When asked why he uses the word “Caucasian” in the group name, he said, “From a marketing standpoint, the sky's the limit. There are no other groups out there.”
In 1993, a small number of Houston Police Department employees formed the White Houston Officers Association. The group formed after 106 black and Hispanic officers received promotions as the result of a settlement of a discrimination lawsuit. The association is defunct.
[Daniel] McCool, who describes himself as a conservative Republican, split with the Harris County Deputies Organization over its endorsement in the 2008 sheriff's election. McCool volunteered for then-incumbent Tommy Thomas. The union backed Garcia, who won and became the county's first Hispanic sheriff.
It's hard to take this seriously or consider it more than a spiteful jab at black and Latino officer groups and McCool's foes at the main deputies' union. He can claim that membership is open to all, but the public perception will inevitably be that some Harris deputies want their own little "whites only" club. And let's face it: There's no good reason to put the anachronistic "Caucasian" in the group name except as a defiant provocation.
McCool would say that he's doing the same thing as black and Latino officers groups, but there are key, historic distinctions. And in any event, two wrongs don't make a right. The solution to racial division is not further splintering.
None of that will matter though because I can't imagine many deputies will want their name associated with an organization devoted to promoting white rights. I'd look for this to fizzle out after the initial headlines die down.
In the meantime, Deputy McCool, thanks for giving the state a black eye and making white Texans look like a bunch of racist jerks. Very helpful, that.
Kinda like those folks who wanted start an all-white basketball league.
ReplyDeleteIf one race can have a group, so can any other race. Ought not to BE any racially segregated groups in the first place, but since there are, whites can have one too. Fair's fair.
ReplyDeleteNo, I think this is satire with a potentially positive effect. People need to keep questioning affirmative action and the only way to do it is with provactive actions like this.
ReplyDeleteAs a Hispanic, in several Hispanic organizations, I think it is only fair to let other ethnic groups including Caucasians to have their own group so long as others are invited to join and there is no racist agenda.
ReplyDeletePirate, such "satire" to me is funniest when, as in this instance, the people engaged in it take themselves completely seriously.
ReplyDelete"Pirate, such 'satire' to me is funniest when, as in this instance, the people engaged in it take themselves completely seriously."
ReplyDeleteLOL, way to go Grits, piss on people who are trying to make the world a better place. Maybe you're just too old and grumpy to appreciate that kind of mentality.
This problem will soon be solved. If you watch kids coming out of a school you will see that there are just a few white kids in each class so they are becoming extinct. There are still a few in each class so we have a ways to go. Immigration will speed that process up.
ReplyDelete"This problem will soon be solved. If you watch kids coming out of a school you will see that there are just a few white kids in each class so they are becoming extinct. There are still a few in each class so we have a ways to go. Immigration will speed that process up."
ReplyDeleteI see where you’re coming from, but most Mexicans are not as anti-white as black people. If you look at all the latin american countries, the elites are light skinned. So we’re not going extinct, we’re just becoming more like a small elite group at the top, kinda like Free Masons.
Also, a lot of these illegal immigrants resent seeing African Americans who are more financially successful than them because Mexico is not so politically correct. So I think we can take our message to the Latino community and get them to oppose affirmative action.
Pirate, this fool isn't making the world a better place. Never confuse activity for achievement.
ReplyDelete"Pirate, this fool isn't making the world a better place. Never confuse activity for achievement"
ReplyDeleteI suspect we're getting at the heart of the matter. Your distate for McCool really stems from the fact that you assume he's some sort of ignorant racist, when you probably don't even know him. Some might call that prejudice.
At any rate, he's already acheived soemthing, he's got us talking about an important issue.
What if there was a white Ms America? There are black groups and hispanic/mexican groups similar, but if there was a white similar group, they would be labled racists. Its all one sided with some racial groups. Fair is not fair here.
ReplyDeletePirate, exactly how do you get from what I said to "you assume he's some sort of ignorant racist".
ReplyDeleteAlso, causing others to "talk" is also not to be confused with "achievement."
Also, causing others to "talk" is also not to be confused with "achievement."
