Closing Arguments: Swimming Pool Discrimination?

It is deplorable… they are liars.
If the pool was overcrowded cut back on some white campers and let all the kids swim… some on one day others on the next day.
These people are teaching a terrible lesson to those innocent children.
Allen – Louisville, KY

Unbelievable!!

That is some nonsense for the club to say it was because of over-crowding. They made the wrong comments which was the truth and are now feeling the effects of it. I hope they loose all 65 of those minority members and get reimbursed.

Don’t buy that lousy excuse after the fact. Sad.

How about the club kicks the racists out rather than these innocent children?

I know racism still exists today, but that is simply a shame that children are being denied to swim together. What makes a white person worthy enough to swim in a pool of water and to deny a child with darker skin to swim in the same water? It is pure ignorance and the world is full of ignorance that is being passed down to our children. Would those white people deny our President to swim in their water?

It’s a private club and they can make their own rules. They should have the right to allow whomever they want into their pool.

Why would you tell only one set of children to leave the pool? That, in itself is suspicious. Not only that, at least one of the children overheard comments made by one of the parents. Therefore, it is difficult for me to believe the swift turnaround that was made. It seems to me they have the age old attitude: ‘if you’re black, brown, (or any color except white), GET BACK!

Unfortunately, I experienced the same thing last summer when I was vacationing at a resort in Bandera TX with my 2 children and grandson. When we entered the pool at the resort all of the white families got out and proceeded to the smaller pool. We immedietly noticed it and tried it again on another day. We got the same results, they (white families) preferred to swim in the much smaller pool than swim with us in the larger, nicer pool. I am 49 years old, my daughter was 20, son 12 and grandson 2 years old. Surely we were no threat to them and besides we were paying customers at the resort, just like they were.

I do not believe the club’s excuse for a minute. They are covering their tracks after making inappropriate comments. Has our country learned nothing from history. I can only hope we will one day get past our prejudice of others. It is a shame we have not moved on to a more accepting and tolerant society. Shame on the member who made the comments. What kind of role model are you?

I believe it was out right racism. There is no excuse. No, they shouldn’t even have been told to swim after the others had finished. That would have been degrading as well. If the pool was overcrowded- alternate the swimmers. Get some out and tell them they have to wait. I believe the club should have some type of consequence.

Perhaps this facility didn’t want their members exposed to gansta rap music that glorifies the killing of cops and brutalization of women that seems to be an integral part of inner city blacks…if so the definition of discrimination (according to Merriam Webster) is to use good judgement in discerning differences. I think they may have discriminated and used good judgement!

they were being racist and did not want black children in there “WHITE” facility if over crowding was the case why were the black kids membership suspended if they were just overcrowded then they would have said leave and come back the next day so with that being said i think that they are not telling the truth.

All I have to say I am sick of racist people hiding behind lies.
WE all know the truth and I hope that country club get sued.
People of all colors should boycott the country club to show there disdain for there comment.
I mean are you serious then try to clean it up. GET REAL!!
RACISM still lives even though we have a multi ethnic President.
I am so sick of it all

Did the camp pay a flat fee or for each child? I find it difficult to believe that the club didn’t know in advance how many children were attending. If quantity was the problem, why didn’t they say that at first? Why not divide the kids in to groups and let each group have a turn? Several solutions could have been explored to remedy this situation, but it seems to me that the club personel panicked, and resorted to their racist instincts without giving it careful consideration.

I believe the club. As a member of a swim club I would be ticked if my club had allowed a large group of children (paid or not and any race) to come in to a pool I paid a membership at to have a safe and NOT busy place for my little kids to play. It’s why I pay more not to swim at the city pool. I think 35 kids coming in would be too many, much less 65!! I would have been upset too, but it would have nothing to do with what anyone looked like. My gut says the camps leaders are blowing this way out of proportion and making some people out to be villians that aren’t.

