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Oh, Canada. A storm was brewing north of the border yesterday over a Facebook group that declared Nov. 20 "National Kick a Ginger Day." The group was apparently inspired by an irony-free reading of a 2005 South Park episode, "Ginger Kids" -- in which Cartman preaches hatred against redheads by claiming they have no souls, only to later found an extremist ginger separatist movement.

Pretty hilarious so far, right? Not so, said schoolteachers and anti-bullying advocates, concerned that the publicity around the "event" might encourage some children to haul off and actually kick a ginger. Representatives from school boards issued statements and there were stories of parents keeping their strawberry-blond offspring home from class on the big day.

So was it all a lot of fuss over a harmless online joke, or did Thursday see the opening shots in a upcoming redheads versus the rest race war (with "daywalkers" -- Cartman's name for those with auburn hair but without pale skin and freckles -- caught in the middle)? At least one carrot-top in British Columbia was allowed leave school after being kicked 18 times, and police are now investigating the Facebook group's founder.

If you've heard of a ginger-related altercation, leave your reports from the Kick a Ginger Day front lines in our comments section.