Girl Wants To Start Caucasian Club At High School...

[Blitz]

OAKLEY, Calif. -- Lisa McClelland says she isn't a racist. She says her campaign for a Caucasian Club at her California high school is a move toward diversity, not bigotry.

She says everyone is invited -- and nobody will be excluded.

McClelland's ethnic background includes American Indian, Hispanic, Dutch, German, Italian and Irish. She says she and her friends feel slighted by other clubs at Freedom High School in Oakley, such as the Black Student Union and the Asian Club.

McClelland says she's collected 245 signatures of support from students, adults and others since announcing her plans three weeks ago.

A little more:

http://www.nbc4.tv/education/2493104/detail.html

This comes up every couple of years at some high school or college. However, the poll that goes with the story is particularly interesting. I'm not sure that the results would have been the same 10 years ago.

[joeybee12]

1. "The History of White People in America"

Was a hilarious program by Martin Mull--people like this student make me think the program was based on real-life experiences.

[Maple]

2. A club for everyone

is a good idea.

She just needs a dictionary.

(Or maybe she could call it a 'global citizens' club or summat.)

[topdog08]

9. In my high school, it was called the Diversity Club or Unity Club

There was a big brawl in the cafeteria between some white students (the country music type) and some Latinos, so the school started a Diversity Club or Unity Club as a result. I forget the name. I think the only reason this story gets any coverage is the incredibly stupid, racist name she chose. There is no such thing as a Caucasian, as there is no such thing as a Caucasoid, Negroid, or Mongoloid. Why is this word still used regularly in our language?

Race is just a myth, with very real social consequences.

[Maple]

11. That would make more sense...unity or diversity

And the racist words are still used, because they're still taught.

The biological news hasn't filtered thru to most people yet.

One world. One race.

[mbartko]

3. I bet they have lame dances

[DuctapeFatwa]

5. All the Jello and potato salad you can eat, though...

And twofer 1 coupons for sunblock at the door!

;)

[BuckeFushe]

32. Don't forget the white bread and mayo sandwiches

And please pass the margarine, my tuna is a little dry.

[redwitch]

44. I loved the beginning of "The Jerk"

tuna on white with Twinkies for dessert!

[smirkymonkey]

69. Don't forget the "TAB"...

eom

[BattyDem]

6. ROFL!

That's mean ... but really funny! :evilgrin:

[Skittles]

14. OK THAT WAS REALLY BAD

BUT I LAUGHED OUT LOUD. :7

[bluestateguy]

4. My high school had a "european-american club"

The smarter thing for this girl to do would be to have a club based on nationality, not skin color.

[kamtsa]

51. It is all about racial features

You would not call an American from Turk decent an Asian American or consider a Persian American to be an African American.

It is all about racial features and public schools should stop sponsoring it.

Kamtsa

[burr]

65. Why not try something novel???

start something everyone would join. If she is interested in a career in technology start a chapter of TSA, if she is taking Latin..start a Latin club, and if she is interested in politics start a debate society.

What would a Caucasian club discuss? "my momma is whiter than yours!!"

What fun.... :7

[cally]

7. Ah yes, Oakley Ca

Let me guess, her parents are voting for the recall and for Arnie. Sigh.

On edit: I took out my previous comment. Sometimes my sarcasm isn't clear when written.

[TahitiNut]

8. "students, adults and others"??

What "others"?? Truants? Infants? :eyes:

[stanwyck]

10. Why not Young Republicans?

aren't they all caucasians?

[saigon68]

27. NO but if you ask Harry Belafonte- he will tell you who else joins

Not correct for me to say it---- here but old Harry hit it on the head when he referred to Colon Bowel and Condominium Rice.

http://www.ccmep.org/2002_articles/General/101602_harry_belafonte_won.htm

[stanwyck]

29. thanks, Saigon68

I'm a Belafonte admirer. I was just attempting to be funny with the Young Republicans remark. With J.C. Watts leaving, the Republicans are left with ZERO African Americans in Congress. This really should be a campaign point for the Democrats. Is that not a totally shameful statistic in 2003?

[saigon68]

35. I agree w/ you thanks

It is a sorry state of affairs. The old republicans had people of color and character as members.. Remember Edward W. Brooke III of Mass

Brooke, Edward William III (b. 1919) -- also known as Edward W. Brooke -- of Newton Center, Newton, Middlesex County, Mass. Born in Washington, D.C., October 26, 1919. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; candidate for secretary of state of Massachusetts, 1960; Massachusetts state attorney general, 1963-67; U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, 1967-79; defeated, 1978. Black. Episcopalian. Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences; American Bar Association; Amvets; Alpha Phi Alpha. First black U.S. Senator in the 20th century; recipient of the Spingarn Medal in 1967. Still living as of 1998. See also: congressional biography.