The swim club has been found out, they like all cowards will never admit their wrong doing. The harm that they have brought to these children is totally unacceptable. The excuse was the pool was overcrowded, but that was not true once children were pulled out by their parents, with the exception of three children that have been reared to be color blind. The phrase that children are taught to hate. These bigoted parents have either began the process of teaching or reinforcing to hate anyone that is different either due to race or belief. This happened near the city of brotherly love. With enough outrage due to the acts of some, we will hopefully eradicate hate in any form. We elected a President based on what he could do for the country. Let us all work toward equality for all. May it happen in my life time. We have seen it with the three children who remained in the pool.

if that was the case, they should have limited the space so they wouldn’t have that “overcrowding” problem.

The behavior of the club administrators and members who observed and/or participated in this incident is due to racism, plain and simple. Any member with a basic sense of decency should have resigned immediately. The camp members should be refunded their money and the club fined.

As much as most people would like to believe racist sentiments are a thing of the past, here is clear evidence they are alive and thriving just under the surface in our culture. A flimsy layer of excuses is never adequate cover. It behoves us ALL to stand our ground, be alert and call it out, loud and clear, when ever racism rears it’s ugly head. We must always defend the gains that have been made.
In a bizzare way the Trent Lotts and Valley Swim Clubs help us remember that truth.

I am glad I didnt grow up in this country.

I feel that the club should be CLOSED and all involved in the discrimation should all be put into a all black prison and some how distinguish them as discrimators against blacks {like they do to child molsters}. They should have to shower with these people, eat and sleep with them every day for a year for each of the black children that were denied the chance to swim in this pool.

It’s so simple! Satan is the father of racism because he hates all of the human races. He is also the father of liars. All racist are liars,because they can never tell the truth about being a racist(except,ofcourse,to each other) any more than Satan can admit that he is. Satan gives racist the power to practice his ungodly arts. Now here is the hook: because of the evil impulse in all of us, Satan uses this to cause his chosen to believe that HE DOES NOT EXIST and that he couldn’t be that evil. However,he does allow racist to see him in everyone that disagrees with racism,people they believe hates them,people that dont worship money,and of course the people who sincerely believe that Jesus is the son of the Most High God. To accuse and blame these people without Satans power of racism is akin to blaming maggots and flies for causing garbage.

I thinks this is totaly unacceptable. It was not overcrowding it was pure stupid.

It’s a sad commentary, especially in this day and age, to be still talking to this issue at this extreme. It also saddens me that this kind of incident is still being handed down. All our children are the hope of the future. Teaching them to hate just because of skin color does not make any sense. I would have hoped that racism was on its way to the history books by now. I am bewildered to see that yet another generation will carry on this sorry practice.

Had the pool area been overcrowded, the pool club could have consulted with the camps to have staggered times for the day campers to swim.

Any 65 campers arriving all at once at ANY pool will cause comments regardless of ethnicity. The counselors should have immediately assured the children and stopped this from becoming a defining moment in their lives! It seems everyone invlolved could have reacted in a better way to protect those kids!
Shame on the pool for selling the pool passes, shame on the member who made the thoughtless remarks and shame on the camp counselors for allowing their own bias to cloud the facts. Shame on all the adults involved who allowed it to escalate and hurt those kids!

Karen | Jul 10, 2009 12:27:05 AM—if your “private club” took money from a non-profit group working with african-american children for the sole purpose of allowing them to swim then not allowed them to that would be a problem. does your “private club” allow african-americans to swim or even become members. if you are concerned about too many kids in the pool schedule better! This club in PA is just a racist club pure and simple and it’s not the only one. they just got caught.

Maybe everyone should start looking at behavior as a reason for asking them to leave. I would be willing to bet that loud obnoxious wild behavior would be a good reason to pull your kids out of a pool.

As a PRIVATE club, they have the RIGHT to allow entry by whomever they want to, and also have the right to deny access to those they deem NOT desirable!!!…. Racism… Racism …….Racism… What a load of crap!

