Comments on: Did Private Pool Turn Away Minority Kids?

Pa. Investigating Claim of Discrimination and Racist Comments at Swim Club

[YCantWeAllGetAlong]

Ever if they didn't turn the kids away because of it, the people involved will drone on and on and on about it forever and never let it go, relentlessly dredging up the race issue until we're ready to vomit. If the kids would have been white, this wouldn't ever have made the news. The race card being pulled is getting old. Oh and the comment about "why are there African-Americans here" is a bunch of bull. Anyone who is racist is NOT going to use that made up hoity-toity term. I call BS on this whole mess. It's parents or business owners who probably lied about how many kids were coming and got called on it, so as usualy, they pulled the race card.

[coreypowell_wv]

i totally disagree, the number of children they should have said so from the begining why wait till you see that they are black and then say you cant accomidate them? and it is 2009 racist will use that term as you put it, see there is way to much focusing on terms then the human factor.. we all bleed the same. children are hurting because some biggots got upset and it needs to stop.black , white , asian , or latino, we are all gods children and are here to live amongst each other and be happy ... love thy neighbor is what my bible says.

[rhs648]

My wife and I have two very fine adult children who are independent and happy. They have blessed us with two wonderful grandchildren. We do not share your sentiments about not having children. In fact, we find it sad that people like you have such perceptions about raising children. Perhaps you are short changing yourself.

[tntgolden3]

This is a pure case of racism. The club agreed to allow the kids from the camp. Took their money, tossed it in the bank. Was the idea of this program to prevent children from drowning? Does this "club" say "no" to parents with autistic children? No, I don't have kids. Yes, I am a caucasian woman. If America wants to teach it's children anything, then let them learn forgiveness. Generosity is a gift. If one child can learn to swim? That is one less death to read about.
I am so glad I decided not to have kids. WHY?
PEOPLE ARE ********!

[rhs648]

My wife and I have two very fine adult children who are independent and happy. They have blessed us with two wonderful grandchildren. We do not share your sentiments about not having children. In fact, we find it sad that people like you have such perceptions about raising children. Perhaps you are short changing yourself.

[tautomer]

How do you know the club kept the money? Or is that just your assumption,because it suits your particular prejudice?

As to learning to swim, an afternoon at a pool isn't going to do that, sry but NICE try.

You weren't there and you have no direct knowledge of what went on. What you DO know is tha you want to be perceived as an arbiter of truth and light. Spewing ill-informed opinions isn't the way to do it.

As far as the "forgiveness" you speak of...forgive proceeds from understanding, why don't you wait until you understand the issue before commenting? Then maybe you'll forgive the Swim Club....

[Angelayrichi]

I am part of a minority and it's true that sometimes you "feel" discrimination, and in a way you get used to it, but it really hurts when it comes to children. It's sad at this point in the US history, kids watching kids being discriminated and humiliated based on their race. The camp program must continue as scheduled.

[rhs648]

The state and federal government will be investigaring whether discrimination took place in this incident. How so many posters could develop opinions with such authority based on their perceptions is scary. Whenever something happens, the statements made by so called witnesses are often like night and day. Too often, people jump to invalid conclusions because they are influenced by their perceptions, not the facts.

[apprxam]

I feel sorry for those children, but who the hell is shocked?. The fact they have to go crawling to another area for summer fun speaks to the real injustice: that urban poor children have to escape from their own homes to find peace and security.

Why there is surprise as to why those people didn't want them is really a problem, I think it wise, at some level, to expect it and guard ones self from it as best as one can, of course. What I fear, though, is that this will distract the community from what's important and I hope that this doesn't trap them into a vicious circle of paralysis through fear.

In America, it isn't illegal to not want to associate with others if they choose not to. Now, if the NAACP finds that the Club enjoys tax breaks or benefits from a public trust of some kind, I'm afraid they are well within their rights. So let's just chalk it up to jackarse being kept to themselves, and unless the majority of the membership doesn't speak up, they should be treated as the losers they are.

It is important for those in charge of this camp make sure that this experience be used to strengthen the children and their community by making this a movement, if they choose, to secure their own place for safe summer fun. How the grown-ups respond can effect the children negatively or positively.

[cbsantispin]

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams did a complete story on this incident. The group of Black kids were signed up and paid for by an administrator to use the Pool. On the surface it looks like the facility accepted the registration and money without being aware the kids were Black, but once the group of Black kids showed up to use the Pool and the facility discovered they were Black, the racist facility went into damage control mode to reject and turn the Black group of kids away trying not to look racist about it. Whoever accepted the money and registration for the group of Black kids messed up and will probably be fired when things calm down. America had better get it's racist act together, there is no racism when it's time for a blood transfusion or organ donation and it should be none in everyday life. You could see from the broadcast this rejection left a scar on the Black kids who did not want to return even if allowed.