He was an honorable person, a veteran too.

The Repukes would run him out on a rail if he tried to join, but then again I doubt he would ----because the Republican party is an Auxilliary of the Klu Klux Klan.

[slackmaster]

37. Sammy Davis, Jr. was a Republican too

The image of him singing:

Nixon now!
Nixon now!
More than ever
We need Nixon now!

Backed up by a whole chorus of smiling black people in glittery outfits is permanently burned into my memory.

[bushisanidiot]

73. They Were Probably Bribed With A Donation To Their Church

or local youth group.

the repukes are all smoke and mirrors.

[corarose]

50. LOL

You hit the nail on the head with your comment.

[elfwitch]

79. Heh...

That was a good one! :bounce:

[jiacinto]

12. I don't see a problem with it

as long as it is not disruptive, excludes anyone, and does not act in a racist fashion.

[Forkboy]

21. I agree Carlos

Even if I didn't like the class she has the right if others do as well.It sounds as if she's fairly open minded,and some good could of it if she is.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. Good luck to her....ahhh the contribution and diversity of

macaroni and cheese!
Ten bucks says the Center for Individual Rights is running around behind the scenes stirring this shit up ( Note to Tahiti...that would be the "and others")

[Vikingking66]

15. interesting idea

Except for the fact that Caucasian is no more an ethnicity than Black or Asian. The Dutch etc. are an ethnicity.

I've sort of been thinking about this and there is a certain logic to this. Namely, part of the resistance that whites feel towards the pluralistic multicultural society espoused by progressives is that they feel left out, made the boogey-men for the righteous victims of minorities. I think there should be an attempt to eschew terms like Caucasian, White, etc. on the part of progressives and minorities alike - it stimulates an us v. them mentality, playing into the hands of the racists.

It would be far more beneficial if Anglo-American, or Irish-American, or German-American, or whatever were used instead - it recognizes the fact that there really isn't such a thing as "White culture", that there are differences between a fifteenth generation Scotch-Irish American from Tennessee and a second generation Russian living in New York. Hopefully, by reclaiming the immigrant narrative, whites can get past the fear of being made the villain.

[silverweb]

25. Well said...

But where does that leave those of us, like myself, who could only be described as "fourth (or other)-generation, mixed-European mongrels" ?

:D

[midnight armadillo]

40. No kidding!

My son will be part Irish, Scottish, Polish, Swedish, and French-Canadian, and 5th-generation American to boot.

[Vikingking66]

75. able to go to a lot of ethnic groups

I'm half English, half Russian, German, Polish, etc. Jewish. Way I see it, I can go to Oktoberfest, Guy Fawkes Night, and (Russian holiday I don't know) all at the same time.

[GinaMaria]

39. Great Post

Your idea adds diversity instead of watering it down. It has real potential to foster learning of history, customs, manners, language, politics, etc. It could encourage students to trace their geneology. There are so many possiblities with this. Especially wonderful would be the experience of sharing what they've learned.

[RobinA]

53. A German-American Club?

We have a lot of them in the counties well north of Philadelphia. The young men all have shaved heads and wear black boots......

[Demobrat]

16. I don't see anything wrong with it.

All the kids need something to belong to.

[Brucey]

17. If anthropologists are right, how will they know who to let in?

[pfitz59]

18. Sure..anybody from the Caucasus can join!

Georgians, Armenians, Azerbijanis, Russians!

[pschoeb]

24. That's why I hate the term Caucasian

Not only are race terms like this biologically bogus

Caucasian also happens to be a language group, which I think is the more approprite use of this word. So this club should be interested in Georgian, Svan, Laz / Mingrelian, Circassian, Abkhaz, Avar, Daghi, Lezgian, Chechen languages and cultures.

Patrick Schoeb

[Logansquare]

46. I prefer "Euromutt"

My ethnic background, if anyone cares. Yeah, "Caucasian" really gets on my nerves. If we're going to resurrect 19th century race classifications, then we will have to start using "Negroid" and "Mongolian" as well.

[rman]

42. zionist 'jews' originate from around those parts as well.

though that information seems to be off limits on DU.

keywords: khazar, ashkenazi, dna

[Blitz]

43. As opposed to non-zionist "jews"

Or non-jewish zionists? What's your point and what does zionism, which has absolutely nothing to do with either race or ethnicity have to do with the article at issue?