ReplyDeleteWow, that is petty!
Would anyone have a problem if the HPD had a Rainbow Officers Group for the Gay officers? Or how about a Breeders Officers Association? Hell, lets bring religion in it and have a Mormons Officer Association.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Grits, did I ever tell you I went to a strip club in Utah called The Wayward Mormon's Gentleman's Club?
This is stupid especially in a day where having respect for the constitution makes you a racist. I’m white but was raised around blacks, mostly the maids kids in my early years. I went to their cribs in the projects. Even during Dallas desegregation I had the cultural experience to role with the schvartzas. Its why I was sent to gatesville. And having spent time in Texas lock ups where the majority is black, slavery is not dead in Texas since being black is probable cause, I have some experience living in black culture. I’ve also been around red nicks some but they just creep me out. The point is it’s my experience that white people who are racist are that way out of pure ignorance where as blacks just hate white people. Blacks have good reason, but it’s a real deep generational type of hatred.
ReplyDeleteMy kids go to a Jewish day school where I sat on a technology committee and we tried to get some technology grants from a large corp who does this sort of stuff. The school is open to any child who wants that sort of education and can handle the academic rigors of such an education. Yet we were turned down because it was said we were exclusive. Jews come in all flavors and we have all flavors at our school. I have blue eyes so I joke about being able to pass as white. My black friends when not in mixed company will joke that I’m one of the few white men they can stand to be around. My best friend from gatesville, a brother, may he rip, hated white people. I have African American friends who are white, but they really are from Africa and are Americans so it’s not just some politically correct appeasement label given to American blacks by guilt ridden whites to feel good.
I feel sorry for white people because the guilt of decades of screwing over black people, continuing to enslave them on plantation/farms like tdc with that clause in the 14th amendment, and making every one dumb in the name of equal public education. It’s sad when you step back and see how the race card has eaten away at the moral fabric of our society. Whity is going to allow the destruction of the land of the free and home of the brave through their guilt. Look at what’s swirling around immigration in the public servants union.
I think it’s awesome that there are those Woods who have the chutzpa to stand up for themselves even though it’s not vogue these days. In the prison culture mentality or black culture mentality same thing, Peckerwoods are much more respected if they stand up for themselves. When they don’t they are run down just like any other week member of society. It’s the law of the jungle. Jews value their history and tradition, its kept us around for a long time and we have seen the rise and fall of many great empires. It seems like America is forgetful and its people don’t take steps to balance the racial bs out of fear and\or guilt. From Jim Crow to Affirmative Action we need to find the balance just out of pure respect for one another, or it’s over. I fear my children may be part of another generation of Jews who have to move to another country to set up shop. I only hope that the next country is as good to us as this land of the free enterprise has been.
Good luck with your white cop organization, especially in Houston. I would send you money but I disdain cops. Like my black fellow citizens with good reason. I don’t go to towns with the word ‘ville’ in the name, out of fear of villains.
Sheldon
Tribal and proud
Call it "petty" if you want to, Pirate. At the end of the day, it's true. Talk is cheap.
ReplyDeleteGrits writes "The solution to racial division is not further splintering."
ReplyDeleteHe criticizes the white officer for forming one organization yet does not denounce the other race based organizations established years ago which apparently in his assesment, do not cause "further splintering."
Typical hypocrisy as usual as is the race card play.
I don't like any race based organizations myself. But don't criticize one and not the others while at the same time making excuses for their formation.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"Call it "petty" if you want to, Pirate. At the end of the day, it's true. Talk is cheap."
ReplyDeleteExactly Grits. Talk is a starting point. You get people talking about the evils of the Vietnam War, maybe the next step is protesting, voting drives, draft resistance, civil disobedience etc. So call it a "mini-achievement" if that suits you.
Affirmative action is wrong. You’re either part of the solution or you're part of the problem.
8:24, didn't you read the sentence "Two wrongs don't make a right"?
ReplyDeleteCongress can have a black caucus group,a female group, a Latino group (Barney may even have a gay group). Other police departments can have Jewish, Irish, Asian, Catholic, Hispanic or latino, etc., etc., etc., but not Mexican; that would be like a white guy starting a Caucasian group!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the worldof "bigotry" Scott!
