<p>My point about scholarships offer by an academic institution should be based on merit or need. Not race or culture.</p>
<p>If organizations want to have all black or all white or scholarships for very a student who parents are fighting for the country WHY NOT. But a school shouldn't have a scholarship for one group and not one for another group.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>Also if someone screams racism for an all white scholarship shouldn't it be racism to offer an all black scholarship.<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>If we lived in a perfect world, yes. But we don't. Actually, if we lived in a perfect world this issue would never come up. But we don't.</p>
<p>You are kidding yourselves if you think that favoritism shown to an oppressed people as a means to lift them up and help redress prior wrongs is morally equal to favoritism shown to the oppressors. They may be superficially or structurally the same, but they have enormously different meanings in our society.</p>
<p>A "whites only" scholarship just feels bad - odious and unsavory if not downright evil. It smacks of the phony concept of "separate but equal." It is aligned with the grand traditions of the KKK and white segregationists.</p>
<p>By contrast a scholarship to benefit African Americans is aligned with the tradtions of the NAACP, Martin Luther King, and Earl Warren.</p>
<p>They are not the same.</p>
<p>There are already scholarships for people with all kinds of backgrounds including race, religion, parentage, whether an ancestor was in the revolutionary war, whether they have Asian/Irish ancestry, whether the person is good at a particular sport, etc. As long as these come from private sources, I don't have much of a problem with it. If someone wants to give someone else free money because they're red-haired, under 5 feet, and brown-eyed, then good for the recipient. I don't think they should ever come from public funds however.</p>
<p>Personally though, I'd never sponsor a scholarship based on things an individual has no control over such as race, ancestry, height, natural color of hair, etc. I'd only sponsor a scholarship that recognizes achievement of some sort including academics, community service, obstacles overcome, etc. </p>
<p>From reading the article though, I think some group is just trying to make a statement. It's a ridiculous statement - especially since it's from a young Republicans group since Republicans aren't a 'white-only' group nor should they be. I think the Republican party should do what they can to distance themselves form this campus group maligning their name.</p>
<p>There is no mystery about what's going on here -- it's an act of political theater. No racism. No KKK. No George Wallace on the steps of the university. The leader of the club makes the same point some posters here have, that scholarships based on something out of the control of the recipient (like race) are wrong. It's possible to criticize their methods, but I'm all in favor of the first amendment, even when its manifested in fairly strange ways.</p>
<p>"Separate but equal" Is exactly what all-black scholarships are. They are separating one group and giving one group oppurtunities that the other will not recieve do to the color of the skin.</p>
<p>As uscd said "As long as these come from private sources, I don't have much of a problem with it." Keep race scholarships out of schools and in private sources.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My point about scholarships offer by an academic institution should be based on merit or need. Not race or culture.</p>
<p>If organizations want to have all black or all white or scholarships for very a student who parents are fighting for the country WHY NOT. But a school shouldn't have a scholarship for one group and not one for another group.
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</p>
<p>But many of these scholarships ARE funded by donors. If you look at a lot of scholarships they will be called the "John K Doe scholarship for such and such type of people" and they are funded by John K. Doe. One might assume that John K Doe makes the qualifications because John K Doe would like to help a person such as himself go to college. And that John K Doe would not fund a scholarship through the university if he could not do that. </p>
<p>If a school has funding for a scholarship for one group and not another group, I don't see why the school shouldn't offer it. Rather than alienating donors so no one can have a scholarship...doesn't make sense to me. Why not let John K Doe offer his scholarship? It doesn't actually hurt anyone, it just helps someone. Okay everyone is not eligible...but that doesn't necessarily hurt them, because they wouldn't be getting a scholarship from John K Doe anyway if he withdraws and offers it individually to someone in his community. There are many scholarships that any one person can meet the criteria for, but no one is going to meet the criteria for them all. I don't view that as unfair. This group is making a statement and that's fine. I think their efforts are somewhat misguided, because they're just perpetuating what they're against. Also like I said, I don't think "white" is a community in that sense, which is probably why to some people a white scholarship "feels" wrong. </p>
<p>They could galvanize the "white community" to offer scholarships for white people. If they really think white kids need white scholarships. That would probably benefit more people. Would it happen? Probably not, because again, "white" is not so much a community over it's specific subgroups which already tend to offer scholarships. And I think in this lies the reason why some universities have scholarships funded for black students. I have seen though, for example, scholarships for Jewish students (vast majority of whom presumably would be white). Is it fair that most people can't get that? I don't think so. And most people wouldn't question it.</p>
<p>I totally agree with tmacgirl's first post. I totally agree.</p>
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Also if someone screams racism for an all white scholarship shouldn't it be racism to offer an all black scholarship.
