Is a Caucasian Club wrong?

[Azred]

Obviously, they should be allowed to form a Caucasian Club, since other ethnic clubs are allowed to exist. For those in university, you will notice that fraternities and sororities are still quite racial--you'll never see a white pledge for a black fraternity.

Until more people quit bothering about skin color or national origin there will be clubs that exclude others. Too many fully-grown children running around pretending to be adults.

[Cerek the Barbaric]

It's the same old double-standard that permeates our society today. It is acceptable for every socio-economic group EXCEPT white males to have thier own club, fraternity, or group.

This is highlighted by the comments from the NAACP representative regarding this case...{quoted below}

Originally posted by Ronn_Bman: quote: Originally reported by The Associated Press: Darnell Turner, vice president of the East County chapter of the NAACP, spoke out against the 2002 incident and says McClelland's Caucasian Club sounds like a bad idea at a time when the campus is trying to heal fresh emotional wounds. "It will not allow us to heal that divide that we've tried to overcome in the past couple of years," Turner said. "If her motivation is to bring harmony, as she alleges, this is not the way to go."

[/QUOTE]According to Mr. Turner, the Caucasian Club will not allow the school to "heal the divide that we've tried to overcome", but he doesn't make any mention of the Black Student Union or Asian Club also contributing to this divide. No, only a "white" club will cause problems...but all other "ethnic" clubs are apparantly OK.

[Chewbacca]

Um Cerek perhaps this is the divide the NAACP guy is talking about:

From the story:

The high school has dealt with thorny racial issues in the recent past. In 2001, a black teacher found a noose made out of a shoelace hanging on the doorknob of his classroom. Tensions mounted again last year when a roped noose was found dangling from a redwood tree on campus.

Perhaps the idea that most "caucasian clubs" historically have had 3 "K"s in their name or the word "white" followed by the word "power" also is a notion to consider.

Finally I have to question the notion that light skinned or "white" people cannot form clubs based on understanding and/or sharing their common ancestry or race. I personally know of the Italian-American organizations and Irish American organizations amongst other "white" clubs.

Playing the victim card gets old fast whether its a white person doing it or any other race. I think the people making a fuss about the concerns around this caucasian club are doing just that: Playing the "white" victim and not considering the name of the club may touch upon fears and worries based on the recent incidents of racial harrassment at the school.

[ 09-22-2003, 01:58 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

[Cerek the Barbaric]

Those are valid points, Chewbacca, but I didn't see anything in the article to suggest that Lisa McClelland's proposed club was going to be used to promote any notion of White Supremecy. The way I read it was that she thought "Since we have a clubs designated specifically for Blacks and Asians, why can't we have a club called the "Caucasian Club"?" She had no intentions of excluding any student - regardless of race or nationality. In fact, she made it clear that ALL students would be welcome to join the club. She received 245 supporting signatures from different students and adults (both on and off campus). Some of these supporters included students of different color and nationalities who felt the Caucasian Club (as proposed by McClelland) could be beneficial to their school.

Then you have Darrell Turner, a VP of the NAACP, objecting to the club because of two incidents that have occurred at the school - one of which was targeted at a specific teacher, the other not directed at any specific person. Mr. Turner openly questions that McClelland's motivation is to "bring racial harmony" but say that if it is, this isn't the way to do it. Yet if he wanted to achieve true racial harmony, shouldn't he also speak out against the ethnic-based clubs that already exist, since it could easily be argued that they may be contributing to the DIS-harmony being felt at Freedom High?

So let's review. A freshman student at the school wants to form a "Caucasian Club" because the school has other clubs that cater to specific races or nationalities. This student does not want to exclude anybody from her club based on race or ethnic background (despite the name she chose for her club). Several other students and teachers at this school have signed a petition supporting the concept of this club. These supporters include students of different races and nationalities. Then you have a VP of an outside organization opposing the club based on the name alone. He cites two isolated incidents that were most likely the act of 2-3 individual students and says the new club will not promote racial harmony. But there is no criticism of the race and ethnic based clubs already established at the school.

I agree that the "racial victim" card is being played here, Chewbacca. I just believe it is being played by the professionals rather than the amateurs.

[Skunk]

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: It's the same old double-standard that permeates our society today. It is acceptable for every socio-economic group EXCEPT white males to have thier own club, fraternity, or group. This is highlighted by the comments from the NAACP representative regarding this case...{quoted below} quote: Originally posted by Ronn_Bman: quote: Originally reported by The Associated Press: Darnell Turner, vice president of the East County chapter of the NAACP, spoke out against the 2002 incident and says McClelland's Caucasian Club sounds like a bad idea at a time when the campus is trying to heal fresh emotional wounds. "It will not allow us to heal that divide that we've tried to overcome in the past couple of years," Turner said. "If her motivation is to bring harmony, as she alleges, this is not the way to go."

[/QUOTE]According to Mr. Turner, the Caucasian Club will not allow the school to "heal the divide that we've tried to overcome", but he doesn't make any mention of the Black Student Union or Asian Club also contributing to this divide. No, only a "white" club will cause problems...but all other "ethnic" clubs are apparantly OK. [/QUOTE]I agree - as we rush forward throwing up measures to 'kick-start' equality, it is possible to make some groups more equal than others. Why not merge all of these different racial student bodies into one new Student Union - with a primary mandate of fighting discrimination, ensuring equality for the whole student body, and promoting understanding of all of the different cultures within the school. Or is that just too radical?

