“I got the school district to go back to calling Christmas, Christmas,”

[The Straight Story]

Six KHSD candidates share views to win nod from GOP association
(Bakersfield, CA - Kern County School Distric)

.....clip
Vegas asked Hutson about the controversy surrounding basketball player Robert Swift’s transfer to Bakersfield High in 2003. He also asked about the issues that arose after Hutson’s son, a basketball coach at BHS, called a black player a stud and Thomas labeled the comment racist.
...clip

Vegas questioned Heinrichs on why he became a Republican. Heinrichs said the time was simply right.

All the candidates except Batey and Heinrichs also had to answer why they thought they didn’t receive the Kern High Faculty Association’s endorsement. The association recently chose to endorse Batey and Heinrichs.

Parks said one reason he believes he wasn’t endorsed is because he’s a well-known conservative. Press said one reason he believes he wasn’t endorsed is because, despite being a teacher, he doesn’t always agree with the unions.

“I’m forced to have money taken out of my paycheck and given to CTA,” Press said.

Candidate and Rosedale Union School Board president Mettler said he also believes he wasn’t endorsed because of his stances on certain issues in Rosedale.

“I got the school district to go back to calling Christmas, Christmas,” Mettler said, referring to the name of students’ annual winter break. “That’s a no-no.”

http://www.bakersfield.com/619/story/75716.html

It's interesting to see some of the answers and questions asked of the rethug candidates. Let's hope Kern (I know someone on a school board there, a Dem) keeps out the repukes this election.

It's not just a big year on a federal level, so many battles to be fought.

Good luck to our candidates this year! These folks in this article are the type we are fighting against all across the US.

[Bluzmann57]

1. I think I may be missing something here

Maybe in California things are different, but here in the heartland, the term "stud" isn't considered racist when talking about an athlete. I just don't understand labeling someone as a racist because he called a ball player a stud. That is actually a compliment in athletic circles. When I played, it would have been nice to be labeled as a stud.

[The Straight Story]

2. I thought that was odd as well

Du'ers - feel free to call me a stud anytime!

[bliss_eternal]

4. While this isn't heard all that frequently...

It's possible that they may be looking at it in historical terms.

During slavery times, black men were frequently auctioned off. During slave auctions, large, athletic men were sometimes referred to as "studs" I believe. The reason being because they could be used to "mate" and create more slaves for the masters to sell, hence the word "stud."

In this sense, the term could be thought of as racist and offensive.

Given that it's pretty old and few would seem to even know the historical reference... :shrug: I'm not sure that young African American males would find it offensive today. Given I'm not a young AA male, I'll leave it to them to say if "stud" would be derogatory to them in this instance. :)

[MessiahRp]

3. It should be Winter break since the whole thing doesn't just occur

on December 24th and 25th. But, I have no problem with Christmas. Christ has been proven not to be born that day and I celebrate it for Santa, the lights, the decorations, the cartoon specials and the music.

Christmas is about giving to others and that kind spirit doesn't have to belong to a religion at all, especially since those evil pagans invented the holiday.

Rp