Ethnic clubs in Catholic high schools and colleges

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I have noticed the prevalence of Latino/Hispanic student organizations at Catholic schools over African-American clubs and, obviously, white clubs.

If one ethnic group is allowed to promote its racial heritage, shouldn’t all races or ethnic groups be allowed to do the same? If you say all groups except whites should be allowed, are you not guilty of racial discrimination? It doesn’t matter that whites are in the majority. Whites will not be a majority in this country within one generation, although they will be the plurality. Should all Hispanic organizations be disbanded once they reach plurality?

I would be comfortable banning any raced based organization from our schools, although they allow members from other races, because they are naturally divisive.

Someone posted an another website: “If it’s brown, it’s pride; if it’s white, it’s racism.”
 
I’ve been called an “Anglo” before by Hispanics. I had to point out to them that that meants people from england and that I didn’t have a drop of English blood in my vains. But if you call everyone from south of a border “mexican” they’ll get all worked up because they’re from cuba or Columbia or any other place that is not mexico.

What gives? If you’re going to call me “white” (when I’m actually tan 👍) why do you get offended if I call you black or brown? It’s all silly to begin with 🤷
 
I went to a Catholic college and I never saw a club based on race. We did have an Asian club, but it was mostly populated by foreign students studying in the US. It helped them keep in touch with the food and culture they grew up with. They would put on Asian New Year (ie Chinese New Year) and serve food and have shows, it was always very fun. We also had a festival of cultures, where the different cultures and nations being represented in our school would serve a traditional food from their country. The year the Fides et Ratio club started they set up a booth for the Vatican with the papal flag and served Black Forest cake for our german pope. 😃 👍
 
I think its fine if kept in check. Far to much of history that is taught is based on the European point of view.
 
They exist for non-Hispanics and non-Blacks, but for the most part, they’re just an excuse to party.

In her law school, my daughter belonged to the Irish Lawyer’s Association, the Italian Lawyers’ Association and the Southern Lawyers’ Association. Basically, it all just amounted to the prevailing drink at the parties. (Irish whiskey or stout, Italian wine, Bourbon, respectively)

But, okay, if you were Polish or Black and wanted to adopt being Irish, you could join the Irish Lawyers’ Association. You might get some good natured ribbing, but you were still welcome to drink Tullamore Dew or Guiness and sing Irish songs at parties. Anybody could “self-identify” as whatever they wanted.

I don’t think it’s quite the same with some of the other “ethnic” clubs.
 
rodomonte said:
Someone posted an another website: “If it’s brown, it’s pride; if it’s white, it’s racism.”
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And it makes sense that it should be this way. White people (men specifically) still hold most of the power in our society. Much of government, the top of the business world is already a white man’s club. It would be pretty weird if there was a university club formally called that.

Ethnic groups also have cultural differences that set them apart, which may be language, religion, life experiences. They may want to support each other as minorities in some environment.

White guys don’t really have that, unless they are Jewish. Jews have strong community organizations designed in part to help each other. Which may well come with them being a minority with a history of being persecuted.
 
rodomonte said:
I have noticed the prevalence of Latino/Hispanic student organizations at Catholic schools over African-American clubs and, obviously, white clubs.

If one ethnic group is allowed to promote its racial heritage, shouldn’t all races or ethnic groups be allowed to do the same? If you say all groups except whites should be allowed, are you not guilty of racial discrimination? It doesn’t matter that whites are in the majority. Whites will not be a majority in this country within one generation, although they will be the plurality. Should all Hispanic organizations be disbanded once they reach plurality?

I would be comfortable banning any raced based organization from our schools, although they allow members from other races, because they are naturally divisive.