[WillowIX]

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: It's the same old double-standard that permeates our society today. It is acceptable for every socio-economic group EXCEPT white males to have thier own club, fraternity, or group.

Couldn't agree more, although in this case it would be a white female. [img]tongue.gif[/img] If a black club is allowed then a caucasian shouldn't be a problem. The laws & rules apply to everyone!

[OT]Hi Cerek. Glad to see you are back after your surgery. [img]smile.gif[/img] I hope everything went fine. [img]smile.gif[/img] [/OT]

[Chewbacca]

Well thats just it, its a caucasian club by name alone. It serves no purpose, that I can tell, other than to protest the other clubs and give white people a chance to play the victim. What exactly is going to go on in this caucasian club? What purpose does it serve to the caucasian community?

I have no qualms with a caucasian club, but if its only going to serve to mock other clubs rather than deal with caucasian issues then its a farce IMO and needs a different name.

Lacking any facts, I am willing to bet that the black student union and the asian club help those students with challenges and opportunities relevant to their community. How specifically will the caucasian club fit the same niche and role that these clubs do for caucasians?

The line is fine, yet the gap wide between playing the victim and being a victim.

[Timber Loftis]

I have no qualms with a caucasian club, but if its only going to serve to mock other clubs rather than deal with caucasian issues then its a farce IMO and needs a different name.

Well, if you'll notice on the thread I linked, if I ever realize my dream of founding the NAAC(aucasian)P, I will be using it to found and run the United White Trash College Fund, for the disadvantaged amongst my people. Its main purpose will be to give scholarships to students of white descent, to help them compete in an environment where other skin colors are preferred for admission and where 90% of the available scholarships are targeted towards minorities. How's that for a valid purpose?

[Maelakin]

Equality = Modern Day Fairy Tale

A White man applies for scholarships to attend college. He had a 3.8 GPA and was a member of the National Honors Society. He is denied and has to pay himself.

A Black man applies for scholarships to attend college. He had a 2.0 GPA with no honors of any type. He gets a virtually free ride to attend the same college as the man above.

A White Graduate applies for a job with a primarily white company. He is clearly the best person for this job, even according to all those he interviewed with.

A Hispanic Graduate applies for the same job, but is vastly inferior skillwise to the above man. The Hispanic gets the job. Afterall, the company had to meet its racial quota.

A Freshman girl wants to start a club based around Caucasions. Her attempts bring national attention to her school and comments from the NAACP questioning her intentions.

A Freshman girl wants to start a club based around Asians. The club meets next week.

Welcome to America. Equality does not exist. Until EVERYONE starts to believe what is good for one is good for all, equality will not exist. There are so many laws and biases that you cannot have people of different races treated equally.

There are examples of this everyday in America. Until the country learns to forget about race and color it will continue to be centered on it. The populace is so "sensitive" to the needs of the minorities that is borders on rediculous.

A good example would be last week. I had to attend a 5 day class for work on how to treat minorities in the work place. How about this, I treat them just like everyone else? Well, I'm not allowed too. I have to walk on eggshells to make sure we don't get sued. What a joke...

If people want everyone to be treated equally, they need to forget what this ancestor or that ancestor did 100-500 years ago. We need to concentrate on what is happening today. Forget all these bogus laws and interest groups. If you want a group or club based upon your culture that celebrates and teaches about your culture, great.

[Luvian]

Originally posted by Maelakin: Equality = Modern Day Fairy Tale A White man applies for scholarships to attend college. He had a 3.8 GPA and was a member of the National Honors Society. He is denied and has to pay himself. A Black man applies for scholarships to attend college. He had a 2.0 GPA with no honors of any type. He gets a virtually free ride to attend the same college as the man above. A White Graduate applies for a job with a primarily white company. He is clearly the best person for this job, even according to all those he interviewed with. A Hispanic Graduate applies for the same job, but is vastly inferior skillwise to the above man. The Hispanic gets the job. Afterall, the company had to meet its racial quota. A Freshman girl wants to start a club based around Caucasions. Her attempts bring national attention to her school and comments from the NAACP questioning her intentions. A Freshman girl wants to start a club based around Asians. The club meets next week. Welcome to America. Equality does not exist. Until EVERYONE starts to believe what is good for one is good for all, equality will not exist. There are so many laws and biases that you cannot have people of different races treated equally. There are examples of this everyday in America. Until the country learns to forget about race and color it will continue to be centered on it. The populace is so "sensitive" to the needs of the minorities that is borders on rediculous. A good example would be last week. I had to attend a 5 day class for work on how to treat minorities in the work place. How about this, I treat them just like everyone else? Well, I'm not allowed too. I have to walk on eggshells to make sure we don't get sued. What a joke... If people want everyone to be treated equally, they need to forget what this ancestor or that ancestor did 100-500 years ago. We need to concentrate on what is happening today. Forget all these bogus laws and interest groups. If you want a group or club based upon your culture that celebrates and teaches about your culture, great.

The same thing happen with sexism, too. It's now bad to say you are proud to be male.