Retired 2004
Yes I saw it. I'm pondering why you had never posted anything on these other race based le associations.
ReplyDeleteYour last sentence in your post could have said something like......In the meantime, Deputy McCool, the Texas Peace Officer Association (black), the Latino Peace Officer Association, thanks for giving the state a black eye and making white, black and brown Texans look like a bunch of racist jerks. Very helpful, that.
One other note, in 1955 the organization dropped "Negro" from its name and became the Texas Peace Officers Association. This name change represented an attempt to remove the stigma from themselves as being different from other police officers on the basis of race.
What a crock!
"None of that will matter though because I can't imagine many deputies will want their name associated with an organization devoted to promoting white rights. I'd look for this to fizzle out after the initial headlines die down."
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked. Thanks for actually finally giving some of us credit for being able to choose right from wrong.
Thanks 9:56.
ReplyDeleteTo 9:34, who is "pondering why you had never posted anything on these other race based le associations," I spend scarce little time on this blog discussing race or other hot-button culture war issues because self-absorbed (usually anonymous) blowhards like yourself tend to read their own biases into the discussions instead of reacting to what's actually written, just as you did when ignoring a critical statement you claimed i never made. Such arguments are repetitive and boring: It's just not about you. So that's the reason I don't discuss it much and why I said in the lede "I hate to bring it up" here.
There are historic reasons why the minority le groups exist, though IMO they're not a great strategy. The white cops already had their own union: The main one. So minorities began competing groups because of historic discrimination - we're just not that far in this country from Jim Crow, like it or not. A "Caucasian" group doesn't have that excuse. It's just an ill-conceived, reactionary move (or more likely just grandstanding for publicity) that's being made because this guy disagreed with their endorsement of the current sheriff, not because white cops don't have representation.
If you're critical of the minority le groups, don't mimic them.
A distinction here, there is nothing wrong with forming your own group. If you're black and you only want to hang out with blacks,that doesn't hurt anyone. Same thing if you want to only hire blacks at your store. But allow other races to do the same.
ReplyDeleteIt is when people ask for special treatment that they cross the line.
Some good points from Sheldon. We have a bunch of white pride cops. The irony of the commentary from Grits is that there is nothing wrong with white pride, but it's almost certain a cop has to violate someone's rights on a daily basis. And of course, they make a living off of other people's money.
Pirate writes: "there is nothing wrong with white pride"
ReplyDeletePride is one of the seven deadly sins, and goest before a fall.
There is nothing wrong with being proud of yourself, irregardless of your color, if you are a good person trying to do good things in the world.
ReplyDeleteIf the only reason you are "proud" of yourself is your skin color, one, you have to done nothing to be proud of other than being born, and two, you are proud of the level of melatonin in your skin.
I don't blame you for not putting too many threads like this up Grits. It makes all the uglies come out of their caves foaming at the mouth.
Get over color people and start looking at character. America isn't going to hell because of the Hispanic and African American populations rising, or the caucasians dwindling, but because our character is lacking an essential ingredient called respect.
What is good for the goose should be good for the gander Grits.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is racist. However, so are black associations, white/Hispanic associations and Asian associations. History doesn't change the current fact that one "club" or "association" that by its very name excludes another due to their race is racist (yes I recognize that their association may be open to anyone, but why would a white guy join a black officers association when it CLEARLY does not benefit anyone of his particular hue).
Everyone has equal rights under the law.
I will no longer apologize for being white nor will I turn a blind eye to racism in any form from any race or ethnicity.
6:30, who has asked you to "apologize for being white"? You're operating out of some personal guilt zone - that's all in your head (as I described at 12:17), nobody said anything like that here.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying that you said that Grits. I am just saying that skin color should not be a disadvantage.
ReplyDeleteGrits I am in no way condemning your reporting of this event, however I think that this must be stated:
I do believe that Anglo-whites that are not wealthy do have disadvantages which I have experienced in my life.