Someone posted an another website: “If it’s brown, it’s pride; if it’s white, it’s racism.”
Click to expand...
I don’t really think this sounds like a case of racism. Rather, I believe you are jumping the gun. I believe we should encourage this show of pride. i believe as long as this doesn’t turn into racism, it’s fine. It seems like all they are doing is expressing themselves. And let’s face it, a majority of Hispanics are Catholic. They are just expressing themselves as far as I’m concerned.
 
flyingfish said:
And it makes sense that it should be this way. White people (men specifically) still hold most of the power in our society. Much of government, the top of the business world is already a white man’s club. It would be pretty weird if there was a university club formally called that.
Click to expand...
While your reference to the white men holding a disproportionate percentage of power per capita is true, you wrongly assume it is all white men. I am a white male. I am not in government, and I am not in the business world, let alone the top. I have no more power in this society than the poorest minority individual. That is if that person has a right to vote.
It is a stereotype and ignores the fact that white men, as every other group, is comprised of individuals. These individuals all have their own problems, strengths and weaknesses.

I like to look at America as the melting pot. E pluribus unum, out of many one. Ethnic clubs today often preach ethnic separation and ethnic identity. To think a society such as ours,( The US) can survive like this is insanity. While the story of the Tower of Babel speaks only of language, I believe it speaks to all that divides groups. United we stand, divided we fall.
Diversity is a detriment when focused on. I prefer to celebrate unity. What do we have a common? A focus on what is common to is will strengthen our communities, our churches, and our nation.
 
runner93 said:
I don’t really think this sounds like a case of racism. Rather, I believe you are jumping the gun. I believe we should encourage this show of pride. i believe as long as this doesn’t turn into racism, it’s fine. It seems like all they are doing is expressing themselves. And let’s face it, a majority of Hispanics are Catholic. They are just expressing themselves as far as I’m concerned.
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Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. If such clubs are based on pride, Europeans have the most reason to be proud, because they founded and developed this country.

I can imagine the outrage that would accompany the formation of a “European” club. I would do that and then negotiate to disband it if all ethnic clubs at the given institution are disbanded.

I am sure a public institution could be successfully sued if they didn’t permit a European club.
 
Why does it bother you guys so much that these clubs exist? Evidently you don’t even want a “European Club,” since you’re only considering forming one in some sort of protest.

I’m not even going to touch the “Europeans have the most reason to be proud” comment.
 
rodomonte said:
Europeans have the most reason to be proud, because they founded and developed this country.
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Not entirely, and what they did do was at the cost of other cultures, cultures that should have a voice and a place in history equal to one that Europeans hold.
 
rodomonte said:
Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. If such clubs are based on pride, Europeans have the most reason to be proud, because they founded and developed this country.

I can imagine the outrage that would accompany the formation of a “European” club. I would do that and then negotiate to disband it if all ethnic clubs at the given institution are disbanded.

I am sure a public institution could be successfully sued if they didn’t permit a European club.
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I mean excessive pride…there is no issue in being proud of your heritage.
 
aperture said:
Why does it bother you guys so much that these clubs exist? Evidently you don’t even want a “European Club,” since you’re only considering forming one in some sort of protest.

I’m not even going to touch the “Europeans have the most reason to be proud” comment.
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Because they are divisive. If every one just considered themselves Americans, and not hypenated-American, this country would be much better off. I can do without a club for my ethnic heiritage, and I don’t see why everyone can’t.

One’s ethnic heiritage is not something to be proud of because an individual has no causal relationship to his genetic makeup. In other words, you don’t get to choose your parents.
 
rodomonte said:
I have noticed the prevalence of Latino/Hispanic student organizations at Catholic schools over African-American clubs and, obviously, white clubs.

If one ethnic group is allowed to promote its racial heritage, shouldn’t all races or ethnic groups be allowed to do the same? If you say all groups except whites should be allowed, are you not guilty of racial discrimination? It doesn’t matter that whites are in the majority. Whites will not be a majority in this country within one generation, although they will be the plurality. Should all Hispanic organizations be disbanded once they reach plurality?

I would be comfortable banning any raced based organization from our schools, although they allow members from other races, because they are naturally divisive.

Someone posted an another website: “If it’s brown, it’s pride; if it’s white, it’s racism.”
Click to expand...
I think having race based clubs is divisive when they allow only members of a specific race to join. Why not have clubs “teaching” others about their members’ ethnicity and heritage?

