Why do multicultural GLOs/organizations exist?

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Well I'll be blunt. I'm not a racist, but I am prejudiced. I prefer not to be around low class things. My statement about preferring low minorities was probably not the best portrayal of how I feel, but it is true. For example, if I lived in a neighborhood with a lot of minorities, but who were well off, well educated, Christian, and classy, then I'd be fine with that. Unfortunately, that is rare. For example, I live in the wealthiest county in GA, and word eventually got out. Some wealthy minorities started moving in, and then the not so wealthy ones followed. Since then, we've dropped from one of the top 10 wealthiest counties in the country to around 15, home prices have dropped, and crime has shot up. Now I'm sure some will say "well that has nothing to do with minorities," and while that is a nice PC thing to say, it is also untrue. Minorities attract more minorities, and while I have nothing against the members of the upper class, large minority populations often breed conditions I would not wish to live in.

Again, you act like minorities themselves are the bad things. You are still in the freaking top 15 wealthiest counties in the country. What part of that seems like you've gotten the homeless bums living in the abandoned house next door?

Ok, plain and simple: if your county is so elite, which I believe than no non wealthy people of any color are going to be able to live there. So who are these "other" minorities moving in that apparently can afford it but are still low-income/crime lords?

If they can afford to live there, they're not "low class" they're just a different color of high class.
You'd probably have little problem with my family moving in (unless you're anti-Catholic) we're fine upstanding people. My siblings are all doing well in school and sports and don't get in trouble. But we're too "low class" to afford it. By your standards, a black couple who can afford to live there should be far above my parents. But I don't think your initial judgements would put them above my parents.

/I get the impression you're going to think I live in a cardboard box or something...

[SOPi_Jawbreaker]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

What I meant by taking anybody is that the multi cultural orgs I've seen often tend to value the "multi cultural" aspect than anything else, and thus just take anyone who wants to be a member.

Regarding the cultural issue, I'm not quite sure I follow. What I meant is that people like myself, who were in all white fraternities, who prefer upper class neighborhoods with fewer minorities, are often considered to be hiding from the world, or "uncultured." What people fail to see is that many, if not most of us, are better educated and traveled than the large majority of people. We're not hiding in our own corner of the world, or unaware of the big world out there. We've seen it, and we also have found a part we prefer.

A person can travel the world and still not see very much of it. A rich person staying at the 5-star hotels and visiting all the touristy/clean/air-conditioned places (museums, ornate temples or mansions, department stores, malls, etc.)so as to avoid the unwashed masses isn't going to be able to get the real, authentic feel for that country that someone else would get by staying in a less touristy area (staying with a nice family, staying in a hostel, staying in a cheap hotel) and getting a feel of how people in that country really live...seeing the outdoor market they buy their food and clothes at, seeing their small/plain/humble house of worship, etc.

This isn't a personal attack on you. I really don't know you or the people you hang out with or how you guys travel. My point is that just because you grow up rich and can travel the world doesn't automatically make you worldly...just like how hanging out with people like yourself doesn't automatically make you narrow-minded. I think narrow-mindedness is when someone refuses to even listen and consider other points of view and if they consider people that are different from them to be lower than them and treat those people as if they were lower.

[SOPi_Jawbreaker]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

But, I have to say again, your attitude toward organizations not like your own is certainly the catalyst for the negative attitudes of others who are not in similar organizations. I would also say to you that you don't have all the answers and you have not finished growing, no matter how old you are. Your opinions could change with new experiences. Don't get wedged into one way of thinking. That would not only be a pity but it would also be a disservice to your future self! There are things you can't understand (and may never understand). If you realize this and are willing to step into the shoes of people unlike yourself, you'll go a long way in understanding why people might have a negative perception of you.

[shinerbock]

You're right, you can be be wealthy and well traveled, but still sheltered. However, in my situation and that of my friends, that really isn't the case. My favorite trips in America have been long and extended road trips, where we travel through incredibly various areas of all types. Likewise, I enjoy backpacking and fishing, so that has taken me off the beaten path.

Drole, well to be fair, the people who actually live in my county, the minorities I mean, are generally well off. The problem for me is that they have attracted other minorities, who come to shop, and hang out. That is where the crime and such has come from. Also, because of race-loyalty, there is very little outrage from the black community. Several black people have made statements like "Man Clayton county just go so bad, we had to get out." I understand that sentiment, but what they fail to recognize is that crime tends to follow them. We used to live in Clayton Co. as well, about 20 years ago, before it became a county with a minority majority. We moved because we didn't like the direction it was going. So we moved here, where everything was great for about 20 years, until those who had moved to Clayton decided to come here. I hope that made some sort of sense, if not, I'll clarify.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

You're right, you can be be wealthy and well traveled, but still sheltered. However, in my situation and that of my friends, that really isn't the case. My favorite trips in America have been long and extended road trips, where we travel through incredibly various areas of all types. Likewise, I enjoy backpacking and fishing, so that has taken me off the beaten path.

Drole, well to be fair, the people who actually live in my county, the minorities I mean, are generally well off. The problem for me is that they have attracted other minorities, who come to shop, and hang out. That is where the crime and such has come from. Also, because of race-loyalty, there is very little outrage from the black community. Several black people have made statements like "Man Clayton county just go so bad, we had to get out." I understand that sentiment, but what they fail to recognize is that crime tends to follow them. We used to live in Clayton Co. as well, about 20 years ago, before it became a county with a minority majority. We moved because we didn't like the direction it was going. So we moved here, where everything was great for about 20 years, until those who had moved to Clayton decided to come here. I hope that made some sort of sense, if not, I'll clarify.

you know, i really do understand, but please look at how your attitude comes off. You don't like thugs and gangbangers and muggers. Cool. But I get the impression you mentally associate the wealthy black people with the thugs etc. All we ask is that you judge the character of the person, not the color of their skin.