[justsane-2009]

well in that case, i will respond the same way to you: perhaps cbs has not reported on it because the story is highly suspect? the only places where this story is being covered are rather extreme right-wing websites, and every site is using the exact same byline.~~i.e., in all likelihood, the story is either wildly exaggerated, or patently false.

[AverageJoeLE]

Great point on the poster who mentioned the July 4 attack. Great commentary on this by JFK. http://bit.ly/EuO5V

[justsane-2009]

well in that case, i will respond the same way to you: perhaps cbs has not reported on it because the story is highly suspect? the only places where this story is being covered are rather extreme right-wing websites, and every site is using the exact same byline.~~i.e., in all likelihood, the story is either wildly exaggerated, or patently false.

[toldyouso29]

Are you implying that when the club initially took the money for 65 extra kids to be using their pool, that the club had no idea of the logistics of such a number? Pools like elevators and every public area have a capacity limit, but you are implying that for some reason the pool mgr who gave the permission and took the money from the agency had no idea? They knew--they just did not know the demographic and maybe, there were reasons to not want the particular demographic there (maybe the kids were acting up or too involved in horse play) Whatever the reason, it was poorly handled and if racial remarks were made by anyone--it made a very voilatile situation more precarious.

but we should not discount racism. PA is known for being extraordinarily racist, that is not likely to change no matter what color a President is.

[toldyouso29]

by pw08-2009 July 9, 2009 4:40 PM PDT
graveyboat4000,

There's just as many black people who hate white people and we never hear about that, do we? I experienced some of that too...did you?

Liar. YOu NEVER experienced that. YOu are just whining about it and want sympathy. Blacks and Hispanics could NEVER hate white people or mistreat them--plus they are not in a position of power to deny you jobs, or control the court systems or deny you a place at a pool. YOU people are always lying and complaining and pretending that other races are also doing the evil stuff that you do when you know it is a lie....You expect the entire world to be "white first" and if not, you always want to whine about how it is reverse discrimination instead of why it is not your own fault for where you are and why you are not selected or why you are denied something...

Now...getting an idea of how blanket statements feel? Of course all races can discriminate, --but imagine another race being in power--not the white race and imagine the other minorities never taking the racist behavior of those in their midst seriously --like you have been doing on this blog..How long before you would be screaming and crying like a banshee and seeking relief in whatever great white savior could draw attention to YOUR plight?

Save it. Racism is alive and well and as the race in power who has the ability and power to perpetuate it in very ugly ways on all other races in America--it is disingenous and a lie to not admit it not only exists, but that blacks and others may be experiencing it --even on a daily basis.

No one falls over to help blacks these days unless they have a government contract and must adhere to Affirmative Action. Otherwise there are many angry whites who are as vicious and in the grey area of racism and racist acts and comments every single day--just like YOU are.

[toldyouso29]

While there may indeed may be as many blacks hating whites as whites who hate blacks the difference is that blacks are not in a position to deny jobs, housing or places in swimming pools as whites. And if they were in such a position, the minute they had a park or pool or school or pageant for their own race, whites would be pointing out that this was/is discriminatory. As for your remarks that you had never noticed any racism in America --then you either were not looking or had different criteria. I travel a lot and from Hawaii, to the east coast from Kansas to Texas--I see a lot of racism. Some of it is overt--like people ignoring a black person standing at a counter and trying to help everyone except that person, even though they were next in line. Some of it is covert, like a black filling out a job application and the receptionist smirking as they throw it away saying "That's one who won't get in"

Either way, happens all the time--you show a lot of immaturity when you think something does not exist or happen if you personally do not see or experience it. Of course it happens--and when it does--those who want to excuse such behavior pretend it does not happen and that the minority group is just whining. But if the shoe was on the other foot (and one day with the browning of America it WILL be) how would you want this addressed if jobs, housing and places at clubs were denied to you due to your race? How would you like it if Hispanics and Blacks said you were just whining and what happened to you was of no account or not a big deal and that your race was just whining.

Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Because you never know when God will make you reap what you and the rest of the race has sown.

[Yeah-Me]

Well to build here... (quoted from an article from the CNN site)
========
CNN attempted to speak with club President John Duesler on Thursday. He said he had no comment and asked CNN to leave the club property.

But Duesler told two Philadelphia television stations that the children had changed "the complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club.
==============
Mr Duesler's use of "the complextion" surely does hint more strongly of a racial bias in his comments.