I taught Montessori pre school for over twenty years. Even at the age of three a child can learn acceptance that others may be different, but not less than they are.
 
mpb74 said:
While your reference to the white men holding a disproportionate percentage of power per capita is true, you wrongly assume it is all white men. I am a white male. I am not in government, and I am not in the business world, let alone the top. I have no more power in this society than the poorest minority individual. That is if that person has a right to vote.
It is a stereotype and ignores the fact that white men, as every other group, is comprised of individuals. These individuals all have their own problems, strengths and weaknesses.

I like to look at America as the melting pot. E pluribus unum, out of many one. Ethnic clubs today often preach ethnic separation and ethnic identity. To think a society such as ours,( The US) can survive like this is insanity. While the story of the Tower of Babel speaks only of language, I believe it speaks to all that divides groups. United we stand, divided we fall.
Diversity is a detriment when focused on. I prefer to celebrate unity. What do we have a common? A focus on what is common to is will strengthen our communities, our churches, and our nation.
Click to expand...
Well, “white male” is not a culture or a cohesive group. I’m also white by the way, but I don’t view myself as a member of a white group. I’m a woman and my field is dominated by men, so I feel some connection and fellowship with the women in my field. I also have an Eastern European background, so I feel some (but not very much) connection to that culture.

If people made a club centered around Eastern European food/culture, it would make sense. But a club for white people would just be weird, and in a culture with a history of discrimination against non-whites, it would just come across as racist

Maybe a “white” club would make sense for foreign students in Japan, say, where most people speak a different language and have a different culture. It’s hard to see it as anything other than racist in America.

I think people who make women’s clubs or ethnic clubs are trying to find some fellowship in what they perceive to be a larger culture that is unlike them and is maybe even unfriendly to them.
 
FlyingFish,
You are the one who brought up “white males”. I describe my grouping as a child of God. I am part of the human community. That is first and foremost what I am. I am also an individual. My genetic makeup and genetalia have nothing to do with my mind or my soul. That is what I am. Being white and being male are not what make me what I am. They are incidental to my humanity. Your original statement smacks of stereotype. What does the fact that white men are disproportionately represented in the halls of power have to do with, let’s say, poor white men having a social organization?
I would love your thoughts about my statements on unity. Do you think focusing on human differences is Christian? I don’t. As to your thoughts on white mens clubs, do you not think white men are equal to every other gender/ethnic grouping. I believe God does. If you don’t, you are denying others their inherent human dignity.
I am of Irish lineage. Which means a mixed bag of bloodlines as Ireland was often plundered through the ages. All that means to me is that it is probably the reason I always found the redheaded lasses to be the most attractive. ( My opinion only). In fact I have been married to a wonderful redheaded girl for many a year. And to my good fortune she is a wonderful human being, who has made me a better man. A child of God. Like every other human being.
Come judgement day, I doubt our Lord will consider our little groupings.
 
rodomonte said:
Because they are divisive. If every one just considered themselves Americans, and not hypenated-American, this country would be much better off. I can do without a club for my ethnic heiritage, and I don’t see why everyone can’t.
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The fact that you do not feel the need for such a club doesn’t really mean anything.

And I’d rather not see everyone in this country be the same. Different perspectives and lifestyles - within certain boundaries of course, but we’re not even approaching those here - make for a richer life.
One’s ethnic heiritage is not something to be proud of because an individual has no causal relationship to his genetic makeup. In other words, you don’t get to choose your parents.
Click to expand...
…but “ethnic clubs” aren’t just about a given ethnicity saying it’s awesome…
 
rodomonte said:
Because they are divisive. If every one just considered themselves Americans, and not hypenated-American, this country would be much better off. I can do without a club for my ethnic heiritage, and I don’t see why everyone can’t.

One’s ethnic heiritage is not something to be proud of because an individual has no causal relationship to his genetic makeup. In other words, you don’t get to choose your parents.
Click to expand...
In March, I went to a dance exhibition at Boston College. Many of the ethnic clubs or societies took part. I was blown away by the pride these young people took in their heritage. There were Phillipino dancers, Hawaiian dancers, as well as Japanese, Chinese and every hispanic nation on this planet. I was so proud that my son attended such a culturally diverse university. I learned a lot that day. My daughter, who attends UW Madison, said that her school was pretty white bread compared to BC. She will be a junior and has only one class in two years with a African American. Who has the better education?
go Jesuits!
 
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