Comments on: Kids Who Would “Change the Complexion” Are Turned Away From Pool

By: Nude Angelina Jolie Statue Unveiled to Promote Breastfeeding : Eco Child’s Play

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:28:23 +0000

[...] me say this: I love that she breastfeeds. And as the mother of a biracial son (not to mention as a human being in general), I’ve also appreciated that the Pitt-Jolie [...]

By: David Gross

David Gross — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:50:42 +0000

I take this personally, my adopted sister is african-american and I love her as if she was my own blood sister and anyone who tried to pull that with her, I promise you that I would put such a hurt on those people that they would never forget it. these people are nothing but blatant racist pigs

By: Crimson Wife

Crimson Wife — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:52:52 +0000

Apparently the swim club also disinvited a couple of other camps as well as this one. So it doesn’t seem like this is really a case of racism.

If I’d paid a lot of money for my family to belong to a chi-chi pool, I’d likely be annoyed at there being a bunch of rowdy outsiders and complain to management too.

By: nameuser

nameuser — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:02:06 +0000

Akron police say they aren’t ready to call it a hate crime or a gang initiation.

But to Marty Marshall, his wife and two kids, it seems pretty clear.

It came after a family night of celebrating America and freedom with a fireworks show at Firestone Stadium. Marshall, his family and two friends were gathered outside a friend’s home in South Akron.

Out of nowhere, the six were attacked by dozens of teenage boys, who shouted ”This is our world” and ”This is a black world” as they confronted Marshall and his family.

The Marshalls, who are white, say the crowd of teens who attacked them and two friends June 27 on Girard Street numbered close to 50. The teens were all black.

http://www.ohio.com/news/50172282.html

By: Cate Nelson

Cate Nelson — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:18:45 +0000

Vax,
So the president–the representative–of this club used MORE THAN ONCE an obsolete meaning of the word “complexion”? Did he use this term for white kids, too? Your point shows, then, that he’s inarticulate and insensitive and stumbles his way through interviews. It doesn’t warrant him keeping his job.

And how exactly would they change the “attitude or inclination” of the pool?

I have to say that yours is a very poor excuse for this idiot. I hope that you never, ever have to make a public statement.
Maybe you have a future as Sarah Palin’s speech writer?

By: Misk

Misk — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:16:22 +0000

Vax–um, yeah, but it’s a particularly *telling* poor choice of words, don’t you think? Yes, complexion does have that second definition, but it’s by way of reference to the first. Freudian slip, I’d say.

And if they’re so worried about having too many kids in the pool, why didn’t that occur to them when they sold memberships worth nearly $2000 to a summer camp? Duh. Did they think the kids were coming one at a time?

The media isn’t taking this out of context; these people just got caught out in their bigotry.

By: vax

vax — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:56:42 +0000

There are other meanings of the word complexion:

complexion: a point of view or general attitude or inclination;

I am pretty sure he meant it in this context. The man used a poor choice of words considering the situation.

The pool had turned away 3 other camps, one included mainly all white swimmers, the media is blowing this out of context.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:56:10 +0000

I sent a e-mail requesting the immediate firing of all those involved including Mr. Duesler. Of course it is the members of the club that really need to be contacted. If their businesses are boycotted – and they and their bosses are told the reason and forced to make sure the policy is changed.

By: EcoLabel Fundraising

EcoLabel Fundraising — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:18:48 +0000

Gross. That is all that is. Gross. The fact that this is still happening today is just crazy. Talking about it and making people aware is the best cure over time. Awareness is key! Thanks for making us all aware!

By: Cate Nelson

Cate Nelson — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:12:43 +0000

I urge anyone who is offended by this club’s previously unwritten rule to e-mail or write a letter to them sharing your disgust. The following is my letter in its entirety. Too harsh? Perhaps. But no worse than what these children–CHILDREN!–were told.

Mr. Duesler:

I was wondering if my beautiful biracial son would be allowed to swim at your pool? He passes the paper bag test, but I’m sure he would indeed “change the complexion” of the pool compared to its usual lily-white users.

As you can imagine, I was outraged and disgusted that your club would have the gall and ignorance to have such a policy. But you’ve obviously made it clear that you also have the idiocy to make such a policy public by your statement. I assume that you had the time and ability to read it before it was splashed across the headlines? Or perhaps someone read it to you? It must be hard to read with that hood on.

Your behavior and the policy of your club is a disgrace to the white community and Philadelphia in particular and to humanity overall.
I am appalled. I have continued to pass on the news of your club’s policy through a blog, and I hope others do the same.

Cate Nelson

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