Take a second and think of a few controversial books.

Mein Kampf, 1984, Farenheit 9/11 and the DaVinci Code are all likely candidates to come to mind. 

Most people that have read these books can understand why some groups would find them offensive and not want to celebrate them with awards.

But is political correctness reaching new lows?

According to a BBC report, the judging panel for the government funded BETT awards found a re-telling of the children's classic the Three Little Pigs offensive, enough so to ban the work from receiving any awards at the Becta hosted event.

An otherwise award winning digital book aimed at elementary aged children called Three Little Cowboy Builders was banned because the judges feared Muslims, Asians and construction workers may be offended by the material.

The Becta judging panel cited the following reasons for banning the book from receiving awards:

• “Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down, and builders are like pigs?"

• "The subject matter is questionable for certain groups within the UK."

• "The idea of taking a traditional tale and retelling a story is fine, but it should not alienate parts of the workforce (building trade)."

• "Developers should make role models positive."

• "Although this may not be intended, it feels cynical and tongue in cheek."

• "Judges would not recommend this product to the Muslim community in particular."

• "Only an exceedingly creative teacher could find this innovative."

Additionaly, BBC cites one of the judges as claiming there were "concerns about the Asian community and the use of pigs raises cultural issues".

When I first came across this story, I honestly thought it was a joke. I thought it was impossible for political correctness to be taken to such an extreme.

As I realized the story was serious, I was floored. Where should the line of political correctness be drawn?

Should the Little Mermaid also be banned from awards to keep from offending the people of the sea?

And Winnie the Pooh, what if the magical talking animals of the forest are offended by his blindly stereotypical performance?

Seriously.

To think that a child's book as benign as the Three Little Pigs could offend anyone is ridiculous, and even if it does offend an extreme minority of the population, it should not be treated as hateful or regressive by the majority. 

Banning traditional stories will close minds rather than open them. Anne Curtis of Shoo Fly Publishing

"We are not afraid of criticism but whoever has made the judgment that there was little creativity and ‘no perceived added value to any curriculum area’ has not looked at the whole resource," said Anne Curtis of Shoo Fly Publishing.

This marks the second time in the UK that the Three Little Pigs has been considered offensive, as a similar decision to ban the work also occurred in March 2007 at a primary school.

All that extreme 'political correctness' has accomplished is the creation of an overly sensitive society, full of people that are so afraid of being offensive that they will not speak their mind.