Life

Marie Louise McConville: Changing traditional fairy tales is political correctness gone mad

Some parents have admitted changing the endings of some traditional fairytales to make them more politically-correct
Some parents have admitted changing the endings of some traditional fairytales to make them more politically-correct Some parents have admitted changing the endings of some traditional fairytales to make them more politically-correct

Well, now I’ve heard it all.

Just when you thought modern parenting couldn't get any more ridiculous, you realise you were wrong.

I don’t know about anybody else but when I was growing up, I was a real book worm.

I absolutely loved reading and getting lost in a great story.

It was my grandad who introduced me to Andersonstown Library when I was really little and I immediately fell in love with this treasure trove of stories, from princesses to teenage adventure, books were a constant in my life.

Of course, my love for literature was developed young because my parents and grandparents were always reading to me, especially the traditional fairytales.

I just loved to hear about Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood and now I read the same tales to my children but maybe I should be thinking twice about that now because apparently, a quarter of parents in the UK have revealed they either avoid these stories or change the endings in a bid to make them more politically correct.

Indeed, parents interviewed in a recent study by musicMagpie revealed they refrain from reading the Ugly Duckling amid fears of body shaming, they steer clear of Sleeping Beauty because she was kissed by the handsome prince without her consent and don't dare read Cinderella for fear of encouraging domestic stereotypes.

How ridiculous.

In fact, some parents even admitted that while they still do read the stories, they change the endings.

For example, in their PC-tastic versions, Little Red Riding Hood makes friends with the Big Bad Wolf while in the tale of the Three Little Pigs, the wolf goes hungry, leaves and returns a reformed character and befriends the pigs.

Furthermore, the Ugly Duckling is bullied for being too clever instead of being ugly.

This just beggars belief.

These wonderful stories have been around for generations and for many children these tales give an indication of how the world works - bullying exists, life is full of less than wholesome characters and not everyone gets along.

These parents are not doing their children any favours by altering or avoiding these tales. In fact, they are simply robbing their children of wonderful stories of magic and adventure and isn't that what childhood is about?

Well, you can keep your ludicrous politically-correct fairytales, I'm happy to keep reading my children these long-standing favourites, because if they were good enough for the generations before, they're good enough now.

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Oh dear, this isn't bodacious at all.

Word on the movie grapevine is that Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter have signed up for a third Bill and Ted film - 30 years after Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure first hit cinemas.

In Bill and Ted Face The Music, we will catch up with Theodore `Ted' Logan and `Bill' S Preston Esq as middle-aged men who still haven't written the world's greatest song, and now, the fate of the world depends on them doing just that.

I'm sorry but this sounds absolutely dreadful.

I think you're partying on days are gone dudes - enough now.

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Competition

Summer is just around the corner, so how do you fancy celebrating with a night out in the company of one of Ireland's top country music stars - and it's all in aid of charity.

The Ted Clarke Memorial Trust has just announced an inaugural Shamrock Solstice Charity Concert on June 23 and headlining the event is country singing sensation, Nathan Carter.

Hosted by Portadown Football Club, with main sponsor, Stena Line, the concert at Shamrock Park in Portadown will raise funds for youth sport in the Portadown area and Craigavon Area Hospital.

Anna Breen, Commericial Manager of Stena Line Freight, said: "Stena are delighted to be associated with this worthy charitable trust to help raise funds for these very deserving causes."

I have three pairs of tickets to give away to the Shamrock Solstice Charity Concert to three lucky readers.

If you fancy winning a pair, simply email your name, address and telephone number – along with the answer to the question below – to competitions@irishnews.com

Closing date for entries is 12 noon on Tuesday, May 22, 2018

(Q) Who is headlining the Shamrock Solstice Festival?

Normal Irish News Rules Apply

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The winners of the Streamvale Farm competition are Peter O'Hare from Belfast and Aisling McDermott from Omagh.