washtimes.com— A 15-year-old girl's effort to start a Caucasian Club at her California high school has won her some support ? and an avalanche of anger.
Nov 9, 2006View in Crawl 4
There's more to race than just skin color. Race defines where your family evolved, what type of environment your ancestors had to contend with, and more importantly, your genes. Members of the same race share certain similarities, and some of these similarities might make it enjoyable for members of a certain race to spend time around each other in a social setting. It is the same idea as a family. For instance, if every member of a certain family loves football, then when they hang out together they will probably have a better time than they would if half of them hated football. This idea applies to race (because race is like a big, extended family) in the same way. White people generally have more in common with white people, because they are more alike at a genetic level. This is not to say that there should never be any inter-racial socializing. to the contrary, that is also helpful for good social development. However, sometimes people get tired of hanging out in the different crowd, and just want to spend a nice night with their family. Is there anything wrong with that?
The problem with the folks who say there are already German, Irish, etc clubs out there for white folks is how many Caucasians in the US are specifically one nationality. Personally, I'm Polish, Welsh, and German, which club do I join? I'm sure most Americans are of different nationalities so that argument doesn't work.
I'm not clear on this girl's intent. If it's about Eurpoean heritage, that's fine. The reality is that the US is the melting pot. Nearly every one of you who has posted has ancestors that came over to this country. We should all share our family's experiences. Understanding mine and yours and anyone else's is important to understanding our country. But it is important to note that if this WAS her intent, then everyone should expect her to allow those with white, yellow, brown or any other skin pigmentation with ancestors from Europe to be invited. Here's the thing though: if her intent was about heritage, then calling out skin color is nothing short of ignorant. At 15, she should know better... unless she DOES know better. In which case, she should be ashamed of herself.
All this talk about race is something else. We are hard-wired to care more for our own than others. We care more for our family than someone else's family. We care more for our city than other cities, more for our state than other states and more for our nation than other nations. People don't blink an eye at these truths.. yet race, Whoa! Watch out.. care more for your race than another and you are EVIL.. it is just natural, and it has helped all races and cultures survive. Let the group form. They probably don't want to opress anyone, just hang out with others like themselves.. it feels more comfortable.. having people who understand.
@NuWinter920:f**k off, racist. Regardless of what happened in the past, to assume that a white-only club is necessarily racist while a [insert non-white ethnicity]-only club isn't, is in and of itself racist.I don't condone what happened in the past. However, it's long past time to move forward and quit expecting society to artificially prop you up at the expense of those who are the same race as those who committed such racial atrocities.
To the rest of the world, it is very strange; Americans always do that, though - calling themselves "Irish" or "Italian" or whatever when they've never been anywhere near Ireland/Italy/etc. I once saw an interview with Irish (as in: from Ireland) actress Roma Downe; she said she was in New York and told someone she was Irish; he said "so am I!" so she asked where he was from - he was from New Jersey, and he'd never been out of the US - she didn't think that counted as "Irish". I also recall reading about a black English (as in: from England - may have been Lynford Christie?) athlete who won some event and an American reporter asked him something about being an "African-American", to which he replied that he wasn't one, but the reporter didn't know what else to call him, "black" being out of favor.
You know not all schools are predominately white. In my HS Caucasians were a minority. we were only 19% of the population where Blacks made up 29%, Hispanics were 27% of the population, and Asains were 12% with some exchange students to fill in the holes. And no my school wasn't some small time school, i went to school in Minneapolis, MN with over 2500 students. So you can't say anything about majority. Yes, a student at my HS tried to start a Caucasian club also....with pretty much the same idea. basically a club to study and learn about our heritage and everyone was welcome not just white people, but it was also shunned cause it was deemed racest when it was not at all. If There can be the "Shades of Brown", "Latino Nation", and "Asain Pride" why the hell cant there be a Caucasian Club. ESPECIALLY since at my school is you were white and tried to join any of those clubs you were basically hazed out of them. Now if you can honestly look me straight in the eye and tell me that Blacks, Hispanics and Asains arn't racest toward Whites then you need to open your eyes to the real world.Also you have no right to say white people what what everyone else has. We want what you want for things to be FAIR. I can honestly say I was turned down for a job becuse a business had to hire a minority because of affirmative action leglislation. Yes, i did get a job at the company at a later date, and when i looked into it the person they hired over me was was less qualified then me and actually ended getting fired cause they did not have the skills needed to do the job. Now if you can say affirmative action is fair to all people then whose the one who wants "everyone else s**t"
It's funny.. It amazes me how completely stupid people can be. They will wave around their heritage flag and demand equal rights (when they already have them), yet when the white man does it, it is unacceptable! Equal rights? Maybe Caucasians should be the ones demanding equal rights. I wish this girl all the luck.