[KeepItReal]

19. "Hasn't she heard of Orange County?" - Keith Olberman

:-)

[SoCalDem]

20. 6 Years ago someone tried to start one in a high school in my town

They were ultimately after publicity, and the whole "plan" went nowhere..

Some people will do anything to be on tv or in the papers :(

[Voltaire99]

22. Poor little white girl...

...marginalized in a society where people of color hold all the power and all the wealth! Let's hope this brave little warrior can strike a blow for equality with a club for her oppressed ethnicity!

[Le Taz Hot]

30. LOL!

Excellent! B-)

Btw, where the hell IS Oakley? I've traveled up and down this state and don't remember ever seeing it. Anyone know?

[Ardee]

34. ask and ye shall recieve

http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&&csz=Oakley+CA+&Get%A0Map=Get+Map

Oakley is a smallish Delta community north east of San Francisco near highway 4 the worlds narrowest parking lot!

[Le Taz Hot]

47. Highway 4?

By Brentwood? God, I've driven that road -- that's a VERY depressed area but people are buying houses out there because of the high cost of living in the Bay and East Bay. "Worlds narrowest parking lot." Such an apt description.

[The Stranger]

36. Amen. I was waiting for someone to wake everyone else up.

I'm sure that Arch-Bigot John Ashcroft won't have a problem with her club -- his brand of "Christianity" is virtually the same thing. No problems with the court challenges, at least from Justice.

[pschoeb]

23. Coping with Melanin Deficiency Club

Sorry, that was the first thing that popped in my head when I saw the term Caucasian Club, and it kinda made me chuckle. I guess it's hard in Oakley to get together and talk about white culture and speak in a language that whites speak and make sure political issues that affect whites are talked about.

Anyways, I went to the Freedom High School page, and there are some pictures of their club rush

http://www.libertyuhsd.k12.ca.us/freedom/FHS_PICTURES/club_rush02/index.htm

Looking through these clubs, I think that the school just needs clubs that aren't really boring, as there doesn't seem to be that great of a turnout.

Patrick Schoeb

[ikojo]

28. The school already has a GERMAN club

surely it is white enough for this student? Wouldn't a caucasian club be in direct competition with the German club?


:shrug:

[The Backlash Cometh]

26. OH, please.

They do it naturally within sororieties. People pick their own kind in those Greek systems, all the time.

[xchrom]

31. i'm not a racist, i'm not!

i'm a poor lil white girl who's got her feelings hurt 'cause i'm not the center of attention -- over here everybody -- look at me, i'm special and you'd better not forget it.
oooh that child is creepy.

[soleft]

33. The thing is, the thing is, feeling excluded sucks

It's primal. It goes back to the earliest experiences of family dynamics.

Some people are more sensitive to the pain of being excluded, and when they get angry enough they do stuff like this. Or they blow things up. Or they talk to a shrink. There's a big continuum (hope I spelled that right, Rep :))

[Lydia Leftcoast]

38. Reminds me of a time

when there were some racial troubles at a Portland high school, and some skinhead types were interviewed. "We always have to study black culture and Hispanic culture and Asian culture," they complained. "When do we get to study white culture?"

Uh, fellows, what do you think most of your curriculum is?

[captain_crunch]

41. She should be thrown out of school!!!

I am ashamed to be white right now. So much racism, it's getting unbearable in this country.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[0rganism]

45. "Scandinavian Natural Roman"

[Gman]

48. Saw the girl on TV last night

The poor girl is hopelessly white!

[piece sine]

54. hopelessly white?

as opposed to hopelessly black? Is there such a thing? Do people actually think in huge broadstroke slurs around here?! This sounds like the freeper site...I thought it was DU. "Hopelessly white?!"

[Blitz]

55. Certain PC racism & bigotry

is generally accepted at DU. Sad but true.

[drewb]

58. "Hopelessly white"...

And you wonder why the Democratic party is perceived to be the party of Blacks, Hispanics, and Jews????

You wonder why "middle America" votes Republican even when it doesn't help them???

You honestly believe Racism only occurs on the right???

Try not to hate yourself so much....

[Blitz]

61. Which post are you replying to?

48 or 54? It's unclear.

[drewb]

66. 41 & 48... My original post #49 was deleted...

n/t

[Gman]

68. I, myself, am hopelessly white

as opposed to the very rich cultures of African-American, Hispanic and many others. My post was tongue-in-cheek, but with a devilish grin to see how other white people would react to it.

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

78. Rich cultures

Reminded me of this Onion piece:

http://www.theonion.com/onion3629/nigeria_counterpoint.html

[hueyfreeman]

52. "Can't we all just get along"

This isn't racism....It's Sarcasm Black club ok,White Club ( we can't have that), Gay Club ok, Strait club ( we can't have that)There should be room for all clubs...