It is a PRIVATE POOL. End of Story. I think the state of Pennsylvania has better things to do.
I do agree that this story even being discussed is an example of how discrimination is alive in America. I bet none of you heard about what happened in neighboring Ohio. Here is an exert from the story as posted on ohio.com
“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.”
How many of you heard about this story? Yet every major media is reporting kids getting kicked out of a pool. YES – RACISM is alive and well in America.

This reminds me of the stories my dad told me about how the Mexican-American community was not allowed to use the Municipal Pool in the city of Colton, CA back in the 1920s and 1930s. In fact it only changed after WWII when many men of color returned from service. By the way, it wasn’t just the pool; it was also the theater – “Mexicans” could not sit in the center – they were relegated to the side sections. Have things really changed?

“Standard-issue” racism here.

Wow !!!! !!! If everyone paid their fees everyone can swim………They’d be up in arms if their white children were denied access to anything especially a pool !!! Someone should give their kids the same treatment & see if they would accept a bogus excuse like that !!!! It’s just sad !!!

The club was aware the camp was coming. The business office of the club had collected the fee of 1900 bucks prior to the camp members attendance. The club knew full well the number of campers. What they didn’t know was that the campers were hispanic and African-American. OOPS! I say shame on the owner, shame on the mothers who have left a lasting impression on not only the campers but their own offspring as well. FEAR is the determining factor here. The “club” has shown their true colors and now the community is seeing red.

PREJUDICE at it’s best, proof is in the pudding.. And who only thought that racial issues was mostly in the deep South??? I saw the crook trying to give an explanation on CNN, with his wife standing by his side, hopefully he did NOT make her stand there next to so the both of them would look STUPID..The complexion would change the atmosphere of the pool(would the H2O have changed colors or what???? BUT then again he is only practicing what the DUMMY was taught from WHOEVER raised him.. SORRY NO EXCUSES, BUT BE READY TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF TO GOD ON YOUR LAST DAY ON EARTH, YOU WILL HAVE A LOT TO ANSWER FOR…………………. bye………

Why are we even debating such an obvious case of discrimination once again? CutiePie and Sean are just people in denial who want to convince themselves and others that racism is no longer a problem. But Lakeisha Jones is the the worst example presented to justify such behavior; if she is even real. An obvious attempt to make it appear that a black person is not offended and in fact supports this type of behavior.

Why is it ok for B.E.T, the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund and affirmative action…(I could go on for days) to all have their place in society but when a private club turns away minorities it causes a fuss? Their reason for turning away these people does not matter they are a private club with a membership and the freedom to do as they please.

I was a competitive swimmer from a very young age. My family has belonged to several country clubs and private pool establishments. I don’t believe the club’s statement for one minute. A club of that kind might be willing to accept a few kids of color whose families they know (who fit the right socioeconomic mold) but a group of unknown black and hispanic kids…never. The club is lying about overcrowding…if that was the problem the lifeguards and staff members would have simply asked some of the children to sit out for awhile. The club happily accepted the campers money…the color green is never a problem…but when those black and brown faces arrived it was a different story.
For once I would like to see white people face up to their bias. If you are going to be a racist have the guts not to hide behind lies.

If anyone believes the club’s explanation obviously live a very sheltered life and choose to turn a blind eye. The swim club have allowed larger groups before and it was not an issue then. A member said there was no isssues with the kids but for the white member taking their kids out of the pool and saying they were scare the minority kids might hurt their kids…come on. They paid their dues ($1950) and since their were no incidence at the pool it is obvious why their membership was revoked. You don’t have to be a minority to see that.

Comments made on behalf of the club seem accurate and based on the facts or safety concerns. Comments made on behalf of the children seem to be missing the point entirely and solely focused on race. We cannot live in a wolrd where the mere possibility of racism automatically voids all other valid concerns!!