Duke Frat in Trouble for Party Theme

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by AggieSigmaNu361
Why?

If my history serves me correctly, the Irish and Scots faced many years of persecution at the hands of the English.

Just because they're white its ok? even though they themselves have been through similiar instances? The Irish, and specifically catholics as well as Jews were hated right along with blacks by the KKK.

That's a freakin double standard, to say its' ok to hate on the Irish, but not other minorities.

Kitso
KS 361 my ancestors were Greek, NOT Anglo and our only problem was with the Romans and later the Turks......damn dirty Turks

We can explain double standards by looking at the nature of assimilation in AmeriKKKa. For all intents and purposes, Irish and Scots are white ethnicities and have completely assimilated into "mainstream" AmeriKKKan KKKulture.

So, if an Irish man chooses to make an "Irish joke" among other Irish people, that's his business. Similarly, I've heard "sorority girls" make certain jokes about themselves. If OUTSIDERS were to make similar jokes, people would be heated.

Let's be realistic. There are double standards. Instead of focusing on "why some and not others," you should look at the REAL LIFE impact that SOME stereotypes have that others do not.

There is no level playing field.

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
I wasn't trying to single out anyone in particular -- I know there are people who are offended by jokes mocking the Irish, and that's fine; that's their right. But I think anybody should be able to see the huge difference in parties mocking the Irish versus those mocking Mexicans/blacks/Asians/Native Americans/whatever.

I agree with you.

[cash78mere]

blah blah blah pc garbage blah blah blah

geez, everything is offensive nowadays.

unless, of course, it is at a white person's expense, then it is justifiable

[KDbutterfly]

Originally posted by cash78mere
blah blah blah pc garbage blah blah blah

geez, everything is offensive nowadays.

unless, of course, it is at a white person's expense, then it is justifiable

Don't you just love double standards?

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by cash78mere
blah blah blah pc garbage blah blah blah

geez, everything is offensive nowadays.

unless, of course, it is at a white person's expense, then it is justifiable

Right, because white people are oh-so-persecuted in this country.

[sugar and spice]

Here's an article of note that I think some of y'all might be interested in reading:

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=11192

If you're too lazy to read all that, he sums it up very nicely in these lines: "After all, if one doesn't know many blacks, or personally witness discrimination, it is all the more likely that one will find the notion of widespread mistreatment hard to digest. Especially when one has been socialized to give more credence to what members of one's own group say, than what the racial "other" tells us is true." In short, the "_____ [insert minority here] takes everything too personally! Discrimination doesn't exist" thing is a myth.

He does make race into too much of a black/white thing, with almost no mentions of other minorities, but the sentiment could easily be applied to other races as well.

[TCV]

After reading all the post and views I would have to agree with Sugar and spice. And the word "minority" makes me cringe!
~TCV

[White_Chocolate]

Sigma Chi president Marc Mattioli, who said he is Latino, apologized and said the fraternity was not racist.

Funny but Mattioli sounds Italian
Hmmm. . .maybe he's Hispanic/Italian

[IvySpice]

There is no double standard.

The single standard is: what you say about yourself is your business, but if you use slurs to attack other people, those people may get upset.

I'm sure that everyone on this board can understand the difference between saying "My mom is fat" and saying "YOUR mom is fat." One is just a statement; the other is extremely rude, and will justifiably make someone angry.

[cash78mere]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
Right, because white people are oh-so-persecuted in this country.

does it REALLY make a difference? just because it is not as prevalent, does NOT mean it is right.


blah blah blah pc garbage.....i hate PCness

[VirtuousErudite]

Originally posted by cash78mere
does it REALLY make a difference? just because it is not as prevalent, does NOT mean it is right.


blah blah blah pc garbage.....i hate PCness

Is it Pcness or is it just respect for someone who is different than you? Do you hate that you have to actually THINK about what you say before you say it?

[cash78mere]

Originally posted by VirtuousErudite
Is it Pcness or is it just respect for someone who is different than you? Do you hate that you have to actually THINK about what you say before you say it?

believe me, i'm never out to purposely offend anyone. that's not my style. i just can't stand how everyone is so ready to jump on someone because they are "offended". yes, fine, be offended, but don't immediately claim racism, prejudice, hatred, supremacy, etc. sometimes people say and do things and don't realize how their actions affect other people. instead of automatically shouting and arguing, just take a step back and breathe.

i respect people. i think about their feelings. but i think people nowadays are too eager to cry foul.

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by VirtuousErudite
Is it Pcness or is it just respect for someone who is different than you? Do you hate that you have to actually THINK about what you say before you say it?

Thank you.

Just because you don't understand doesn't mean it's not valid. It just means you haven't put enough thought into it to figure things out.

I would also like to ditto what IvySpice said. It's not a double standard because they are two totally different situations. How many more times does this need to be repeated?

[VirtuousErudite]

Originally posted by cash78mere
believe me, i'm never out to purposely offend anyone. that's not my style. i just can't stand how everyone is so ready to jump on someone because they are "offended". yes, fine, be offended, but don't immediately claim racism, prejudice, hatred, supremacy, etc. sometimes people say and do things and don't realize how their actions affect other people. instead of automatically shouting and arguing, just take a step back and breathe.

i respect people. i think about their feelings. but i think people nowadays are too eager to cry foul.

Maybe, just maybe you aren't able to understand why people are offended or even feel discriminated against or belittled because you don't have to live the life of a minority from day to day. It is easier not to understand the pain a person feels when their race/ethnicity is belittled when you don't personally have to deal with those feelings. Many people want to believe that racism is a thing of the past but unfortunately it is NOT and those of us who have to deal with blatant racism on a daily basis may recognize it a little more easily. You are right, sometimes people do say things and don't realize how those things will not affect others. Just because they don't realize they are being a bigot doesn't make comments any less bigoted. I have personally dealt with people who I know for a fact didn't realize they were being completely insulting, and yes I did take a step back and breathe, but then I took them to the side and told them they were offensive. I believe if you truly respect the feelings of others you might be a little bit more willing to put yourself into their shoes instead of viewing things from your own point of view. Again, I stress don't think of it as being PC, just stop and think before you speak and ask yourself "If I was xxxx how would that make me feel". It isn't about being PC, it's about showing a little common courtesy and respect for your fellow man.

[Blue Violets]

Originally posted by White_Chocolate
Sigma Chi president Marc Mattioli, who said he is Latino, apologized and said the fraternity was not racist.

Funny but Mattioli sounds Italian
Hmmm. . .maybe he's Hispanic/Italian

Um, that is not a very cool thing to say and almost 'racist,' eh? Judging the quality of someone's ethnicity by their last name....

Marc M. IS Latino--he was born & raised in Puerto Rico.

I go to Duke.

The Sigma Chis are nice guys and it's a shame that while a lot of the other frat chapters on campus have just as 'offensive' party themes, the SigChis were singled out sort of.

The ATOs had their traditional Ghetto Fabulous party tonight, but of course renamed it (b/c of the Sigma Chi debacle) "Rapper's Delight"--of course it still WAS Ghetto Fabulous (I was there). We're all wondering if the KA formal will still be called Old South (which it has been since the Alpha Phi chapter started in 1903 here at Duke). Several sororities get together & have a party called "White Trash" every year but I think that might be different this year too....hmmmm....

P.S. It's not really that big of a deal here. In fact, all of ten people showed up for the "protest" or "demonstration" or whatever the media's been calling it. And no one is getting in trouble and no one is "outraged"--at least not really anyone I've talked to. The media has blown this out of proportion!