Community Chat

[NoelSeven]

On 3/27/2015 chessylady said: They call it leadership training, I call it institutionalized racism.

That's it, exactly.

[RainCityGirl]

I read the article by the professor. It was an interesting and very magnanimous take on the issue. I would be more in agreement if she were talking about high school or junior high school students. As for teachable moments, I think we're beyond that at the University level when it comes to bigotry. The only teachable moment I see is that there really ARE consequences to our actions. But then this is a society in which no one is ever to blame for anything. This isn't the only Frat to be kicked off a campus for bad behavior, and it won't be the last They are on campus at the University's discretion. It's rather revealing to look at the reasons these living groups emerged in the first place, but I digress. If these boys can take credit for anything, it would opening our sleepy eyes once again to what lies in the underbelly of the American psyche. We need to constantly remind ourselves as to how far we have come, and how far we still have to go.

[Lila Belle]

On 3/27/2015 Autumn in NY said:

The kid who secretly videotaped it and sent it to an African American student should have stood up on the bus and said STOP, I'm not going to take part in this. Instead, he did an underhanded thing which makes you wonder what he was doing on that bus in the first place.

The bus was headed to a party and they went as a group.

[hckynut]

"Autumn in NY", Do you know for a fact he/she "did not stand up"?

[Irshgrl31201]

On 3/28/2015 RainCityGirl said:

I read the article by the professor. It was an interesting and very magnanimous take on the issue. I would be more in agreement if she were talking about high school or junior high school students. As for teachable moments, I think we're beyond that at the University level when it comes to bigotry. The only teachable moment I see is that there really ARE consequences to our actions. But then this is a society in which no one is ever to blame for anything. This isn't the only Frat to be kicked off a campus for bad behavior, and it won't be the last They are on campus at the University's discretion. It's rather revealing to look at the reasons these living groups emerged in the first place, but I digress. If these boys can take credit for anything, it would opening our sleepy eyes once again to what lies in the underbelly of the American psyche. We need to constantly remind ourselves as to how far we have come, and how far we still have to go.

I don't agree with that at all. That age alone even with out going to school and experiencing different people and cultures is a great time for growth and change. Most kids amongst the same people and opinions and simply mirror what they hear without ever experiencing anything different until they get away and find they may feel differently or have positive experiences when they do. There were probably kids in that group that may have not felt that way at all. There are study after study showing how strong herd mentality is. She, as a college professor obviously sees this often for it to have shaped her own opinion in such a way.

I have no problem with frats getting kicked off the campus, they really enforce the herd mentality to not think for yourself in a lot of cases.

[Lion]

On 3/27/2015 chickenbutt said:

Not surprised either.

I saw something yesterday or the day before with one of the guys 'apologizing' for his part in it. Really? People don't say/sing things like that unless that is truly part of their thought and belief process. I just think that those 'I'm sorry I got caught' kind of apologies are worse than just keeping it shut. Don't say anything if you don't actually mean that you're sorry YOU DID IT. If you're just sorry you got caught it comes through glaringly in your little apology.

/rant (sorry)

ITA. I don't want to hear an empty apology.

I want to hear them admit that they are racists and bigots.

Then, I want to hear them tell what they're going to do to try to change their racist/bigot feelings and behaviors.

[dooBdoo]

This situation is so representative of what we've seen happening across the country, in my opinion. Maybe in the world. And it makes me so sad that it's hard to find appropriate un-censorable words to express my feelings.

[Pashmina_1]

Well I know I am certainly not the person I was at age 18-21. I did a lot of silly things I'm not proud of and I've matured since then. My guess is that is true of most of us whether anyone chooses to admit it or not.

[blackhole99]

We taught our son from the time he was old enough to understand not to discriminate against any one for any reason. These people learn to think the way they do from the cradle, it doesn't matter how educated or uneducated they are, it's ingrained. The only reason any one recants or apologizes is because there are ramifications to their actions.

[sidsmom]

I think it's so sad people can't move forward with this. The ones that are forgiving & moving forward were there with Levi Pettit during the apology. It's silly to say 'he didn't mean it' or 'empty apology'...how does one know that? No one governs your mind other than yourself. I'm accepting his apology. If implying Levi Pettit's apology is hollow, you're also discounting the acceptance of the Africian American community of Oklahoma City, as well. Their action of standing with Levi Pettit speaks volumes.

If members of the African American community are OK with his degree of apology, it's OK with me, as well. It's time to forgive & move forward.