[FriscoMelt]

56. The Problem With White People

I think it should be mandatory that all students participate in a forum that encourages them to explore the positive and negative aspects of their culture, race and ethnicity. Typically people who have a balanced perspective of their own heritage are more able to understand and relate to others of a different cultural heritage. Too often race and ethnicity are perceived to be estranged words to the caucasian experience and become solely associated with White Supremacists and similar fascist radicals. I think a positive dialogue about race would be benificial to all people. Just the rantings of a hispanic guy, but I say, get in touch with culture white folks, so we can start learning from each other instead of resenting one another. Peace to all.

[Blitz]

57. Excellent first post

welcome to DU, FriscoMelt. Hope you stick around.

[slackmaster]

63. I'm white and my traditional family culture is German

But I want no part of that scene.

About 90% of my ancestors who immigrated to North America did so in order to escape religious persecution and other oppressive aspects of German culture.

It's been three full generations since anyone in my family tree regularly spoke German in their household, distant cousins still in Europe notwithstanding.

My culture is hippie. My culture is surf. My culture is stoner. My culture is computer geek. My culture is Californian.

[meow2u3]

59. Whites of mixed ethnicity often ARE prevented from celebrating...

...their heritage without being branded racists. I, for one, resent this one of the last remaining socially accepted prejudices.

I hate to tell you, but their is such a thing as nonracist white pride, provided we treat other cultures as equal to our own. If you don't believe me, you can just look at the Center for the Study of White American Culture: a Multiracial Organization

I know because I'm one myself; as one DUer put it, a "Euromutt."
And for me to form more than one club based on ethnicity would be to spread myself too thin and wouldn't be practical.

[Rich Hunt]

76. "white American culture"

I read the book by that dude who started that site.

He makes some useful points, but I didn't like the way he phrased them.

My grandparents were European immigrants, so I am very aware of cultural differences BETWEEN white Americans. So, I think that the notion that there is a "white culture" is a problem. The culture he describes is the assimilated white culture - he describes values that are not the ones I was raised with (for example, he cites "bland food" as a characteristic of "white culture" - well, I grew up with Italian food, thank you very much!)

The problem is, kids of all colors learn only one history in school, and they don't learn the real histories of their families - in the case of white kids, the conditions that caused them to immigrate. It might surprise some of them, because all they learn about are the wealthy and powerful of the US.

As it turns out, the guy who wrote that book and started that site is an undifferentiated Euromutt, so he's not someone who is aware of his cultural heritage.

[Walt Starr]

60. Don't shoot me, I'm just going to make a point

Under current legal precendent, they MUST allow this club to exist or they must remove all extra curriucular activities.

I'm sorry if anybody disagrees with it, but that is the only legal precedent that has any bearing whatsoever on this case.

[DemVet]

72. True - I'll hold my fire

:-) If this club isn't allowed, how long will it be before others are not allowed? Good point, Walt.

[slackmaster]

62. Oh, to be young and naive again

Teenage kids with enough spare time, no real life responsibilities, and so few genuine worries that they can create their very own tempest in a teapot, and get media coverage for it.

:nopity:

[frank frankly]

64. so f**king stupid

sometimes white people are so stupid, so ignorant to history, as to make one's brain implode. this is one of those white people. they see themselves as victims. insane.

[piece sine]

67. check this out!

Let's change just one word; "white" to "black" and turn your comments into a vile, rascist rant:

"sometimes BLACK people are so stupid, so ignorant to history, as to make one's brain implode. this is one of those BLACK people. they see themselves as victims. insane."

Not very pretty, is it?

[VRSCAman]

74. It seems that that is ok here.

I love this site but can't help but see the double standard of some people.

[DemVet]

71. Why how racist of you....

[frank frankly]

81. sorry if it was taken that way

I'm related to mostly white people, and many would consider me white...I knew I wasn't being careful when I wrote that. I am not a racist.

Apologies, where necessary!

[bushisanidiot]

70. Can't She Just Start A Republican Club

if there already isn't one?

[Kusala]

77. I'm thinking of starting a new club

The Organic Systems club. All "living" clumps of organic matter are welcome. Sensory biases will not be allowed. Be prepared for massive amounts of molecular engagement.

You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake :)

[komplex]

80. Plant identity politics

and white people will want to play as well.

What crucified the left was when they bought into the vertical divison of America (race) and not the horizontal(class).

This is just the logical conclusion of it.

If Blacks can act in their own best interests at the expense of everybody else, if Latinos can act in their own best interests at the expense of everybody else, then Whites will act in their own best interests at the expense of everybody else.