"Cultural Organizations" that is a amazing phenom isnt it?

Are not All Organizations stemed from "Cultural Organizations", doesnt that Mean that We as a Group get together for a common thought?:rolleyes:

I didnt know Color was ever Brought up about the idea?

Okay, not in the current standards as We know them.

Whether it is implicit or explicit, the argument can be made that they do.

In a sense you are correct. All of us are participants of "Greek culture" and there are variations to this culture based on organization-type and more general demographics.

If you can follow the logic, Tom, the variations (and why some are deemed "cultural" and not others) are what I am getting at. ;)

How do you mean? My GLO's philanthropy is diabetes. Diabetes can affect anyone. How is that "cultural"? I don't really see anything "culturally specific" about my GLO, unlike GLOs that were founded for various cultural causes.

Well, You can argue for any side of the coin you want to!

Many times Your points are not well taken as there is no points to be taken.

So speak your peice and let GCers see what You are all about. Sad, too sad to say it leaves a lot to be desired.

Speak Your venom and people will see what you seem to attemt to be.

I and others are not really sure what that is?:rolleyes:

Oh, I have My Iron Jockey Shorts on to see the Tripe You will next propose.:o

What is wrong with being posotive? Not Your Style?:confused:

Look at the demographics of your organization and the demographics of the communities that you most often service. If there aren't any patterns there then your group is in the minority.

:confused:

Not to mention the spelling and grammatical errors, you (once again) display an inability to follow what you read.

I'm having a positive discussion here. I was letting YOU know that (if you can follow the logic which, after reading this post, you can not) your train of thought wasn't far off base in terms of where I'm trying to go with this.

I realize the topic has changed a bit. "Minority IFC members" shouldn't hesitate to answer the original question, though. :p

Just because most Alpha Gam sisters are white doesn't make it "ethnic" or "cultural". THis is probably a guess, but there are more non-white women in NPCs, percentage-wise, than there are white women in NPHCs.

Why not? @ the first paragraph.

It's an accurate guess but it doesn't really mean anything. You have to look at proportion and not percentage. There are more non-NPHC organizations than NPHC organizations @ the second paragraph.


In either case, how is your second paragraph a significant observation when we're STILL talking about overall demographics of the membership and communities serviced?

;)

Alpha Gam and other NPCs in no way emphasize "white culture", whatever that means.

Of course there are more non-NPHCs than NPCs. That's why I emphasized PERCENTAGES. A non-Asian woman is not likely to rush an Asian interest sorority, while an Asian woman might very well go NPC, even if there are Asian interest groups on her campus.

I understand where DSTChaos is coming from, but I also understand where everyone else is coming from.

Everyone comes from a certain culture, no matter what "color" you are. So to say that (lets use the example) Tri-Delta is not a "cultural organization" is neither true nor false.

Everyone here is using the term "cultural organization" loosely. Most people here are in agreement that what they mean by "cultural organization" is that it is a club where people of a certain race... a certain "culture" come together to celebrate that culture.

Tri Delta COULD be construed as a "cultural organization" just for the fact that "white" people are not excluded from having a culture. Just for the simple fact that EVERYONE has a culture, when you get a group of people together, their group becomes a sort of "cultural organization." The word doesn't necessarily have to correlate with a philanthropy or an organization that is predominantly a certain race (i.e hispanic, african american, etc).

Umm...so yeah. Hopefully I made some sense without being too redundant.

An example of what I was getting at through my question is this:

I was in CVS pharmacy the other day and I was looking for hair products. I looked up at the aisle signs and the listing was "Ethnic" for the black hair care products. That sparked my curiosity. Why was the aisle titled Ethnic for that? Also, this doesnt square too well with the dictionary or text book definitions that Rudey posted.

"Of or relating to a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage.
Being a member of a particular ethnic group, especially belonging to a national group by heritage or culture but residing outside its national boundaries: ethnic Hungarians living in northern Serbia.
Of, relating to, or distinctive of members of such a group: ethnic restaurants; ethnic art.
Relating to a people not Christian or Jewish; heathen. "

I mean, based on this definition, shouldn't the white hair care products have been titled ethnic too?

In addition, note the part that says "Being a member of a particular ethnic group, especially belonging to a national group by heritage or culture but residing outside its national boundaries". So, are they saying that somehow black women live outside the national boundaries of America? :confused: If so, than that says a lot.

I have an inkling of an answer, but I would really like to see other ideas and viewpoints on this to get a better feel for other perspectives and explanations.

The same thing happened in the grocery store, by the way. In Chicago one of the predominant food stores is called Dominick's In Dominicks, an aisle is called "ethnic foods" and in the aisle are basically just Mexican food. Now, I can sort of see this according to the definition that Rudey posted since Mexicans are "foreign" or of a group of people not native to America, but I still don't understand why there only being Mexican food in that aisle constituted the assignment of such a broad and segregative (not sure if that is a word) term like "ethnic".

I'm wondering if this is just "PC-ness" gone too far. I've never seen grocery store ailses say "ethnic" foods here. They're usually more specific.

"Ethnic" has become a buzzword, a watered-down euphemism, if you will. Much like the word "urban" in radiospeak...

Only by Americans. Canadians have never asked, mostly because many Canadians don't know much about the NPHC or other greek councils.

I have.

"Ethnic foods" and "ethnic haircare."

So, this fact alone trumps what other people have to say about this issue. :cool:

The only difference between what I'm saying and what others are saying is "implicit" versus "explicit."