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Of course it is. I totally agree with you tmacgirl. And as to the argument that white is not a race, I might retort that black is not a race either. </p>
<p>
[quote]
A "whites only" scholarship just feels bad - odious and unsavory if not downright evil. It smacks of the phony concept of "separate but equal." It is aligned with the grand traditions of the KKK and white segregationists.
[/quote]
What? Why would a white scholarship feel "evil" if a black scholarship does not? Are white people inherently evil and undeserving of a scholarhip? And how on earth do you associate this with the KKK? You basically said that white = bad KKK and black = good NAACP. Now that is racist. </p>
<p>Sheesh!</p>
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And as to the argument that white is not a race, I might retort that black is not a race either.
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</p>
<p>I don't believe anyone said white is not a race, although if we want to get technical, "white" and "black" aren't races, they are colors. I said that white is not a culture or community in America and I think the fact that someone had to do this pretty much validates that point. Why aren't there "white" scholarships sponsored by white donors? Because white people don't feel a strict sense of community to do that for other white people. Instead, they do it for other Polish people, or other Jewish people, or other people whose families came over on the Mayflower. Whereas historically the black community in America was forced to band together and create a common culture, and you see that tie in the scholarships that are provided by members of the community for members of the community. </p>
<p>I think it's simple enough, whether you want to see it this way isn't really my concern. I said I'm fine with this scholarship, but IMO the reason they have to do this really has nothing to do with racism and probably a lot to do with misunderstanding the dynamics within the umbrella that "Caucasian" covers. They seem to have good intentions which is excellent. If they feel they can effect change they should certainly do whatever they feel is within their power as long as it balances the rights of others. Personally I fail to see what this will change. You aren't going to destroy 200 years of history by offering a scholarship for whites only.</p>
<p>What's clear is that these uneducated kids haven't learned about the affects of racism/sexism, and slavery, on generational poverty.</p>
<p>When has the white man been oppressed? When have they been the minority? </p>
<p>What's sick is this scholarship is being offered by BUs Young Republicans. Racism has re-entered the realm of politics. Anyone recall that the Constitution valued the life of a slave to that of 3/5s of a white man?</p>
<p>Anyone recall a time when women couldn't vote? </p>
<p>Anyone recall whites only bathrooms and water fountains?</p>
<p>I'll bet most of you think we fought the Civil War to free the slaves.</p>
<p>tmacgirl.... totally. Here's to not ever applying to BU imo..</p>
<p>azsxdc:</p>
<p>This scholarship isn't being offered by BU and isn't being condoned by BU so I don't think BU should be off the application list due to this. It might be a reason to not join that club that's offering the scholarship though.</p>
<p>While an unfortunate number of Americans roll their eyes at affirmative action and choose to ignore an issue that is prevalent in our country, I believe that racism is alive and not so well today in our " united states". (As evidenced by the AA enrollment at BU presently)? Though racial equality may be making strides in some areas (both geographically and socially), I don't believe that we have scratched the surface of the problem; calling ourselves a country where all citizens have equal opportunity is a simply shortsided. As for the question : who will fix this problem? Answer: definitely not the Republican group offering the scholarship. A collaborative effort is the only solution that I can see. Though caucasions were the source of the problem that is racism (for hundreds of years mind you), I presume that the AA population realizes that they must rely on themselves now more than ever to find resolution. In this country that celebrates nationally (with paid holiday incentive for some) those who lost their lives in a war, or merely served in our armed forces----asking us never to forget the suffering that many families endured during war time with other countries--- can we really ask the African Americans in this country to forget the attrocities that they have suffered (and continue to endure today) at the hands of our own citizens?? I just don't think it is that easy folks.</p>
<p>"I'll bet most of you think we fought the Civil War to free the slaves."</p>
<p>I guess flying the confederate flag shouldn't bother anyone today - since the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery</p>
<p>Don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery. Most people think freeing the slaves was the main reason we fought the war, which isn't true. Go back and learn some history of the slave South and perhaps then you'll understand. Here's a good place to start: <a href="http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/SHD/%5B/url%5D">http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/SHD/</a></p>
<p>Discrimination is a horrible thing to live with. Racism is a learned trait passed down from generation to generation. It's a complex issue that starts with "I don't like these people cause they're different." It then gets reinforced by self-segregation. Self-segregation occurs partly cause people want to avoid the pain of discrimination.</p>
<p>America needs to understand the disabling effects discrimination has on an entire group of people before we start to dismantle systems like affirmative action or race-based scholarships. These systems were put in place in order to break the stranglehold of generational poverty caused by racism and America's original sin. If accommodations aren't made people will resort back to a silent racism and discrimination. </p>
