Comments on: Club That Ousted Blacks May Let Them In
But State Agency, U.S. Senator Threaten Civil Rights Investigation of Overwhelmingly White Pa. Swim Club
Add a Comment See all 47 Comments
- So many assumptions. How do we know if the nine-year-old child heard these things from someone at the pool or from the camp director or someone else from that group. If someone from the camp group thought it was a racist incident, you can imagine the buzz and talk and remarks both made and heard on the bus ride away from the pool. We just don't know at this point what happened other than the he saids and she saids. We are basing our opinions on what may or may not have happened and almost sound bite articles and broadcasts. Have you ever answered a question wrong because you didn't hear what was was actually asked? Happens all of the time.
- Reply to this comment
- Take note that the south does not have a corner on racism.
- Reply to this comment
-
- No but the South has SO MUCH more than everyone else... what was it? I believe it wasn't more than 6 months ago that the SPLC had a trial against the Klan and two of their leaders in Kentucky? LOL Oh no, when it comes to Racism NO other part of the Country can hold them a light.
- Actually this is not true. The KKK was purported to have originated in Indiana--that is in the midwest and parts of rural America no matter where you are can be very, very racist. The South has been criticized due to their actions during the Civil Rights era, but in large swaths of the north, there have been heinous racist crimes with blacks and others being lynched. Four states with horrendous records of racism are Texas, W. Virginia, Pennsylvania and Indiana.
There have been at least 2 dragging deaths of black men behind pick up trucks in Texas within the past few years. Indiana was notorious for hangings (like the famous hanging of blacks that were depicted in Life Magazine --Marion, Indiana) and the Klan routinely holds court there.
Two incidences stand out in my mind about racism and the "North"
A sign hanging on a gasoline pump in W. Virginia--in 1978--"No ni66er restrooms"
A sign on a BILLBOARD in West TerreHaute, IN 1979--"Ni66er don't let us catch you over here when the sun goes down"
I have traveled all over the US and can say that it appears Southerners are more comfortable with and can live side by side with minorities with far more grace than many in the North. The accusation that the South is more racist has to do with a certain point in time and now the stereotyping--but in all honesty, there appears to be far more racism of a far more overt and ugly nature in the North--esp the midwest or small Northern towns. Kansas is rife with racism--even among the teenagers.
- Pretty blatant racism if a 9 year old picks up on it and doesn't want to return. And it's not 'whining' as someone put it. Since when was it wrong to speak out against something that shouldn't be happening? Heck, I'm ---- (doesn't matter, does it?) and I wouldn't use a racist facility.
- Reply to this comment
-
- So many assumptions. How do we know if the nine-year-old child heard these things from someone at the pool or from the camp director or someone else from that group. If someone from the camp group thought it was a racist incident, you can imagine the buzz and talk and remarks both made and heard on the bus ride away from the pool. We just don't know at this point what happened other than the he saids and she saids. We are basing our opinions on what may or may not have happened and almost sound bite articles and broadcasts. Have you ever answered a question wrong because you didn't hear what was was actually asked? Happens all of the time.
- I don't know what all the complaining is about. The LAW is the LAW and it's been around for way over 30 years. When the Club agreed to allow those kids to swim in that pool, they should have been allowed to do so regardless of the color of their skin. The Law in this case is so clear that we should just allow the Justice Officials proceed with their jobs and let the Club deal with this in Civil Courts.
- So many assumptions. How do we know if the nine-year-old child heard these things from someone at the pool or from the camp director or someone else from that group. If someone from the camp group thought it was a racist incident, you can imagine the buzz and talk and remarks both made and heard on the bus ride away from the pool. We just don't know at this point what happened other than the he saids and she saids. We are basing our opinions on what may or may not have happened and almost sound bite articles and broadcasts. Have you ever answered a question wrong because you didn't hear what was was actually asked? Happens all of the time.
**************
We know what the camp director has confirmed in interviews:
1. That the children were very well behaved
2. That at issue was the capacity of the pool and safety
3. That several racial incidences occurred and the director said he would handle them
4. That the director stated on the record during radio interviews that the decision was made to cancel the agreement because the minority children changed the "complexion" of the swim club. This was amended in later interviews to "atmosphere"
We also know via emails shared by CNN:that the director lied about not knowing the capacity as evidenced by emails back and forth between him and the camp director
and according to the director the club has a diverse membership--but according to actual members, they do not remember a black person being a member within the past year.
Some of what we know is the direct result of what the club said--also we know that the latest offer to reinstate the kids was not because the club wanted to do the right thing or was remorseful (some voted against) but as the director said--the club was subpoenaed and advised to take this route by their attorneys.
That means it is a ploy and all of this means there is more than enough information to blow the directors claim of capacity out of the water, to blow the claim of diversity out of the water and to blow his claim that he did not know the amount of kids until they arrived out of the water--which makes the director a liar.
A liar and a racist club going into at least 2 Federal investigations and in dire need of some good PR like the kind one can get by having some blacks pose as tokens of the tolerance of the club--preferably, the very ones who might sue you (to nullify the complian) if not--then a Clarence Thomas or Condi like person to walk around and claim they got to come on in and that the water is "fine".
- Even if some of the club members were racists, they paid their dues to use the pool. Should membership be based on a person's racist views. Further, it is not illegal to be a racist or to have racist views. It only becomes illegal if you act on racist views. For example, you refuse to hire someone because of their race. How do you regulate or legislate thinking. You don't. Only actions can be regulated or legislated.
- Reply to this comment
-
- No one said you could not have racist views. But you don't let kids in to swim and then decide to call them names and insult them. If you do
then you deserve to be punished. I hope they get a big pay day.