Perhaps your area isn't very diverse? In Toronto, you'll most likely find products like soy sauce in the Asian foods ailse. Of course, if you REALLY want to get a good selection, you go to a supermarket that specializes in Asian foods. There are a few that are actually just as big as a mainstream store and just as clean.

First paragraph: Of course, they don't. They just "do whatever sororities do," whatever that means. ;) This supports my point perfectly.

Second paragraph: When comparing groups that vary so much in size, you can't emphasize PERCENTAGES without emphasizing PROPORTIONS. A percentage can seem extremely high or extremely low when the total size is not taken into account. If you want to discuss probability (which is what you are doing now) then that is fine. Does this higher probability significantly change the proportion of Asian women such that these are no longer predominently white GLOs?

Incorrect.

I have seen this in 3 different states where there are high concentrations of minorities, particularly in low economic areas.

Ditto. I've seen it here in Minnesota.

Tom, Chaos was basically agreeing with you (or you with she .) :(

:eek: :rolleyes:

Hahahaha, I get asked that question all the time, except the other way around since I'm white and in an Asian Fraternity.

Interesting. I never paid attention to the aisle signs at the CVS store near my house.

I'm not sure what you mean by this? Taualumna was stating a fact of life in Toronto.

I think ktsnake said it best in the following thread in the chapter operations forum:


Programs thread in Chapter Operations


For Alpha Gamma Delta, specifically, our focus is entirely on betterment of the individual, rather than betterment of the community. If there is a culture to be attached, it would be a Christian culture, although there isn't a requirement (or expectation)to be Christian either. Our international philanthropy is diabetes, which affects all cultures. Our local chapters do local community projects so it would depend on the culture around them on whether they'd be helping any specific culture. What culture it will help just isn't part of that decision making process.

Some of the other side bars here, about signs in grocery stores, etc. are going to vary so much by state/city/location. Personally, I've not seen a grocery aisle say "ethnic" in years. They are either specific (Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, etc) or say "International foods". (But I moved to an area where it's next to impossible to find fresh ricotta cheese because the Italian culture isn't strong here).

I used to get asked this all the time. I ignored ignorant people like this b/c nowhere on the SK creed & bylaws does it say "white women only." Seriously, people are morons.
I was once called a race traitor for not joining a Latina sorority but I did not feel comfortable there.

I just wonder, when will people start getting over Historically anything. :(

It was, It is not now.

As can be seen, there are members from all races and relegions who have joined different organizations.

Now, the question is why?

Maybe, just maybe, they felt comfortable with the GLOs they joined. Not because They were expected to.

The name of the GLO and Racial structure is not the question, but the Members that They have felt at ease with.

I'm afraid "historically" and "predominantly" sometimes go hand-in-hand.

Semantics it might be, but the truth will still will out!

So, and your point is?

Am I and so many people be wrong?:(

Exactly!!! :cool:

What I don't think is that people are grasping the full idea of a "cultural organization." Sure, when you first hear or see those words you think (just as I do) of a group of people, who are predominantly the same race, coming together to celebrate that race. Just like my dance group, which is ballet folklorico (or mexican folk dancing) would be considered a "cultural organization." But that is where it all stops....it doesn't seem like a lot of people can get past the fact that a sorority IS a cultural organization.

But from what I've read on this thread most people are saying something to the effect of "oh a black or hispanic sorority would be a cultural organization, but not a "white" sorority." But you all have not explained why a "white" sorority would not be considered "cultural." Like I stated before, EVERYONE has a culture....EVERYONE! So that means that every single "white" person has a heritage, a culture. So when 30-40 girls come together, especially if they are predominantly the same race, they in effect become a sort of "cultural organization."

Just because your sorority does not EXPLICIT state that you are to "help the white community" (or something to that effect) doesn't exempt you. Just because your philanthropy doesn't encompass a certain race, doesn't mean jack.

A "white" person is not different from a "black" person or from a "hispanic" person. Like I've said numerous times, they all have a culture that they come from. So with that being said, you CAN NOT say that a "white sorority" is different than a "black" or "hispanic" sorority, but the latter are "cultural organizations" and the white sorority isn't.

that is why I said Tri Delta COULD be construed as a "cultural organization" just for the fact that "white" people are not excluded from having a culture

So yeah..sorry i know i sounded redundant...but oh well.

How so?

BGLOs enjoy white laws, are in white USA, recruit at white schools, and follow the establishment of GLOs that were all white.

And I guess when a "white" GLO has a charity that raises money for a health condition that affects black people more, they are still only serving the "white" community huh?

-Rudey

Tom, you said For many people, it is difficult to understand why it isn't right to call predominantly [fill in the blank] organizations "Historically anything."

Personally, I just can't see why "historically caucasian/Euro-American" is negative or incorrect when it is true?

I think we're looking at this from different perspectives. What I'm saying is that:

Alpha Kappa Alpha is BOTH historically and predominantly African American

and

Alpha Phi is BOTH historically and predominantly European American

But, this is not to say that either organization is made up entirely of AA/EA nor that either organization bars members of other "ethnicities."

ETA: I was directly referring to Tom's comment. I wasn't making a value judgment on the mission of any organization.

For all - can you imagine the effect on our society if NPC/NIC orgs stopped giving generous donations to charities or if NPHC orgs stopped providing service to those charities? Any help is good help and all help is needed!

Which is what? That Asian stores in Toronto are generally not clean? This still shocks me.

Asian stores used to be less clean than non-Asian stores. I remember holding my nose when grocery shopping with my mom.

Because some people don't like the truth.

LOL!!

Thanks to typing this!!! This ALSO proves my point!!! :D