<p>What's clear is groups like Boston Univ.'s College Republicans don't have a clue about the history of racism/discrimination/slavery and its impact on generational poverty. Sure they want to compete on merit, but they don't realize how they've had an advantage over other groups that have been discriminated against for generations. This is a shameful failure of our education system and an extremely poor reflection on Boston University. </p>
<p>If scene's like Hurricane Katrina don't make people aware that the issue still exists then I don't know what will.</p>
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I guess flying the confederate flag shouldn't bother anyone today - since the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery
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<p>Well you don't want to miss the distinction of the causes that led to secession (the creation of the Confederacy and what they stand for, symbolized through their flag) and why the actual Civil War was fought. Slavery without a doubt was a major factor in the southern states seceding. It was the economic system of the south, contrary to economic system of the north, and both could not coexist, that was becoming clear. Because they couldn't - well, didn't want to - give up slavery, they left the Union instead, leaving Abraham Lincoln to start a Civil War to reunite the Union. </p>
<p>So in effect, the Confederate flag does represent the fact that Americans were willing to actually try and create another country in order to protect the institution of slavery. I wouldn't call the Confederate cause a noble one, at least by our current perception of the reality of race relations. To some in the South, the Confederate flag is a symbol of honor, but this doesn't sit well with me. The Confederate flag and the ideas it represented are not ones that we condone in society today. You could say also that a Swastika is a symbol of honor, surely those people were courageous and stood up for what they believed in - they were also very, very wrong, in fact monstrous, cruel, and inhumane. The Confederate flag is not far off this analogy...it's not a historical prize representing valor or whatever people want to make, it was originally created to signify barriers and a country where slavery was the inevitable destiny of humanity. So certainly if one doesn't believe those things are true, I would question why they would choose to display this symbol.</p>
<p>
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America needs to understand the disabling effects discrimination has on an entire group of people before we start to dismantle systems like affirmative action or race-based scholarships.
[/quote]
Actually what America needs to learn is that teaching people to be victims and telling them how much they have been injured only makes them weaker. If it is wrong to give whites preference based on their race (as was the case a hundred years ago), it cannot be right to give blacks preference based on their race. As we watch Asian americans make up 7 percent of the population but 30 percent of the top ivy league schools (my figures are approximate), how can anyone suggest America is not the land of opportunity for those willling to work for it. African americans need to stop blaming others for their problems and start succeeding based on their own hard work. There are many who have done it and more who need to.</p>
<p>Indiana Jones posts "I'll bet most of you think we fought the Civil War to free the slaves.</p>
<p>Citation X (myself) responds " I guess flying the confederate flag shouldn't bother anyone today - since the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery"</p>
<p>Princedog posts: "Slavery without a doubt was a major factor in the southern states seceding." </p>
<p>OF COURSE the Civil War was fought over slavery. Princedog, you need to read the ORIGINAL POST I was responding to</p>
<p>Sorry Razor, your people weren't brought here in shackles against their will. </p>
<p>What do you suggest we do to end generational poverty? If you understood generational poverty then you'd understand that your people have had an advantage over a group that was enslaved and subsequently legally discriminated against in the harshest fashion for over 300 years.</p>
<p>Hurricane Katrina exposed a group of people stuck in poverty. The majority were African-American. Don't you think there would've been a different reaction by our government if lower Manhattan was hit by Katrina?</p>
<p>Boot straps and work ethic won't break generational poverty. If you think African-Americans have the same opportunity today as white Americans, you're not as bright as you think.</p>
<p>Katrina hit whoever was in her path without the least bit of discrimination. The biggest failing was in the local people's reaction to the hurricane themselves (the 'I've been through hurricanes before' syndrome) as well as the local government's response to the situation - i.e. not using existing resources to help move the people out of there and expecting the Feds to magically take care of everything instantly.</p>
<p>There's something to be said that institutionalizing subsistence support and dependency only further shackles those receiving it. New Orleans, as a large welfare area, is a prime example of this. Persisting in a victim mentality, despite one having been victimized, only serves to exacerbate the problem. It's those who find it within themselves to move beyond this point and learn to not depend on others and not wallow in defeat who will succeed. Rather than listening to 'leaders' who continue to perpetuate this victim mentality, people need to listen to those other leaders who encourage them to get in the driver's seat and start moving past it. I know this is easier said than done but we all know it can be done.</p>