[Vision2020] School director makes racial comments during graduation
Paul Rumelhart
paul.rumelhart at gmail.com
Tue May 12 10:52:59 PDT 2015
Being too stupid to be able to understand such concepts as "race" or "white
privilege", I back out of this conversation. Don't let me stand in your
way. Would you like to borrow a pitchfork?
Paul
On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 10:50 AM, Rosemary Huskey <
donaldrose at cpcinternet.com> wrote:
> Hi Paul.
>
>
>
> Last night in an off-line email I asked if you if thought white privilege
> was real. You didn’t respond but it seems to me that it is a component of
> this discussion that you entirely disregard. Let me assure you that it is
> painfully real. Do you understand that many folks who enjoy unearned
> privilege and entitlement fail to recognize the automatic benefits bestowed
> because of skin color. It is easy for you to take the false position that
> a forced apology somehow covers what was in her heart and slipped out for
> the world to see. And, by the way, I can see without any difficulty how
> being raised in small town North Idaho would limit the ability to discern
> bigotry in others. How you considered that aspect of this conversation?
>
>
>
> Rose
>
> *From:* vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:
> vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] *On Behalf Of *Paul Rumelhart
> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 12, 2015 10:26 AM
> *To:* Sunil
> *Cc:* vision 2020
>
> *Subject:* Re: [Vision2020] School director makes racial comments during
> graduation
>
>
>
> I don't care what she thinks in a moment of emotional outburst. Has she
> shown by her actions as principal that she is racist? Has she implemented
> any policy against one racial group or in support of one racial group?
> Shouldn't that be what matters and not some stupid outburst that is barely
> racist and that she immediately apologized for? Is that what this world
> will come to? Say one goddamned thing wrong, anywhere in your career, and
> you're now on food stamps? Can you see why a person who believes in free
> speech and free expression might find that world distasteful? Being
> "racist" isn't an on/off thing, anyway. I can see it to be possible that
> by growing up in the deep south that a person would be exposed to racism
> during their formative years. Maybe she fights that part of herself every
> day, and does the right thing despite years of racist beliefs when she was
> younger. Do we know? Should we immediately remove her from power because
> she screwed up once and said something like that?
>
> That's why I think actual tolerance is a good idea. She apologized.
> Great. Forgive her for her emotional outburst and move on.
>
>
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 10:09 AM, Sunil <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> That's it? I've tried to explain why I disagree with you. If you think I'm
> fundamentally misunderstanding you or your argument, why don't you explain
> how?
>
> For example, if you think I'm wrong to say that racists in positions of
> authority have the ability to harm other people, tell me why.
>
> Sunil
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:45:07 -0700
>
>
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] School director makes racial comments during
> graduation
> From: paul.rumelhart at gmail.com
> To: sunilramalingam at hotmail.com
> CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
>
> Well, grab a torch and go after her. I've said my piece. No more words
> from me will have any affect on this, apparently.
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> On Tue, May 12, 2015 at 8:40 AM, Sunil <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Paul,
>
> The problem is that she is a person with racist views in a position of
> authority, where she has power over other people. I think it's wrong, but
> easy, to say 'They did decide to run her name through the online gauntlet,
> though, all in the name of political correctness. I object to this. Is
> that OK with you?'
>
> I disagree with your characterization: She's not going through this
> gauntlet in the name of political correctness. I think racists in positions
> of authority have the ability to harm other people. I think that's
> objectively bad. So I think it's okay, in fact good, to expose this, and to
> either take away her power or to watch her carefully. That's not political
> correctness: that's making sure she can't harm people. I don't think we
> should use that term here at all.
>
> When you're playing with your rubik's cube, you're not in a position to
> wield authority over others, and you're not a racist, far as I can see (I
> know, you're heaving a huge sigh of relief, right?) I don't think there's
> any valid comparison.
>
> Sunil
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 11 May 2015 20:54:36 -0700
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] School director makes racial comments during
> graduation
> From: paul.rumelhart at gmail.com
> To: sunilramalingam at hotmail.com
> CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
>
>
>
> It's the public shaming aspect that I really don't like. When I was
> talking about free speech I was just reiterating my feelings on the topic.