- A part you missed son, the victims also paid their fees, $1950, in full. Since the club originally accepted the money, for the express purpose of letting the victims use the pool, then the subsequent cancellation of the delivery of the paid for services, based solely on the ethnicity of the victims, is indeed illegal.
No, it is not illegal to be a racist, as it is also not illegal to boycott, demonstrate, and otherwise apply the appropriate civil and legal sanctions to those who are known to be so.
Shout it from the rooftops if you are a racist, I have no problem with that, but don't then turn around and whine that you are adversely affected in civil society as a consequence. After all, freedom of speech is finally becoming welded inextricably to responsibility of speech.
I invite all racists to unmask, and state their racist views, not as anonymous cowards, but as named individuals, those with the courage of their convictions.
After all, in war, it is always easier to defeat the enemy if the enemy is not camouflaged.
- " It only becomes illegal if you act on racist views. For example, you refuse to hire someone because of their race. How do you regulate or legislate thinking. You don't. Only actions can be regulated or legislated."
How right you are, Oh clueless one. When the club kicked the camp out after they had paid and after racist remarks were heard and after the Director knew of these remarks and after the director said the pool could not meet the capacity and did not know so many kids would be there--the club had ACTED.
The problem? If the roster shows that the combination of the club members at the pool that day and the camp kids did not exceed pool capacity and if it is true that Alithea Wright shared emails from the club advising them of the 65 campers and the club accepting that number and charging a certain amount--the club Bigot has a problem.
Here's some advice--before engaging psuedo intellect--check to make certain your potential comments do not make the other side's point.
- No one said you could not have racist views. But you don't let kids in to swim and then decide to call them names and insult them. If you do
- Once accusations or questions are made about whether an organization is racist, it is all over for that organization. Every group and government agency comes down on an organization accused of being racist. There really isn't any way to defend yourself even if the accusations aren't true. This is how we do things in America. We do things through intimidation and the threat of litagation and punishment. Some people might liken this to a police state. Of course, these truisms will imediately cause posters to condemn me as a racist even though they know nothing about me. They will do so not knowing my race, religion, occupation, or anything else about me. As someone once said, only in America ....
- Reply to this comment
-
- Liar. Exxon, Crackerbarrel, and Walmart have all faced multi pronged lawsuits for racism--last we heard they were all still in business. Stop hiding behind a post--that you would even apologize for this says more about you and your own mindset than your professed adoration of Sarah Palin ever did. LOL
- No rhs648, I have SEEN a police state... Alabama in 1963? THAT was a POLICE STATE! That was a State where Nazi's felt right at home, citizens were dragged from their burning homes in the middle of the night and lynched, bands of armed self appointed vigilante road around administering the STATES idea of justice at will, fully backed by the Government and police. Now THAT was a POLICE STATE.
- NO--that as not a police state. In a policed state the ordinary citizen does not run wild and mobs do not rule--in a police state, it is the government and the military and police doing all the killing while the citizens either spy for them and lie for them or keep their heads down and hope that they are not noticed.
The civil rights era was mob rule--plain and simple. Chaos and mayhem condoned by and encouraged by the state--but acted on and/or excused by both state and ordinary citizens.
- Blacks and Hispanics should not return to that pool. Let the civil rights agencies do their jobs. This club is just trying to save face and mitigate potential law suits and closure or censure that may be a result of all those agencies who are planning to investigate them.
if the kids already have a more receptive place to swim, the camp director should say "Thanks but no thanks" to the racist club and let them stew in their own juices.
That "near unanimous vote" was most likely the result of the director telling his club members that if they did not make amends, that after all the agencies and Congress got through with them and the courts got through with them--they would not only NOT have a swimming pool--they would also not have a club. But since it was not unanimous--we can take that to mean that some would rather lose their club entirely than ever share it with minorities.
What a commentary on today's racist cadres. - Reply to this comment
-
- "...But since it was not unanimous--we can take that to mean that some would rather lose their club entirely than ever share it with minorities...."
That is almost certainly the case. In the last article from CBS on this I blogged that it is likely a vocal minority who pushed the club director into closing the pool. Looks like I was right.
- You are so correct.
My family is now a mix of Irish, Native American, German, Hispanic and Polish blood. Our jaws dropped when we read the original report. The new acts of the club are nothing more than, "Closing the barn door after the horses got out!"
- "...But since it was not unanimous--we can take that to mean that some would rather lose their club entirely than ever share it with minorities...."
- Marcus Allen, hearing you speak in that video, and seeing your innocent, sad, little face was heartbreaking! What a terrible experience for young children!
Marcus, please believe that not all white people are so hateful and crass! And you, young man, have more class in your tiny, little finger, than those nasty club members have in their entire bodies!
I'm happy to hear that you now have somewhere new to swim!
Wishing you and your little friends a wonderful, fun-filled summer! - Reply to this comment
-
- CarlR609, political correctness run wild? No....this is not "political correctness" on my part.....I MEANT every word! I believe in equality for all, even poor bigots like you! You are entitled to hate anyone as much as you want. This is a free country after all.
- Hey, come on, let all the kids swim in the pool! White kids swim in the front, black kids swim in the back!
- CarlR609, To compare what YOU think would have happened to a bunch of White Kids, with NO evidence of ANYTHING such as that EVER happening to a group of White Kids shows YOU ignorance. To answer your question NO it would NOT have happened to a bunch of White Kids and if it had you'd have had a bunch of screaming parents at the door wanting to know WHY their kids were denied the service they'd paid for. Time for YOU to put away the Hood and Sheet, America has changed.
How gold pays for 
