Race option for "big brothers / big sisters" orginization... I can't believe it.

[vohwink1]

Ok, I'm really pissed off. I went home to visit the fam yesterday and saw my sister had an application for the big sisters thing... I'm like wow, that's pretty cool. Glad to see you doing something helpful for once.

Then I got looking through the application and there is an option for specifying whether or not you want to have a minority or not. I'm sorry, but that's f-ing BS. People wonder why kids still grow up with such racial ideas, well this is a perfect example.

They allow you to select age group, which I can understand. You might have more in common with someone in a certain age group... but letting you pick the race of your partner... wow. Are people that afraid they might get paired up with someone from a different background than them and be uncomfortable? There isn't a better way to learn about other people than to FOR ONCE hang out with someone totally unlike you.

Ugh... still can't believe it... just had to vent.

 

[Killbat]

Yes, this is a horrible evil.

 

[monk3y]

That IS annoying... I mean children are children, no matter what race.

 

[Raspewtin]

<< letting you pick the race of your partner... wow. >>




maybe they do this so you can pick somone from your culture so it could be more rewarding for them, such as a Japanese person picking a Japnanese kid, but it shouldn't be selectable.

 

[Murphyrulez]

That IS annoying... I mean children are horrible, no matter what race.


j/k!

Paul

 

[bacillus]

LOL Murphyrulez!

 

[kami]

well cheers to your sister, she's doing a good thing. since my dad is a deadbeat, i had a big brother from age 9 to 16 and he means a lot to me. i'm still buddies with him and see him every once in a while...hell, we play quake3 sometimes hehe.

 

[Muadib]

I can understand why you would be upset, but trust me, it's needed.

 

[Robert01]

Remember, it's only a racial preference. That doesn't necessarily mean you'll get what you choose. I don't think the Organization is trying to promote racism. However, it is easier for two black people to relate to one another than it would be for a white and a black. Just because it is easier to relate to one particular group doesn't make anyone racist. Kids that participate in the program need someone to relate to.

 

[Capn]

Honestly, I think your anger is better off spent where the real demons of our society exist. Sure, in a perfect world it wouldn't matter, but this isn't a perfect world.

 

[bulldawg]

<< However, it is easier for two black people to relate to one another than it would be for a white and a black. Just because it is easier to relate to one particular group doesn't make anyone racist. >>



Wow, someone with a real understanding of the situation. Who cares if someone has a racial &quot;preference&quot; for their child. The idea is to help the child, not necessarily to create world wide racial harmony.

 

[Anghang]

i'd be upset too...i do believe it's uncalled for...if anything they should just ask what languages you can speak in an effort to break down any language barriers that may have to be dealt with...wonder how they do the matching, hopefully it's by computer, not by people where they may match up based upon their biased opinions, ignorance or stupidity...IMHO

 

[vohwink1]

I know, I can sorta understand the &quot;having someone to better relate to&quot; thing, obviously I would find it 100 times easier to hang out with a youngster of my same background than someone at a totally different end of the spectrum. But... where do they say this is an easy job? By all means it isn't, volunteering your own time to benefit another less fortunate... but still.

I mean I was in a volunteer program where I had to tutor illiterate children. Did they ask us before we started what race child we would rather have? I mean c'mon. It shouldn't matter, even if you get someone different than yourself and you may find it hard to associate things or understand what they are saying.

Don't get me wrong, there are some more extreme cases where this racial prefrence thing may be needed. But, as a whole, especially where my sister is doing this there is no need for that. Kids learn at a very young age about who to associate with and how to look at other people. I'm just saying this isn't helping the situation any.

 

[vohwink1]

Ok... another thought just popped in my head. If the goal is to match you up with common interests... then why not compare the two people with lists of their interests?

Say my sister likes baseball, r&amp;b music, roller skating, and fishing.

Say a 13 year old white boy likes hockey, reading sci-fi books, and watching movies

Say a 14 year old black boy likes baseball, rollerblading, and fishing.

Ok, what if my sister happened to say she had a prefrence in fear of she was going to be paired up with someone totally different than her... so if they see you have a racial prefrence they will most likely pair you up with the white boy.

What makes this right? Why not even ask a question about race and base the decision of who gets paired up with who with regards to hobbies and such. That is a better solution IMO.

Understandable about the language issues and maybe other disabilities... but I'm talking as a whole here.