> You are right that no one has tried to stop her from exercising her free
> speech rights. They did decide to run her name through the online
> gauntlet, though, all in the name of political correctness. I object to
> this. Is that OK with you?
>
> I really, really, dislike witch-hunts. Why, you ask? Because I'm usually
> the guy that is into the strange stuff, or the one sitting alone at a table
> or the one sitting in class playing with his rubik's cube, or the guy
> hiding his interests in perfectly legal but still frowned-upon subjects.
> I'm very familiar with the idea that the problem with witch hunts is that
> someday, you'll be the witch.
>
> The Tolerant, who I used to idolize, have become the new Puritans.
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 8:39 PM, Sunil <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Paul,,
>
> Once again you have set up your bizarre straw man argument in which you
> pretend that everyone else is attacking the right to free speech and you
> are its sole defender. You consistently misunderstand the idea that no one
> is saying that this racist twit should not be allowed to speak freely.
> Rather other people are using their ability to freely speak to judge her.
> Your paragraph about limits to free speech makes no sense to me as I don't
> see anyone calling to restrict her speech.
>
> I do think people are saying something that boils down to 'People should
> be smarter and not racist.' I think those are good goals.
>
> Sunil
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 11 May 2015 18:27:13 -0700
> From: paul.rumelhart at gmail.com
> To: thansen at moscow.com
> CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] School director makes racial comments during
> graduation
>
>
>
> You mean to tell me, seriously, that there is at least one person in the
> deep south that is at least mildly racist? I'm shocked. Nay, stunned! Of
> course we should create a "firestorm" and make her life a living hell.
>
> Nobody cares, but I'm going to yet again reiterate my thoughts on this. I
> believe in free speech. As in the inalienable right we have to speak our
> minds. I value that higher than the wish to live in a world where nobody
> will say anything bad against anyone else for fear of being the next viral
> victim. She said something stupid, she apologized, she claimed she said
> something because of her emotional state that she shouldn't have. Isn't
> that where it should end? Hell, I wouldn't care if she said "screw you
> all, I stand by what I said!". I don't know her, but if I did it would be
> one piece of information about her that I would never have known if she had
> cow-towed to the common group-think. Isn't it better to make this known
> rather than hide it from everyone?
>
> And yes, I do think that there should be limits to free speech - but the
> bar should be much higher than suggesting that members of one racial group
> might want to leave a graduation ceremony earlier than another racial
> group. Much, much higher. Like, badgering someone relentlessly to commit
> suicide or telling them that their brakes are fine when they know they are
> about to fail higher.
>
> I want the world to be a better place where everyone loves everyone else,
> too. I'll be overjoyed if it ever ends up that way. Publicly shaming
> behaviour as trivial as this is not the way to get there, and it's
> definitely not worth the chilling effect it might produce.
>
> The really ironic thing is that I think she was wrong to try to remove the
> person who was filming with their tablet in the first place.
>
>
>
> Just my opinion. Mr. Hansen, please feel free to skip your reflexive
> personal, combative response. If you want to, of course.
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 5:53 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
>
> Courtesy of *11-Alive* (Atlanta, Georgia) at:
>
>
>
>
> http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/stone-mountain/2015/05/10/tnt-academy-director-racial-comments/27079341/#
> <http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/stone-mountain/2015/05/10/tnt-academy-director-racial-comments/27079341/>
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------
> School director makes racial comments during graduation
>
>
>
> STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. – A small Atlanta-area private school is at the center
> of a national firestorm after the school's director made a racially charged
> statement.
>
>
>
> During the graduation ceremony for TNT Academy Friday night, Nancy
> Gordeuk, the founder and director of the school, said, "Look who's leaving,
> all the black people!"
>
>
>
> One of the graduates, Donte Lambert, said it all started when Gordeuk
> dismissed everyone early.
>
>
>
> "She forgot the final speech, so she dismissed us all at first. Then she
> told everyone to come back. One parent got mad and he told his child to
> come on," Lambert said.
>
>
>
> Gordeuk later apologized to the parents via email, saying she let her
> emotions get the best of her.
