At last, the United Nations earns it's keep.

September 27, 2002 6:19 AM

At last, the United Nations earns it's keep.
posted by flatlander (40 comments total)

hmm. would they arrest the dwarf if they caught him being tossed again?
posted by trioperative at 6:33 AM on September 27, 2002

I hope this means that Peter Jackson will be forbidden from inserting any further gratuitous dwarf-tossing references into Lord of the Rings.
posted by MrBaliHai at 6:40 AM on September 27, 2002

It's about time that someone stood up for dwarf dignity!

*goes back to watching "Jackass"*
posted by ColdChef at 6:47 AM on September 27, 2002

I'll leave the amusing one-liners and remarks to the others in this thread, as I'm sure they will be aptly taken care of, and actually try to comment on the merits of this ruling.

Now, as I see it, the entire point of even having a government in the first place is to protect the individual rights of people; to stop harm from being done by person(s) A to person(s) B without the consent of the latter(s). But in this case, this principle does not seem to be have taken into account whatsoever.

This midget -- or vertically challenged citizen or whatever we are supposed to call them these days -- not only consents to, but actively pursues this action being done to him. And he's actually made a living out of it!

And then comes the French gendarmerie (or one of the other police divisions they have there, nevermind which) marching in, now even supported by the United Nations, and tells him to hold it right there -- because it's somehow beneith his "human dignity".

You know, some of us think it is beneith "human dignity" to eat smelly cheese, wear silly hats and speak with an outrrrageous accent, but we don't put guns to the collective French head to try to stop them from doing all that. We let them laissez-faire, even though we may disagree, because there's no harm done onto others.

A lot of very real harm is done in countries like Sudan, however, which I believe actually holds a seat on this not-so-aptly-named "U.N. Human Rights Committee". Maybe they should focus their efforts on that; picking on people their own size.

Well, I'm off to this weekend's tossin'! Adieu!
posted by dagny at 6:47 AM on September 27, 2002

At least the UN did not rule it beneath human dignity to toss the French, so long as they are not dwarfs (*note to the hyper sensitive PC - this is only a joke)
posted by ElvisJesus at 6:55 AM on September 27, 2002

Dagny: I couldn't agree more with you. To me, this kind of thing is like people who decry gay marriage because it ruins the "sacred dignity" of the union. If these people really cared about keeping marriage's "sacred dignity", you'd expect to see them also protesting quickie Vegas chapels and that crap on Fox.

You know, some of us think it is beneith "human dignity" to eat smelly cheese, wear silly hats and speak with an outrrrageous accent,

Heh. I fart in their general direction.
posted by ColdChef at 6:57 AM on September 27, 2002

I'm sorry to be off-topic, but somebody call the apostrophe protection society
posted by kate_fairfax at 6:57 AM on September 27, 2002

I'd just like to point out to the group that in the UK, 'tossing' is also 'jerking off'.

dagny: On that note, have a fun-filled weekend....
posted by i_cola at 7:18 AM on September 27, 2002

Kate, you look stunning in that pastel jacket.
posted by ColdChef at 7:20 AM on September 27, 2002

Dwarfism FAQ. Midget is deprecated, but dwarf is still accurate (but not universal). The generic term is little people.

And while the point is valid that there's an irony in the UN banning dwarf-tossing while doing very little to curb dramatically worse abuses of human rights, Sudan is actually a member of the Commission on Human Rights, a policy body, while the decision came from the Committee on Human Rights, a working committee under the High Commissioner:

The Human Rights Committee was established to monitor the implementation of the Covenant and the Protocols to the Covenant in the territory of States parties. It is composed of 18 independent experts who are persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights. The Committee convenes three times a year for sessions of three weeks' duration, normally in March at United Nations headquarters in New York and in July and November at the United Nations Office in Geneva.

