Thursday, March 12, 2015
Political Mayhem Thursday: Expulsions at Oklahoma
As most people have seen by now, a video emerged out of the University of Oklahoma that was really repulsive. The members of the SAE fraternity there, clad in tuxedoes and accompanied by dates in long dresses, sang a frat song that promised that black men could never be a part of that fraternity, and referred to them "hanging in a tree."
President Boren of OU immediately decried the incident, dissolved the fraternity, and expelled two of the students involved.
Now there are fascinating facets of this emerging:
-- So who would defend SAE? That would be former OU football coach Barry Switzer.
-- This may be an SAE thing at more than one school-- investigations have begun at reports of the same chant being used at Louisiana Tech and at the University of Texas.
-- Was the song a form of speech protected under the First Amendment? Constitutional law expert Irwin Chemerinsky thinks that it is. Courts may well agree. If so, what is the best means to address those who would perpetuate not just a chant like this, but the thoughts behind it?
In discussing racial matters in the wake of the events in Ferguson and New York, I sometimes encounter the claim that we have moved beyond race in American society. We haven't. Racism is still a part of American society, with devastating costs.
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Suggest you read the comments to an article in Dallas Morning News yesterday about the apologies made by two of the young men involved.
The sentiments expressed by many of the commentators and the tone of most is at least as disheartening as the chant.
The sentiments expressed by many of the commentators and the tone of most is at least as disheartening as the chant.
# posted by 
: 12:09 PM
: 12:09 PM
1. Switzer's argument is disingenuous. A chant like that doesn't happen sua sponte.
2. Racism? On our college campuses? The answer may surprise you!
3. Yeah, it probably was. Yeah, OU probably overstepped its bounds by expelling the students (though not by dissolving the chapter, as it is under no compulsion to permit the chapter to exist as an official school entity). The best means to address it would probably be to have a frank conversation about race at OU and address why these attitudes arise and from what/where/who.
But that's, like, hard and stuff. So we won't ever have that conversation, and we'll forget about this in two weeks, and a year later it will happen at some other major school and we'll all get the vapors again.
2. Racism? On our college campuses? The answer may surprise you!
3. Yeah, it probably was. Yeah, OU probably overstepped its bounds by expelling the students (though not by dissolving the chapter, as it is under no compulsion to permit the chapter to exist as an official school entity). The best means to address it would probably be to have a frank conversation about race at OU and address why these attitudes arise and from what/where/who.
But that's, like, hard and stuff. So we won't ever have that conversation, and we'll forget about this in two weeks, and a year later it will happen at some other major school and we'll all get the vapors again.
I believe Lane is correct, the SAE chapter should have been disbanded and the action taken quickly was just - expulsion was an over-reaction. . .
I regularly 'rail' about religion's love affair with the 'Fall' and the stain of 'original sin' - though all of humanity may have been stained with a mild version of racial bias.
Deep within there are often those moments when we momentarily reflect upon African Americans as an aggregate community and judge the many by the actions of the few - each recalling, with mild distemper, our own Jefferson, Mo. moment in public.
What 'sterling' leadership our nation's business and political leaders often display - such revered example by the likes of Donald Sterling and the Clippers, Sony management's complimentary comments about our President revealed during their email data breach, congressional members pandering to their gerrymandered constituencies with similar derogatory comments about the first family, 'Boston Strong' NHL fans and their racist remarks directed toward Montreal Canadien's defenseman P.K. Subban and the list goes on. . .
Occasionally we hear of instituting a policy for all young adults to enter National Service - either two years in an organization like AmeriCorps or four years in military service - might the nation be better served by requiring adults to spend two weeks of their vacation every four years doing community service out of state and in a community racially different than their own? And this should apply to self-serving African-American leaders like Reverend Al. . .
The students should not have been expelled - completing their education with a course or two on African-American studies and community service added to their graduation requirements would be a healthier lesson. . .
Elders set the tone for the young and most of us should look in the mirror and commit to doing 'more' than our 'perceived part' as citizens. . .
I regularly 'rail' about religion's love affair with the 'Fall' and the stain of 'original sin' - though all of humanity may have been stained with a mild version of racial bias.
Deep within there are often those moments when we momentarily reflect upon African Americans as an aggregate community and judge the many by the actions of the few - each recalling, with mild distemper, our own Jefferson, Mo. moment in public.
What 'sterling' leadership our nation's business and political leaders often display - such revered example by the likes of Donald Sterling and the Clippers, Sony management's complimentary comments about our President revealed during their email data breach, congressional members pandering to their gerrymandered constituencies with similar derogatory comments about the first family, 'Boston Strong' NHL fans and their racist remarks directed toward Montreal Canadien's defenseman P.K. Subban and the list goes on. . .
