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.