The difference, then, is roughly legislative vs. judicial.
posted by dhartung at 7:23 AM on September 27, 2002

This, to me, is political correctness gone mad.
posted by Mocata at 7:25 AM on September 27, 2002

the paternalistic ruling impairs the dignity of "little people" more than the tossing does
posted by yesster at 7:28 AM on September 27, 2002

Remember folks if 'dwarf-tossing' is banned then the terrorists have already won.
posted by geist at 7:30 AM on September 27, 2002

I am dying here.
posted by adampsyche at 7:32 AM on September 27, 2002

Remember folks if 'dwarf-tossing' is banned then the terrorists have already won

True, but its a little victory
posted by ElvisJesus at 7:34 AM on September 27, 2002

In the immortal words of paul calf "it was a toss up between pamela anderson and heather graham, but I eventually came down on the side of pamela"

Sorry, couldn't resist.
posted by johnnyboy at 7:35 AM on September 27, 2002

Does anyone remember a perceptive episode of L.A. Law where a trial was portrayed between opponents of midget-tossing and the midgets themselves (who were in favour, as it was their employment and personal choice)? It could have been Ally McBeal, but I don't think so. Anyway, it made the case very clearly for both positions.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 7:38 AM on September 27, 2002

No. Was CJ in it?
posted by i_cola at 7:49 AM on September 27, 2002

These "PC" issues revolve around the power struggle between one group, we'll call "emitters of offense" and another group, "receptors of offense". Lately, the recptors have had the upper hand, and we see all manner of law and proscription erected to reduce the activity of the emitters. An alternative, emitter-friendly approach would be to have all citizens at 18 years of age attend a mandatory boot camp similar to say, marine basic training. After this we could expect no one would take offense to anything short of assault with a deadly weapon. And we could all relax and just scratch wherever it itches.
posted by gregor-e at 7:58 AM on September 27, 2002

Bah! No one listens to the French, or the UN for that matter anyway.
posted by a3matrix at 8:03 AM on September 27, 2002

beneath his "human dignity"


i think that working in the fast food industry, or being the guy who cleans the restrooms at Wal-Mart are beneath human dignity.

I'd just like to point out to the group that in the UK, 'tossing' is also 'jerking off'.

then i have videos of dwarf tossing stashed in my closet.
posted by tolkhan at 8:04 AM on September 27, 2002

Ban dwarf-tossing? But it's a institution with an ancient and noble tradition!
posted by soyjoy at 8:10 AM on September 27, 2002

i think that working in the fast food industry, or being the guy who cleans the restrooms at Wal-Mart are beneath human dignity.


Is that because of the work itself, or the shitty pay? Is a plumber who unsnakes your toilet at $50/hour working above or beneath human dignity?

posted by trondant at 8:28 AM on September 27, 2002

tolkhan: I've cleaned toilets *and* worked at McDonald's. Yes, they were both crummy, low-paying jobs, but at no point did I consider either of them as being below my dignity.
posted by MrBaliHai at 8:42 AM on September 27, 2002

shitty pay is a big part of it, my friend, though i think there's a difference between the skilled plumber and the unskilled burger flipper.
posted by tolkhan at 8:43 AM on September 27, 2002

That may be what this should come down to. How much is the little person charging? If it's for spare change, okay that sucks, but if it costs twenty bucks a throw, the guy's not shameful -- he's an entrepreneur!
posted by ZachsMind at 8:48 AM on September 27, 2002

wait a sec. i'm not getting drawn into some discussion about the dignity involved in cleaning the (literal) shit off the walls in a Hell-Mart restroom when the comment i made was facetious to begin with.

jeezus, everyone needs to get medicated like me. or high or something. mellow out, folks.
posted by tolkhan at 8:49 AM on September 27, 2002

I hope the UN are proud. After reading the CNN article I have had to sack my dwarf. Saturday nights will never be the same.

I can't believe it!! What a man and consenting dwarf get up to in the privacy of their own home just isn't sacred anymore!!

So what is next?? Spanking your monkey??, choking your chicken?? or bashing your bishop??
posted by delboy_trotter at 8:52 AM on September 27, 2002

i think there's a difference between the skilled plumber and the unskilled burger flipper

Ha! Says the man who probably has burnt burgers down the back of his kitchen units...
posted by i_cola at 8:53 AM on September 27, 2002

*"skilled" referring to an occupation that doesn't allow you to be replaced by anyone randomly hired off the street; does not refer to a person's adeptness at operating a turner and fry basket.