For instance, when a white person (who may be economically disadvantaged) attempts to enter law school, they may not receive as much favor in the process as black, white/Hispanic, or Asian applicants because they are a minority group even though those people may be more economically stable (I have not yet entered law school but I have researched the subject extensively because I am considering it).
I believe that it could be safe to say that most white police officers are not incredibly wealthy (unless their Harris County Jailers lol). I think that these officers should protect their privilege to promote through the ranks just as "minority" officers do.
I know that there are "historical" problems between American Anglo-whites and "minorities" but I was born in 1982 so what does that have to do with me? Why should my race be a disability during any event of promotion, entering law school, entering medical school et cetera?
Interesting article, brings up quite a few pertinent issues.
I read with great amazement this article. THE REASON I began reading "Grits" was to follow the TYC scandal. I was an employee of TYC and KNOW the reason for the original scandal happening was the refusal of leaders (white and black) to discipline (fire) a black employee for a serious breech of conduct. The ensuing smoothing-over and the following further misbehavior by that employee and the (attempted) cover-up of same caused the big blow-up at TYC. This mess was further complicated when an adminmistrator put in by Gov. Perry who botched up several tasks using heavy-handed techniques, arrogance, and incompetance. Also, it was rumored that this person was named as co-respondant in a divorce action by the spouse of a state legislator (whom "Grits" ofttimes puts on a pedistal and worships). Maybe "Grits" should report on THAT before November.
ReplyDelete"Pirate writes: "there is nothing wrong with white pride"
ReplyDeletePride is one of the seven deadly sins, and goest before a fall."
Grits, it is your right to practice Christianity, I don't believe in it. But we can agree pride, in and of itself, doesn't hurt anyone, doesn't intrude on anyone's rights.
Really I doubt you're really totally against pride, you've shown quite a bit of arrogance in this post. And I doubt you can show any data showing that pride leads to negative outcomes later in life, like a lot of Christian slogans, this one isn't evidence based.
"Get over color people and start looking at character. America isn't going to hell because of the Hispanic and African American populations rising, or the caucasians dwindling, but because our character is lacking an essential ingredient called respect."
ReplyDeleteCharityLee, America isn't going to hell. Period.
We are just not reaching our potential because the government holds us back.
Pirate, when pride leads to negative outcomes, they're usually quite immediate, not "later in life." Think Bush and Cheney going into Iraq. You're wrong it doesn't hurt anyone, and when racial pride leads to discrimination it can indeed harm rights of others - isn't that your complaint about affirmative action?
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to be religious to believe pride is a character flaw. In all cases, humility is to be much more respected.
10:35, Grits was the most critical media outlet in the state of D'Pope, you've got a short memory if you think I gave her a pass. I'll guarantee she doesn't feel that way.
Why minority groups but not Anglo ones? The short answer? Because the minority groups were formed to achieve equality within institutionally racist organizations while this "Causcasion" group is being created with the objective of retaining White domination and attempting to maintain White supremacy.
ReplyDeleteDo you actually think that the FOP allowed black officers to be members? Neither the white departments nor their internal organizations allowed minority participation; that's why these organizations came into existence. When I was a kid dozens of departments restricted the arrest powers of the black officers they did have. When police reform developed years ago to professionalize policing management didn't address the continuing issue of race in the profession and with racial discrimination so pronounced in both the North and the South, minorities organized to achieve that equality. In some places they have done better than others. Harris County Sheriff's Office stats for Hispanics (somewhat dated) show underrepresentation in comparision to the population. City of Pasadena stats were really in the toilet - but that's Pasadena.
So now "they" have a little political clot and a chance for a piece of the pie and a bunch of racists whine because they only see a zero-sum game. If you can put "them" back in their old place that will leave more opportunities for white boys is the basic idea. However you word it, that is what it's all about.
My grandfather was a Mississippi cracker as was his oldest son so I saw plenty of this crap growing up. The funny thing about it is that it's still here. Difference is they knew they were racist and didn't try to conceal it unlike many who can't seem to or don't want to admit they are. :~)
The War in Iraq violated people's rights: children were burned alive by American bombs.
ReplyDeleteThis caucasian group doesn't violate anyone's rights.
