengers to hurry to seats by singing "Eenie, meenie, minie moe; pick a seat, we gotta go." has sparked a lawsuit by two black, female, passengers.
They are suing Southwest Airlines for discrimination and physical and emotional distress. Apparently one of the women suffered a seisure on the plane and had a 'grand mal' seisure at home, being bed-ridden for three days. Why? Because of the poem's original form: "Eenie, meenie, minie moe, catch a nigger by the toe." One of plaintiffs supposedly hears the word 'nigger' whenever the poem is recited - she hears it in her head, though. The attendant didn't actually say it.
The attendant spoke the rhyme over the intercom. The article I got this from suggested several passengers looking for seats as she did. The plaintiffs say they were the only people standing.
I want to know: how many of the passengers on the plane were white; how many whites were standing and if the attendant could see the plaintiffs while she sang. If all the passengers had been black, one has to applaud the (allegedly racist or ignorant) attendent's audacity. If she had been staring pointedly at the black chicks whilst goose-stepping on-the-spot and alternatly drawing a finger across her throat and sieg heiling, there'd certainly be a case.
There's a slim chance the two chicks are ridiculously over-sensitive. There's a better chance they're just greedy and stupid Yanks playing a race-card to get a bit of cash.
If it turns out they'll donate any damages awarded to charity, I might change my opinion.
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2781718/detail.html Article about the case.
http://www.attachemag.com/archives/11-03/features/story2.htm Page on origin of poems. (Eeenie Meenie not listed.)
If you can find the origins of the poem, post them.