Says the man who probably has burnt burgers down the back of his kitchen units...

i never cook burgers. it's beneath my dignity.
posted by tolkhan at 9:11 AM on September 27, 2002

When dwarf-tossing is outlawed, only outlaws will toss dwarves.
posted by Lusy P Hur at 10:07 AM on September 27, 2002

I'll give up dwarf-tossing when they pry my cold, dead fingers off the -

Well, maybe I'll just give it up.
posted by yhbc at 10:25 AM on September 27, 2002

When dwarf-tossing is outlawed, only outlaws will toss dwarves

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA

I cannot believe it took as long as it did to get that one posted!

Tuesday nights at Fight Club will be dwarf night from now on.
posted by a3matrix at 10:27 AM on September 27, 2002

If this is your first night at Dwarf Club...

you have to toss.
posted by trioperative at 12:16 PM on September 27, 2002

Interesting... anyone know what role the UNHCR plays in French law? So, they say banning dwarf tossing is "bad", what happens then? France is in contempt of some sort of international treaty? Black helicopters swoop down on bars?

Just a pet peeve. Europe and my liberal peers seem to think that the US is not involved enough in world institutions. When I see something like this I think thank God, since the world institutions appear to be just another level of governmental masturbation.
posted by Wood at 12:21 PM on September 27, 2002

If I imagine myself in Wackenheim's situation I think I would find this ruling an affront to my dignity. By engaging in this activity he is laughing back (along with everyone else!) at the condition nature has put on his body. When he does this he becomes a god(a small one mind you) as we all do when we find our limitations and then exceed them somehow. The money he recieves is societys approval of his work.

Sad really. This decision is all about denying the diversity of the human condition and maintaining the rigid mental/economic environment we live in to the benefit of the wealthy taskmasters. Or in the words of the committee "to protect public order," which means the same thing.
posted by nasim at 3:54 PM on September 27, 2002

oh belgium.
wont somebody please think of the pygmies?
posted by asok at 4:21 PM on September 27, 2002

Slippery slope. First they outlaw dwarf tossing. Next thing you know, they'll come after dwarf bowling ..
posted by Wet Spot at 4:24 PM on September 27, 2002

That article says nothing about Kid-Tossing. Anyone need a babysitter?
posted by Lusy P Hur at 4:51 PM on September 27, 2002

Wood: First, note that the decision upheld French law and court rulings that banned dwarf-tossing, rather than seeking to overturn or dispute laws permitting it. The decision found that the ban of throwing smaller-sized persons, while not otherwise banning throwing normal-sized persons, was objective and non-discriminatory. (It certainly didn't rule on Wackenheim's dignity, only on whether the French law in fact was discriminatory under the treaty. There are other UN bodies where "dignity" might be the basis for a similar decision.)

Assuming the reverse, though, such as other decisions announced at the same session, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which appears to be the document in force here, binds France thusly:

3. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes:

(a) To ensure that any person whose rights or freedoms as herein recognized are violated shall have an effective remedy, notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity;

(b) To ensure that any person claiming such a remedy shall have his right thereto determined by competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities, or by any other competent authority provided for by the legal system of the State, and to develop the possibilities of judicial remedy;

(c) To ensure that the competent authorities shall enforce such remedies when granted.

By agreement in the optional protocols, again assuming a detrimental ruling, France now would have a responsibility to report to the same committee within six months what remedial efforts have been applied.

What this means in terms of the French (Napoleonic, magistrate-based) legal system I cannot say.

In the US, treaties that are ratified by the Senate are the "supreme law of the land" although that seems just as subject to constitutionality tests as any other provision harking back to Marbury v. Madison, i.e. the President could sign and the Senate could ratify a treaty making Jedi the official religion of the US, but it would not be constitutional due to the First Amendment and would be a legal nullity. Law, supreme or not, is below the constitution in authority. Indeed, the US basically states as much in its declarations and reservations to its ratification, under Bush 41.
posted by dhartung at 12:45 AM on September 28, 2002