Pride and humility go hand in hand. We are humbled the challenges we face in life, proud of our accomplishments.
The Iraq War wasn't caused by pride, but by a bad idea. The bad idea is that the ends justify the means.
By the same token, the civil rights legislation took away people's freedom, our freedom to associate with who we want. Now I can get in trouble if I own a store and refuse to hire certain kinds of people.
But they say it's all justified, because now we're all equal.
Always be skeptical when some politician says we must take away someone's freedom, property or life for the good of mankind. It is usually an excuse for them to grab power.
Pirate writes: "The Iraq War wasn't caused by pride, but by a bad idea."
ReplyDeleteFine, use whatever labels you want. Rather than critique Deputy McCool on the basis of racial pride, let's just say a Caucasian Deputies Association is a really "bad idea."
Your absurdly distorted view of civil rights movement, like the Caucasian Deputies group, is a mere provocation, ignoring history, barely in touch with reality, and needs no rebutting. It's just silly on it's face.
To 10:19, I largely agree that the key distinction is that "the minority groups were formed to achieve equality within institutionally racist organizations while this 'Caucasian' group is being created with the objective of retaining White domination and attempting to maintain White supremacy." That's exactly the "historic" distinction I was referencing.
However, I also think there are costs that have been paid by minorities for that strategy in terms of long-term marginalization by essentially embracing separate but equal instead of demanding full participation in traditional institutions, not just in the context of unions, but in politics generally (b/c of gerrymandered districts, etc.). I understand why Identity Politics exists - people whose views were formed during that political era saw few viable alternatives available and it's a fool's errand to spend much energy begrudging decisions from half a century a go. But in a 21st century context I consider the approach strategically unwise, inherently reactionary and short-sighted no matter who is engaged in it. In the big picture, it's worse for deputies to have several competing unions the bosses can play off against each other, and it makes no sense to add one more to the mix.
"the minority groups were formed to achieve equality within institutionally racist organizations…”
ReplyDeleteFrom Jim Crow to Affirmative Action, perhaps this is why the need is felt today to form the peckerwood cop organization in a government public servant jobs. Thinking that black people are too stupid to compete with whites and making things really easy for them is a form of racism as well. “Good ol whity makein easy for the brother” I was just re-reading Huck Finn because I couldn’t understand why the template of classic American Lit was band from tdc book list. Besides the obvious ignorance of the book banners. I realize not much has changed in the descriptive use of the “N” word from that time until now. What if 100% of black culture took Opra Winfry’s advice and began speaking proper English, pulling thay pants up, living the American dream as opposed to living off the American dream. It was white racist who placed the majority of blacks on government assistance because of the prevailing thought that they were inferior. Because of generations of this prevailing thought it has become ingrained in black society a culture of unworthiness who is entitled to be taken care of. Throughout world history this has been done by ruling cultures to keep those deemed unworthy trodden down, and the fact we as Americans don’t see this degradation of a culture proves the success of dumbing down our pubic education.
Thanks to Katrina the whole world got to see how reliant blacks in America are to their white masters. Blacks in America are still enslaved by white America not just in our prisons but as a cultural whole. So join that black caucus, screw the public and piss off time with redrawing districts and voter ID, pick up your document and run and hide your punk ass in another state, set up your regimes in yo govment jobs, it just shows how far we haven’t come. As long as blacks feel they need to act inferior ol whity will accommodate. Sadly today, this is what we call respecting each other.
Sheldon
So true. The blacks have been given so much for so ling, they refuse to step up and act properly and depend on handouts and welfare for their own survival. Look around, they just pass it from their generation to the next. It is expected and is the black culture. About Katrina - they yelled and complained about the help, yet other Americans also caught in the storm received little attention, or helped themselves.
ReplyDelete"The War in Iraq violated people's rights: children were burned alive by American bombs. "
ReplyDeleteThe American bombs were nothing compared to the American government NOT exercising its authority and causing people to not take the US authority seriously. Putting in the incompetent Bremer made things worse. The intra-Shiite and the Sunni-Shiite conflicts were the real killers among the people in Iraq.