[shinerbock]

Jeni, please note that I really don't care what people think of me. I prefer not to be miscast, but I can live with it. I'm also aware that I am not the most brilliant person on the planet. However, I have experienced a lot, and have a good idea what I enjoy and what I do not like. The facts that I don't like Miami or Detroit, and don't choose to go there, I don't believe are a disservice to myself. They are simply preferences. I generally take any chance I can to experience most everything I can. The things I avoid are generally things I've tried and did not like.

[shinerbock]

I don't judge the color of their skin. Do I associate crime with minorities? Sometimes, yes. Why? Because it is common. Not all profiling is inaccurate. I don't at all associate black wealthy people with thugs. The few black people I grew up around were well educated, and great people. Unfortunately, upon reaching high school, they decided it was time to "act black," and I lost touch with many of them. The valedictorian of my high school was a brilliant black girl, and I got along very well with her, and because she is someone I like to associate with, we remain friends. In other words, it is not skin color, it truly is character. However, even wealthy and intelligent black people often condone actions because of loyalty to race. While I understand sticking up for one another, it can also cause a rift in a community like mine.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

However, I have experienced a lot, and have a good idea what I enjoy and what I do not like. The facts that I don't like Miami or Detroit, and don't choose to go there, I don't believe are a disservice to myself.

LOL, that's the way that I feel about Atlanta.

[shinerbock]

haha, me too.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Just because a multi cultural group has no value to me, doesn't mean it is without value to others.

I would challenge you to take it a step further and say that multicultural groups are valuable because people like me find value in them. I would say that your fraternity is valuable because of your investment in it, even though I personally have no connection to it. I would also say this for any organization whose purpose is honorable, so I wouldn't include supremacist (of any color) orgs or any other org motivated by negative values.

My problem arises from people who try to force their opinions on others. Of course, its fine here, this is a message board, and I enjoy the debate. But there is a strong push from society to diversify everything, and that annoys me.

You know, I agree with you. I'm seeing that "diversifying America" is really just a ploy to make us all the same. No one needs that. We can be individuals and we can prefer to be with others like us while still expressing the inherent value in people unlike us.

For my purposes, the minorities I speak of are black people and hispanics.

When I see this, I associate the comment with Southern bigotry. You're not talking about individuals whom you don't like for whatever reason. You're placing everyone into the same category. Why?

Also, Jeni, the values you listed are generally part of being "classy," at least in my mind. I would not want to live in a neighborhood of untrustworthy people, regardless of their wealth.

Sounds good to me! I know of many families living with incomes below the poverty line that consist of upstanding and generous individuals. Even though they have little, they would give you much if you were in need. I also know of devastatingly wealthy people who have such a heart for charitable giving that they make sacrifices in their personal desires so that others can reap the benefits. I would be pleased to live alongside either type of family.

[shinerbock]

I don't think it is southern bigotry at all, it just happens to be the minority groups I'm speaking of. I'm not painting the entire groups, those are simply the groups around here, at the center of my concern.

Also, I will refrain from calling anything valuable. Just because certain things are valuable to some people, does not mean I consider them valuable. The National Organization of Women is valuable to some, but I personally hate them and have no value for it. The Yankees are valuable to many, but I place no value at all on them.

[SOPi_Jawbreaker]

It's weird and ironic, but with the exception of the things you've said about wealth/privilege/class, you come across kinda like the people living in rural Pennsylvania ("I'm not racist, but these minorities are moving in. They're bringing the crime from the city and lowering our property values." "I'm not racist. I have a couple neighbors who are black and they're fine. It's just that they've got friends coming here the city to hang out, and these friends make a lot of noise and cause trouble.")

Rural PA has some of the largest concentrations of KKK in the country. Many of these small rural towns in PA have been all white for many, many generations. A lot of the growing membership is due to limited economic opportunities in the rural areas and minorities are starting to move in. The minorities are seen as taking away these already limited number of jobs. And I think there's a lot of fear and resentment for this, as well as a want for a scapegoat for the economic problems of the area.

[shinerbock]

Well, if I sound like them, then so be it. Although, minorities are not taking our jobs.

[jubilance1922]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I don't judge the color of their skin. Do I associate crime with minorities? Sometimes, yes. Why? Because it is common. Not all profiling is inaccurate. I don't at all associate black wealthy people with thugs. The few black people I grew up around were well educated, and great people. Unfortunately, upon reaching high school, they decided it was time to "act black," and I lost touch with many of them. The valedictorian of my high school was a brilliant black girl, and I got along very well with her, and because she is someone I like to associate with, we remain friends. In other words, it is not skin color, it truly is character. However, even wealthy and intelligent black people often condone actions because of loyalty to race. While I understand sticking up for one another, it can also cause a rift in a community like mine.

So its only the non-wealthy Black people who you don't like cause they cause all the crimes?

Yeah.....sure....

[shinerbock]

Well I don't like poor people at all. However, you're somewhat correct, I don't think the wealthy professional black people are causing the crime, no.