Ethnicity

[Arrian]

Natan,

Well, the clique thing probably varies widely depending on the university or college. In my experience, there just wasn't all that much mixing. Some, but not much.

I don't think having those houses for the groups is a really bad thing. I just think it, in combination with the early orientation thing, had one bad side-effect.

It's a tough thing to balance, I think. On the one hand, I understand why a particulary ethnic minority might want an organization/house of their own - a place they can retreat to, a safe haven. Then again, I'd like to think that things have changed over the last few decades, and that racism is declining. At least as far as my friends go, I think that's true. If I'm right, then I think the special handling of ethnic minorities on campuses is overprotective and possibly counterproductive. On the other hand, if I'm wrong, then well... I'm wrong.

-Arrian

[Natan]

Originally posted by Arrian
Natan,

Well, the clique thing probably varies widely depending on the university or college. In my experience, there just wasn't all that much mixing. Some, but not much.

I don't think having those houses for the groups is a really bad thing. I just think it, in combination with the early orientation thing, had one bad side-effect.

Certainly I can see the danger of encouraging people to spend the entirety of their college years with people who look like they do.

It's a tough thing to balance, I think. On the one hand, I understand why a particulary ethnic minority might want an organization/house of their own - a place they can retreat to, a safe haven. Then again, I'd like to think that things have changed over the last few decades, and that racism is declining. At least as far as my friends go, I think that's true. If I'm right, then I think the special handling of ethnic minorities on campuses is overprotective and possibly counterproductive. On the other hand, if I'm wrong, then well... I'm wrong.

-Arrian

I'm sure it differs from college to college, but my feeling is that the houses may be a secondary factory in all this. If people don't feel comfortable for whatever reason mixing with people of different ethnicities, then they won't and you can't really force them to. If people do feel comfortable mixing, then there's only so much segregated housing is going to do to prevent it.

[MrFun]

Did anyone read my post??

[Kropotkin]

No, Mr. fun. No-one rrad your post so keep shut!

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Kropotkin
No, Mr. fun. No-one rrad your post so keep shut!

I hope you meant that as a joke.

I mean, God forbid if I wish to participate in Off-Topic threads.

[WhiteElephants]

Mr. Fun, you have some deep seeded issues concerning attention. I have a sneaking suspicion you didn't get much from your parents as a child and now you're making up for it. You seem to have this phobia of being over looked, as this isn't the first time you've wondered if anyone read your last post. How do you think this might relate to your open homosexuality? Tell me about your mother.

[WhiteElephants]

Originally posted by MrFun
Did anyone read my post??

Yes, I did. You made a statement. How do you expect us to react?

[MrFun]

White Elephant, I will just ignore your troll and explain to what a discussion is.

A discussion involves more than one person.

When a person posts their arguments or statements on a thread here, they mean to initiate, or continue a discussion or argument about a topic.
Can you grasp that concept?

When people do not respond to my posts, I do not know who agrees with me, who disagrees, and why they agree or disagree.

[WhiteElephants]

Originally posted by MrFun


White Elephant, I will just ignore your troll and explain to what a discussion is.

A discussion involves more than one person.

When a person posts their arguments or statements on a thread here, they mean to initiate, or continue a discussion or argument about a topic.
Can you grasp that concept?

When people do not respond to my posts, I do not know who agrees with me, who disagrees, and why they agree or disagree.

Doctor, I think you hit a nerve.

[WhiteElephants]

Re: Re: Ethnicity

Originally posted by MrFun


I have read some of the good posts in here, and they are interesting.

I disagree with the issue between conformity and diversity. Some of you seem to be going to the extreme in saying that we cannot have ANY diversity between people --- we all need to become culturally monolithic to create a true melting pot society.

I find the concept of the melting pot repugnant. We can balance moderate conformity with moderate advocacy for diversity.

Actually, I prefer my bath water luke warm.

[Sandman]

Ethnicity; what use is it?

[Evil_Eric_4]

I am responding to the very first post only.

Hoek-
Just to frame this reply- I am a 36 year old American ,born and raised here(in USA) of German descent.

I take it by the way you worded your first 2 sentences that you are completely "americanised" like me.
So I too find it hard to understand. However --of all the european countries I tend to find myself wanting to side with the Germans more than all the others(and thats hard to do when you launch 2 world wars).
Why? I'm not sure.
Maybe It's cause they never burned down my capital--or maybe it is something more subtle at work here.
I would venture to guess that if Holland where in a fight for her life you would probably sympathise with the Dutch no matter what the circumstances. It seems only natural.Unfortunately.

Maybe someday, with the huge advances in computer tech, the world will become truly globalised and borders will mean nothing.

In the meantime I hope you are exagerating your descriptions of American academics.I haven't been in school for a long time so I don't know -but what you describe is definately a step backward.

[Goingonit]

Ethnicity is not just biological. I identify with others of the same ethnicity due to the cultural and historical similarities I share with them.

You can be proud of your heritage and still be a member of a multicultural community.

Here is an example: I am currently participating in a model UN run by my school. I am Jewish, and biletting a Chinese person and an Italian. One of my co-delegates is an Irish Catholic, another is half-Japanese. I can't list the ethnicities of people whom I debated with because I didn't notice or pay any attention.

Rather than assimilation, we can place emphasis on cultural vibrance, diversity, and mutual respect.

[DarkCloud]

Hoek, I agree with you- as soon as "race" is abolished and ignored, 40% of the problems in the world will disappear.
No Hitler, No Arab/Israelie conflict, etc.

Race is horrid.
"Diversity" is trash. It only encourages differences. All cultures should homogenize into one superculture. the Quotas in schools are good but only to a point. You don't want discrimination, but you don't want to kick out good students because some idiot who is a "diverse" student needs to get in to meet a quota.

There should be no diversity.
Only humans.

[DarkCloud]

differences only encourage fighting.
Celebrate the uniqueness.

I always hate ethno-centric ideas such as in schools the "African American student union" or "italian club" or "Latinos Unidos" Ick.
Ick.
Ick.
I boycot anything of that sort.

I can see the reasons- "bound together so we won't be persecuted" but still... if no persecution exists- ick.