And waitresses may not be a protected group, but they nonetheless have typically represented a lower class in America, or a struggling group of folks trying to get established in another profession but needing some income.
An AA acquaintance attended a private school in New England, and then went on to Williams, and after that a job on Wall Street and huge home in a tony suburb. She feels as though she has been victimized and discriminated against, all the same. Isn’t it cultural appropriation to act as though her life has anything in common with the black urban poor?
So if someone wore a Hooters outfit (admittedly a pretty tacky uniform) they would be offending the waitstaff in the US? Would it be un-PC to wear a Waffle House uniform too? White Castle? KFC? What about the high end restaurants that may use a starched white cotton servers coat? Too stereotypic?
I had arrived in New Haven the day after this charming exchange to participate in a conference (irony, thy name is Yale) on free speech sponsored by the William F. Buckley Jr. Program at Yale. As I wrote yesterday, we had our own crazies at that event, though none quite so unhinged as the skirling, teary black girl hurling obscenities at Nicholas Christakis (but this chap gets honorable mention). As it happens, Professor Christakis, a sociologist and medical doctor, provided the introductory remarks for the conference. He stressed early and often that he disagreed categorically with the conservative philosophy of William F. Buckley Jr., under whose epistemic dispensation the program that bears his name conducts its business. And yet Professor Christakis also underscored his support for free speech. He alluded mournfully to the events of the previous day, and one or two people who had heard accounts of the confrontation described to me what had happened. I did not, however, appreciate the raw virulence of the episode until I saw and heard the video clips.
American campuses have for many years been treating their charges as childish ATMs: delicate creatures who, though they dispense a small fortune over the course of four years through the proxy of their parents or, thanks to the redistributionist mechanism of financial aid, through the parents of other students, nonetheless must be treated as irresponsible toddlers, protected at every turn from ideas they might find challenging or — the king of words these days — “offensive.” Colleges have set themselves up as multicultural, sexually and racially exotic hothouses to breed these noxious, neurasthenic but politically correct creatures who are capable of emotional hysteria but not reasoned argument. They know less and less of the past, because the past is such a dangerous place, full of things to offend the racially sensitive, the sexual confused, the politically ignorant, and morally obtuse. Colleges and universities have thus sown the wind. Is it surprising that they are now reaping the whirlwind? What just happened at Yale is an early pustule appearing on the body of American academia. But the bacillus is systemic: I predict more and more, and more and more violent, outbreaks. The question is whether the patient is robust enough to weather the fevers and pustules that are on their way. One thing is certain, the condition will get worse before it gets better — assuming, that is, that it does get better.
I knew Dean Christakis many years ago when we were both students. I am not surprised to see him in the midst of this brouhaha. If you watch the video you see him lean over to talk to a student, with his hands on his knees, as if talking to a preschooler. I think that says it all about his intellectual condescension.
Bottom line is that millions of Americans can claim heritage of just about anything including Native American. Almost no one can claim ancestry of just one nationality. Emily has no exclusivity on that and she can’t tell by looking at someone whether they have a right to or not. Because guess what? That is discrimatory. She is being over the top if she sits in her room and frets about people dressed up in Native American costumes. They are not threatening her or belittling her (and their) ancestors’ plight.
I am not going to veer off to people I don’t personally know or some other “for example” group. What I do know, is that Emily makes a lucid and cogent point in reference to the specific affected group, e.g. Native Americans. If one cannot either read or understand the turgid US history behind this, well, you may gave bigger problems. Her statement was at once salient and to the point—that is to say–some of this is offensive and please stop.
Does anyone find it ironic that the same committee warning students about offensive costumes endorses a cemetery tour? In what way is a cemetery tour respectful of those buried there or their families?
And what is this “safe space” that this generation is continually referring to?? It was mentioned by 2 of the students in the videos linked upthread. Is this some guarantee or entitlement? Who gets this "space"and by whom is it granted? Is it meant to be some sort of protection from the intrusion of opinion that does not align with your own??
My son dressed as a lumberjack for halloween, what if that offended tree lovers??
Which ironically he is …(a tree lover) IDK why he dressed as a lumberjack… I think it was just a costume and not meant to be a political statement… sometimes costumes aren’t endorsements of ideology or political statements… they are just costumes
@gettingschooled Perhaps what you don’t know is that Yale has a Native American House (Called the Henry Roe house) which Emily’s father, previously served as the Dean. As such, any person who either is recognized or has an affinity for, she would know who these students are—its a fairly small community, that is rather delineated. This sort, of ersatz devil’s advocate that you portend, is mere intellectual pretense. It goes along the same rationale of those who perpetuate the utilization of the term Redskins, and say that it at once flattering and benign. This despite the fact, that the original owner (of the football team) was an avowed racist and KKK member, and that term, is entirely pejorative in its origin. Or that almost 99% of all tribes have asked for its removal…patriarchal revisionism has many paths.
But, alh, if I recall the video correctly, she claimed to no longer have a safe space because of the emails, and that she once loved Silliman and the masters but no longer does.
You are lucky and I suspect unusual if you have never been among a majority of another race or ethnic group, and been made to feel unsafe. Even in the US, and even if you are white.
I have a reasonable right to feel physically safe (and if not, the police aren’t doing their job). I don’t have an inalienable right to never feel like “the other” or to be continuously acknowledged as the special snowflake I am.
So in order to be considered Native Anerican I have to live in special housing? I guess I should be grateful there is no blood purity test required only a willingness to segregate myself reservation style? Yale sounds like a fun place.
@gettingschooled It is a house (e.g. a cultural center), not a dorm. Like all other Yale students, they live in the RS. You obviously don’t know too much about Yale and its college system, almost as much as your lack of background on both the political and societal history of Natives in the US–nonetheless, you feel compelled to remark on many topics in which you have exhibited a bare minimum of knowledge—curious.
Have plenty of background on Native American history, thanks. Have Cherokee ancestry on both sides of my family. Grandparents who did not lose touch with it. Not sure why you don’t think I do just because I don’t get offended by trick or treat costumes. Curious.
Haha! If I don’t get offended by costumes, I certainly am not offended by Boolahi’s opinions. He is entitled to them and entitled to express them just as I am mine.