>
>
>
> "A terrible mistake on my part of the graduation ceremony on Friday
> night," Gordeuk wrote. "The devil was in the house and came out from my
> mouth. I deeply apologize for my racist comment and hope that forgiveness
> is in your hearts." *(READ HER FULL STATEMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STORY)*
>
>
>
> "She needs to get out of that field of being a teacher or a motivator. She
> doesn't need to be in that field at all," said Shakel Forman, Donte's
> mother.
>
>
>
> The school is a private, non-traditional school founded for home-schoolers
> hoping to get an accredited degree.
>
>
>
> The Georgia Accreditation Commission said in a statement that a teacher,
> parent or student must file a complaint in order for an investigation to
> begin.
>
>
>
> 11Alive stopped by Gordeuk's house on Saturday, but her husband said she
> was too emotionally drained to speak with us.
>
>
>
> Gordeuk says she was frustrated in part because an unknown person walked
> to the front of the auditorium and began recording the graduation ceremony.
> After asking him to sit down, she later called security. She says she let
> her emotions get the best of her.
>
>
>
> Many people in the audience recorded the video, which has since gone viral.
>
>
>
> Lambert tells us he doesn't harbor any resentment. He's looking forward to
> moving on.
>
>
>
> "I just want to think the positive side of it," Lambert said. "My family
> came out to support me and we made the best of the situation."
>
>
>
> Gordeuk's full statement read:
>
> A terrible mistake on my part was part of the graduation ceremony on
> Friday night. The devil was in the house and came out from my mouth. I
> deeply apologize for my racist comment and hope that forgiveness in in your
> hearts. We all make mistakes and anyone who knows me realizes that I try my
> hardest to work with the students for them to obtain their goal of a high
> school diploma.
>
> I do not think I have discriminated against any family in the school. I
> just pray you will realize I am a human and make mistakes just like
> everyone else does and be willing to forgive and move forward instead of
> concentrating on the bad of the situation.
>
> To address the incident at the graduation ceremony of May 8. Please keep
> the facts in perspective. An unknown man at the beginning of a speech
> decided to walk up to the front of the audience with his tablet,
> videotaping the audience and the students causing disruption to the
> audience and disrespect to the ceremony and its participants. When
> disregarding the request o please sit down, the security was asked to
> remove the man. At that point, booing of the request commenced. Frustrated
> with the prospect of ruining the once-in-a-lifetime ceremony the graduates
> have worked so hard for, my emotions got the best of me and that is when I
> blurted out "you people are being so rude to not listen to this speech
> (valedictorian). It was my fault that we missed the speech in the program."
> I look to the left where the man was and all I saw was a mass of people
> leaving and I said Look who's leaving, all the black people. At that point,
> members of the audience began to leave.
>
> The facts are the rude booing from my perspective facing the audience
> condoning the actions of this man, are coming from the younger people in
> the audience. What if ten or twenty persons came and started videotaping
> the audience in the middle of a speech. Is that disrespect to the person
> trying to make his speech? Or does that mean everyone can just do as they
> please?
>
> I sincerely apologize to all the persons in attendance at the ceremony for
> the actions of the few causing the disturbance and for my emotional,
> un-called generalization of the black persons in attendance. I deeply
> apologize for my actions made in the emotional state of trying to let this
> last student finish his speech.
>
> I take a personal interest in the success of every student that comes
> through our doors without regard to their race, religion or ethnicity. My
> main concern for each is to provide them with an education and high school
> diploma to be able to continue on the pathway toward adulthood to become a
> successful member of society.
>
> You will find many, many parents of all races, religions and ethnic groups
> that have been serviced by our school and are very appreciative of our
> efforts on the behalf of their students. This same group of students had
> the same support we have given to every other graduating class. It is very
> easy to judge someone, however, we all make mistakes, as we are only human.
>
> Again, I deeply apologize for my offensive comment in the heat of my
> emotional state in trying to achieve respect for a student to be able to
> speak.
>
>
>
> --------------------
>
>
>
> Video
>
> http://youtu.be/EwHuQxBDGfU
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
>
>
> "Moscow Cares"
>
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
>
>
> Tom Hansen
>
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
>
>
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