Huh? You used quite a few words to say one thing: If White people start a group to study their own heritage, they must be careful not to let their topics of discussion go beyond just that. Are other ethnic groups being held to the same standard? I know that just about any group of people organized for a cause can tend to get off track at one point or another. I don't find it necessary to place a caveat on the acceptibility of a group's activities simply because they are perceived as part of a dominant sector of the population. Why should one group of individuals be so carefully scrutinized for doing what many other ethnic groups are doing freely and without judgement?
estacadoNov 10, 2006
If white people are going to start being a minority, then they better start acting like one.
genghistomNov 10, 2006
There's more to race than just skin color. Race defines where your family evolved, what type of environment your ancestors had to contend with, and more importantly, your genes. Members of the same race share certain similarities, and some of these similarities might make it enjoyable for members of a certain race to spend time around each other in a social setting. It is the same idea as a family. For instance, if every member of a certain family loves football, then when they hang out together they will probably have a better time than they would if half of them hated football. This idea applies to race (because race is like a big, extended family) in the same way. White people generally have more in common with white people, because they are more alike at a genetic level. This is not to say that there should never be any inter-racial socializing. to the contrary, that is also helpful for good social development. However, sometimes people get tired of hanging out in the different crowd, and just want to spend a nice night with their family. Is there anything wrong with that?
iwritecodeNov 10, 2006
The problem with the folks who say there are already German, Irish, etc clubs out there for white folks is how many Caucasians in the US are specifically one nationality. Personally, I'm Polish, Welsh, and German, which club do I join? I'm sure most Americans are of different nationalities so that argument doesn't work.
firstdueco41Nov 10, 2006
Does the fact that the article is 3 years old make the issue any less relevant?
jdmanNov 10, 2006
I'm not clear on this girl's intent. If it's about Eurpoean heritage, that's fine. The reality is that the US is the melting pot. Nearly every one of you who has posted has ancestors that came over to this country. We should all share our family's experiences. Understanding mine and yours and anyone else's is important to understanding our country. But it is important to note that if this WAS her intent, then everyone should expect her to allow those with white, yellow, brown or any other skin pigmentation with ancestors from Europe to be invited. Here's the thing though: if her intent was about heritage, then calling out skin color is nothing short of ignorant. At 15, she should know better... unless she DOES know better. In which case, she should be ashamed of herself.
palmettoNov 10, 2006
All this talk about race is something else. We are hard-wired to care more for our own than others. We care more for our family than someone else's family. We care more for our city than other cities, more for our state than other states and more for our nation than other nations. People don't blink an eye at these truths.. yet race, Whoa! Watch out.. care more for your race than another and you are EVIL.. it is just natural, and it has helped all races and cultures survive. Let the group form. They probably don't want to opress anyone, just hang out with others like themselves.. it feels more comfortable.. having people who understand.
localhNov 11, 2006
@NuWinter920:f**k off, racist. Regardless of what happened in the past, to assume that a white-only club is necessarily racist while a [insert non-white ethnicity]-only club isn't, is in and of itself racist.I don't condone what happened in the past. However, it's long past time to move forward and quit expecting society to artificially prop you up at the expense of those who are the same race as those who committed such racial atrocities.
miseseanNov 12, 2006
To the rest of the world, it is very strange; Americans always do that, though - calling themselves "Irish" or "Italian" or whatever when they've never been anywhere near Ireland/Italy/etc. I once saw an interview with Irish (as in: from Ireland) actress Roma Downe; she said she was in New York and told someone she was Irish; he said "so am I!" so she asked where he was from - he was from New Jersey, and he'd never been out of the US - she didn't think that counted as "Irish". I also recall reading about a black English (as in: from England - may have been Lynford Christie?) athlete who won some event and an American reporter asked him something about being an "African-American", to which he replied that he wasn't one, but the reporter didn't know what else to call him, "black" being out of favor.
etathetaNov 25, 2006
You know not all schools are predominately white. In my HS Caucasians were a minority. we were only 19% of the population where Blacks made up 29%, Hispanics were 27% of the population, and Asains were 12% with some exchange students to fill in the holes. And no my school wasn't some small time school, i went to school in Minneapolis, MN with over 2500 students. So you can't say anything about majority. Yes, a student at my HS tried to start a Caucasian club also....with pretty much the same idea. basically a club to study and learn about our heritage and everyone was welcome not just white people, but it was also shunned cause it was deemed racest when it was not at all. If There can be the "Shades of Brown", "Latino Nation", and "Asain Pride" why the hell cant there be a Caucasian Club. ESPECIALLY since at my school is you were white and tried to join any of those clubs you were basically hazed out of them. Now if you can honestly look me straight in the eye and tell me that Blacks, Hispanics and Asains arn't racest toward Whites then you need to open your eyes to the real world.Also you have no right to say white people what what everyone else has. We want what you want for things to be FAIR. I can honestly say I was turned down for a job becuse a business had to hire a minority because of affirmative action leglislation. Yes, i did get a job at the company at a later date, and when i looked into it the person they hired over me was was less qualified then me and actually ended getting fired cause they did not have the skills needed to do the job. Now if you can say affirmative action is fair to all people then whose the one who wants "everyone else s**t"
r34lismMar 11, 2008
It's funny.. It amazes me how completely stupid people can be. They will wave around their heritage flag and demand equal rights (when they already have them), yet when the white man does it, it is unacceptable! Equal rights? Maybe Caucasians should be the ones demanding equal rights. I wish this girl all the luck.
bb8372Jul 24, 2008
Huh? You used quite a few words to say one thing: If White people start a group to study their own heritage, they must be careful not to let their topics of discussion go beyond just that. Are other ethnic groups being held to the same standard? I know that just about any group of people organized for a cause can tend to get off track at one point or another. I don't find it necessary to place a caveat on the acceptibility of a group's activities simply because they are perceived as part of a dominant sector of the population. Why should one group of individuals be so carefully scrutinized for doing what many other ethnic groups are doing freely and without judgement?