[lfnewby]

Step back, take a breath and think about the sheer number of kids that arrived that day. I know nothing of that particular swim club, but as a teacher, I know the amount of noise and activity that can be generated - in complete innocence - by a large number of young kids. I find my self wondering if the club informed its members that there would be a large infusion of kids that afternoon, or if this came as a surprise. Many of us need to be prepared for change, and many people visit their pools to relax. Before everyone assumes racism - which may well have been in the heart of some of the witnesses - I think we should also understand that others may have been upset for non-racial reasons. Frankly, I am astonished that the club didn't close for members to ensure that a group of 65 could safely utilize a children's pool and a larger pool, allowing life guards and chaperones to observe safe play. Frankly, I would be afraid that a smaller child could be underwater and unobserved if you had that many kids in a pool - even if it was olympic sized!

[toldyouso29]

Are you implying that when the club initially took the money for 65 extra kids to be using their pool, that the club had no idea of the logistics of such a number? Pools like elevators and every public area have a capacity limit, but you are implying that for some reason the pool mgr who gave the permission and took the money from the agency had no idea? They knew--they just did not know the demographic and maybe, there were reasons to not want the particular demographic there (maybe the kids were acting up or too involved in horse play) Whatever the reason, it was poorly handled and if racial remarks were made by anyone--it made a very voilatile situation more precarious.

but we should not discount racism. PA is known for being extraordinarily racist, that is not likely to change no matter what color a President is.

[whatisit21]

I don't think anybody would risk their bank accounts and do this kind of thing. I think the story is made up. Blacks have rights that white people don't, so messing with them would make the offender very poor.

[ktgilb1]

What rights do we have that whites don't?

[tautomer]

Most likely the kids were pissing in the pool. The fact of the matter is that none of us has the slightest clue as to whether the Club behaved improperly. Instead and as usual everyone has proceeded with that assumption that what they HOPED happened, in fact, happened. Libs scream "racist", cons scream "privacy" or "opportunism".

It cracks me up when people speak from ignorance.

[SAMTORRES66]

I live in North Alabama, moved to the area 6 years ago. I am a white/hispanic, with a slight spanish/New york accent. I haven't never felt any kind of discrimination, have many friends from all walks of life and race, Black, white, rednecks(country folks), asian, you name it. People at least in this area treat each other with respect. There is trash in everyrace, believe me, I lived in NY for 14 years.

[SAMTORRES66]

This is pretty bad..Amazing...I will sue...

[debinok1]

Racism in this country is still going strong in the north, south, east and west. White, black, yellow, brown, pink or purple there are people who have something against each group. There are those who say racism must be dead because we elected our first black president. I got news for them, there are still areas that our first black president would not want to go after sundown. Just as there are areas that a hispanic would not want to go, a white person would not want to go, or an asian person would not want to go. We have come a long way in this country, but we still have a long way left to go before racism is dead.

[gravyboat4000]

by pw08-2009 July 9, 2009 4:19 PM PDT
graveyboat,

Hahaha, no...I just live in the real world...and I'm not a follower like you...
______

Kid, you don't know what the real world is. I speak from experience, and as you've stated,"you've never seen this kind of thing before, and don't believe it".

"Real world"?

Yeah, right,(sips Billy beer), you wouldn't know the Real World if Puck smackeded you upside your head and kissed ya on the mouth.(finishes Billy beer, crushes can on forhead...immediately regrets that decision)...

[toldyouso29]

While there may indeed may be as many blacks hating whites as whites who hate blacks the difference is that blacks are not in a position to deny jobs, housing or places in swimming pools as whites. And if they were in such a position, the minute they had a park or pool or school or pageant for their own race, whites would be pointing out that this was/is discriminatory. As for your remarks that you had never noticed any racism in America --then you either were not looking or had different criteria. I travel a lot and from Hawaii, to the east coast from Kansas to Texas--I see a lot of racism. Some of it is overt--like people ignoring a black person standing at a counter and trying to help everyone except that person, even though they were next in line. Some of it is covert, like a black filling out a job application and the receptionist smirking as they throw it away saying "That's one who won't get in"

Either way, happens all the time--you show a lot of immaturity when you think something does not exist or happen if you personally do not see or experience it. Of course it happens--and when it does--those who want to excuse such behavior pretend it does not happen and that the minority group is just whining. But if the shoe was on the other foot (and one day with the browning of America it WILL be) how would you want this addressed if jobs, housing and places at clubs were denied to you due to your race? How would you like it if Hispanics and Blacks said you were just whining and what happened to you was of no account or not a big deal and that your race was just whining.

Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Because you never know when God will make you reap what you and the rest of the race has sown.