NYU may soon get a new Islamic Center, which would serve more than 1,500 students. 
One of the amenities that has been proposed is special “foot-bath” facilities, which would prevent Muslim students from awkwardly lifting their feet into sinks for pre-prayer rituals.
This sounds like an excellent idea, on many counts. However, at least one enlightened NYU undergrad believes the notion just wouldn’t whistle in Dixie:
“I think most people would really approve of that,” said senior Pia Clive, 20. “It’s NYU. If we were at Alabama State, it would be a different story.”
Now, wait just a minute here. I know many Alabama State University alumni, and they would be offended by the notion that they would somehow discriminate. Does Pia Clive intend to insinuate that students at historically-black institutions like ASU are less cultured, nuanced, and tolerant than the rest of the country? As a non-prejudiced American, should I allow this kind of insensitive remark to go unchallenged?
[tags]Ike Pigott, Occam’s RazR, journalism, news, prejudice, media bias[/tags]
I say go for it Ike! Post a response. Perhaps the “enlightened” New Yorker will expound on exactly what they meant. Tone is difficult (at best) to interpret in text.
Like the rest of us, you live in a different country than New York and therefore do not merit atttention from the New Yorker… That’s why I like Chicago more.
As a local, Ike you’re probably aware of the section in each Sunday’s News that goes by the title “What Other’s are Saying” and reports any mention of Alabama or Birmingham elsewhere in the world.
Some are favorable and others fall in the catagory of snarky sanctimoniousness such as your example. There’s a lot of it out there and responding to it all is like trying to cure the common cold. Just take comfort that people who’ve spent more than 15 minutes here and don’t base their opinions on the MSM know the truth.
For the record, I doubt Pia knows the difference between Alabama State or the University of Alabama and probably thought she was referring to the latter.
Southtrek – I have no doubt that you’re correct.
I also have no doubt that if a Birmingham resident (or any “dirty Southerner” for that matter) made a similar comment out of school, it would be interpreted in the worst possible light. I’m merely giving the same quarter.
And thanks for stopping in. It’s good to be back on the Combloggerator after a long hiatus.