Occasionally we hear of instituting a policy for all young adults to enter National Service - either two years in an organization like AmeriCorps or four years in military service - might the nation be better served by requiring adults to spend two weeks of their vacation every four years doing community service out of state and in a community racially different than their own? And this should apply to self-serving African-American leaders like Reverend Al. . .
The students should not have been expelled - completing their education with a course or two on African-American studies and community service added to their graduation requirements would be a healthier lesson. . .
Elders set the tone for the young and most of us should look in the mirror and commit to doing 'more' than our 'perceived part' as citizens. . .
Thank You once again to Susan Stabile
Access her post and 'click' on the READ icon:
Objects vs. Collaborators
March 13, 2015
"Many things have been written in the aftermath of the racist chants by Oklahoma University fraternity members. One of the most thoughtful pieces I have read was written by Rev. Dr. Maria Dixon Hall, who teaches at Southern Methodist University. Critical of the way OU handled the situation, she suggests that the University missed an opportunity to use this incident as a teaching tool. In her piece, she outlines four “teachable moments” that were missed.
WELL WORTH THE READ!
Access her post and 'click' on the READ icon:
Objects vs. Collaborators
March 13, 2015
"Many things have been written in the aftermath of the racist chants by Oklahoma University fraternity members. One of the most thoughtful pieces I have read was written by Rev. Dr. Maria Dixon Hall, who teaches at Southern Methodist University. Critical of the way OU handled the situation, she suggests that the University missed an opportunity to use this incident as a teaching tool. In her piece, she outlines four “teachable moments” that were missed.
WELL WORTH THE READ!
My bad. . .
It is Ferguson, not Jefferson, Mo - can I blame my mental lapse on a 'high blood' spike?
Have Mercy, 'senior moments' do occur. . .
It is Ferguson, not Jefferson, Mo - can I blame my mental lapse on a 'high blood' spike?
Have Mercy, 'senior moments' do occur. . .
Wow! Rev. Hall's message was transformational. It puts such a clear picture on how to go forward. I have labeled others as "objects of mission". I have also gained more than I have given by collaborating with others. What a healthy guide to living as God intended.
SMU's Dr. Hall is on to something.
According to the SAE attorney, members of the Oklahoma University chapter have been receiving death threats. I think this is likely, based upon the almost universal condemnation of the boys in online comments to news articles, most of them over the top and every bit as vile, maybe more so, than the alcohol fueled chant.
The attorney says he and his client seek a coming together in a teachable moment.
That's a good idea.
Closing the fraternity house abruptly and evicting students, expelling some-if that's what has happened-and precipitously making decisions about discipline, was not a good idea.
Unfortunately, we live in an America which is quick to condemn, hesitant to forgive, and determinedly skeptical of repentance. Oh, well...
According to the SAE attorney, members of the Oklahoma University chapter have been receiving death threats. I think this is likely, based upon the almost universal condemnation of the boys in online comments to news articles, most of them over the top and every bit as vile, maybe more so, than the alcohol fueled chant.
The attorney says he and his client seek a coming together in a teachable moment.
That's a good idea.
Closing the fraternity house abruptly and evicting students, expelling some-if that's what has happened-and precipitously making decisions about discipline, was not a good idea.
Unfortunately, we live in an America which is quick to condemn, hesitant to forgive, and determinedly skeptical of repentance. Oh, well...
# posted by : 10:51 PM
: 10:51 PM
Anonymous 2, well said. . .
"Unfortunately, we live in an America which is quick to condemn, hesitant to forgive, and determinedly skeptical of repentance. Oh, well..."
Although, ". . .in (an) America," repentance is (too frequently)magnanimously offered and conferred upon 'their own' often no matter the transgression or offense. "Oh, well. . ."
"Unfortunately, we live in an America which is quick to condemn, hesitant to forgive, and determinedly skeptical of repentance. Oh, well..."
Although, ". . .in (an) America," repentance is (too frequently)magnanimously offered and conferred upon 'their own' often no matter the transgression or offense. "Oh, well. . ."
C.C.
Not sure how you confer "repentance," magnanimously or otherwise. You probably meant to write, "forgiveness."
Can't argue that its easier to forgive one's own, but that is not a fault. Fault lies in hesitating to forgive others, whether "in the family" or not. At least, this is my opinion.
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Not sure how you confer "repentance," magnanimously or otherwise. You probably meant to write, "forgiveness."
Can't argue that its easier to forgive one's own, but that is not a fault. Fault lies in hesitating to forgive others, whether "in the family" or not. At least, this is my opinion.
# posted by : 2:09 PM
: 2:09 PM << Home
