I am without words. That's so incredibly awful. They're not a place of learning. They're an indoctrination center.

That is insane and is wrong! It is literally an Orwellian concept. I also think it is ridiculous that they came up with their own definition of the word "racist". Claiming that whites cannot be racist, etc. and there is no such thing as reverse discrimination. Well, that's basically what they're doing.
What a load of crap.

Okay... so what does the bio of the President of the University have to do with the allegation made in the opening post?

Is it just me, or did those of you who posted earlier not even bother to look at the link?

ooops... I didn't notice there was an earlier link...

Response to the WND article... People can still exercise the right to not attend this "University", and if they do, it appears this Orwellian conditioning exercise is only forced upon those living in the on-campus dorms... So, don't live in the dorms.  And if there is a rule that states freshmen have to live on campus, well, don't go to this school for your freshman year.  Transfer in as a sophomore or later if you are so intent on going to the school.

But, I do hope that the groups fighting this win, and preferably in court so that it sets a precedent to prevent it elsewhere in the future.

-- Edited by Cat Herder at 11:28, 2007-10-31

-- Edited by Cat Herder at 11:36, 2007-10-31

I've tried to come up with an analogy to understand what others mean by institutional racism. If I were to try and freely explore the topic, I would say that institutional racism is like a traffic jam on the freeway. You didn't cause the traffic jam on your own. You don't want the traffic jam to exist. Being on the road isn't inherently bad, but the fact that you are there makes you a part of the traffic jam.

In a simple definition of racism, any difference between races is a kind of racism. Statistically, whites are richer than blacks, have better health, are not incarcerated as much, do better in school, and live longer. Racial differences mean that the whole institution is racist, according to that simple definition of differences between races.

However, there are major problems. Racist and white supremicist system are very loaded words with moral and ethical judgements and condemnations, and are so stated to ensure that any dialogue or discourse is automatically closed down. Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a cult? Sure, if Baptists, Catholics, and Lutherans are cults because they are groups of worshipers, too. But cult is very loaded and means a lot more. So to is racist.

Aside from their indoctrination issues, they have an even bigger problem in their statement. Race is not defined by a geographical location (Europe, Africa). Race is cultural, not geograhical. If you go back far enough we all come from Africa. I could honestly fill out census information or scholarship applications as African American. If someone said, "you aren't black", I'd call them a racist and call the ACLU.

A RACIST: A racist is one who is both privileged and socialized on the basis of race by a white supremacist (racist) system. The term applies to all white people (i.e., people of European descent) living in the United States, regardless of class, gender, religion, culture or sexuality. By this definition, people of color cannot be racists, because as peoples within the U.S. system, they do not have the power to back up their prejudices, hostilities, or acts of discrimination.

A GANGSTA: A gangsta is one who is both privileged and socialized on the basis of race by a black criminal (violent) system.  The term applies to all black people (i.e., people of African descent) living in the United States, regardless of class, gender, religion, culture, or sexuality. By this definition, white people cannot be gangstas, because as peoples within the U.S. system, they do not have the power to back up their drug deals, prostitution rings, or acts of violence.

Both assertions are based on the same rationale, and both statements are absolutely offensive to anyone with at least one brain cell.  I'm disgusted that an institution of learning would endorse such a jackbooted approach to human relations.

I figured from the article that was referenced at the beginning of this thread that some of this was a bit hyped.  Imagine my surprise at reading this garbage from the actual manual at http://www.thefire.org/pdfs/3d0208922083e5d59664be8371ab5f0f.pdf

I was sickened by reading this and wonder how any rational person could believe this garbage.  It is some of the most despicably racist garbage I have read since Jim Crow.

Maybe the presenter, Dr. Shakita Butler wrote it. I guess Halle Berry, Colin Powell, Edward James Olmos, Condi Rice, and Tiger Woods had no chance of success in America because every white person is a racist. This sort of sick blame game garbage only makes things worse. If this is what is going for as enlightened though on a major college campus, I think I'll take the dark ages for 1000 Alex.

Unfortunately unless they also got rid of those in favor of said policy does it really matter if they dropped the policy (officially) or not?

Just askin'...

Cat, it may be true that more people listen to Glenn Beck than read WND. I honestly don't know numbers. But I wouldn't be sure that you're correct. WND has a daily readership in the millions.

I enjoyed Glenn Beck's reading of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Alan Poe, just this last halloween. I'd never heard it read in full, and enjoyed his reading--very creative and expressive. He seems like a fun person... and I like how he talks about his ADHD. I think I have something like that... :)

--Ray

Cat Herder wrote:

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Well, it certainly hasn't been a one organization effort is all I'm inferring. Who knows, maybe Glenn picked it up from WND...

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 You're right, it has been a multi-organizational effort. I am reminded of when Michael Savage claimed to have single handedly stopped the Dubai ports deal by bringing it up on his show, when many alternative news sources were up in arms about it. Of course, Michael Savage tends to be an egomaniac who happens to be right on several (although by no means all) issues