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OP-ED: The duality of purpose
by Asher Tannenbaum
Op-Ed | 11/20/07
Posted online at 10:04 PM EST on 11/19/07
/ Last updated at 2:20 PM EST on 11/19/07
"During the Ways and Means meeting tonight we went over the clubs that are coming to us this Sunda, and for the African Club, we found some potential dualities of purpose with the BBSO [Brandeis Black Student Organization]. ... There are many similar elements in both, particularly in cultural awareness and activities." Is there any way these lines could possibly be taken to be offensive or to infer that there is no difference between Africans and African-Americans? Is this what a "white, jewish middle-class conservative" would write? Some students think so, and have even inferred that I am racist and don't know the difference between Africans and African-Americans. Comparing the purposes of any two other clubs would never elicit this response.
"I am sorry to say that I find Asher's e-mail both offensive and inappropriate. Asher's idea of the African Club is full of ignorance by believing racial stereotypes and sounds like something that would come from a white, jewish middle-class conservative."
"It's so stupid and upsetting that he would say the African Club has a direct relation with BBSO, being that BBSO mainly incorporates 'Black Culture' on campus, meaning that any 'African culture' would be incorporated as well. Asher is wrong. 'African American culture' in America is very much different from that of any 'African culture.' Personally, I feel very offended by Asher's remarks in saying that both of these club's inner elements are basically the same, ... regardless of where they came from."
My fellow senator Kamarin Lee (TYP) wrote this in response to my e-mail at the top of this column, and the same sentiment has been echoed many times by others in the past two weeks.
How does my background and, in particular, my Judaism, cause me to point out that two clubs may have similar purposes? What racial stereotypes am I perpetuating? It is clear to any critical reader that they have very similar written purposes-as Treasurer Choon Woo Ha '08 indicated during a recent Senate meeting. Take a look:
"I am sorry to say that I find Asher's e-mail both offensive and inappropriate. Asher's idea of the African Club is full of ignorance by believing racial stereotypes and sounds like something that would come from a white, jewish middle-class conservative."
"It's so stupid and upsetting that he would say the African Club has a direct relation with BBSO, being that BBSO mainly incorporates 'Black Culture' on campus, meaning that any 'African culture' would be incorporated as well. Asher is wrong. 'African American culture' in America is very much different from that of any 'African culture.' Personally, I feel very offended by Asher's remarks in saying that both of these club's inner elements are basically the same, ... regardless of where they came from."
My fellow senator Kamarin Lee (TYP) wrote this in response to my e-mail at the top of this column, and the same sentiment has been echoed many times by others in the past two weeks.
How does my background and, in particular, my Judaism, cause me to point out that two clubs may have similar purposes? What racial stereotypes am I perpetuating? It is clear to any critical reader that they have very similar written purposes-as Treasurer Choon Woo Ha '08 indicated during a recent Senate meeting. Take a look:
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 9
Alan Royals
posted 11/20/07 @ 12:40 PM EST
Well written. Senators Tanenbaum and Hasegawa are the heroes here, despite ignorant accusations of their being racist and untrustworthy, respectively. (Continued…)
Asher Tanenbaum
posted 11/20/07 @ 3:04 PM EST
What motivated me to write this op-ed were the misconceptions people have on this issue for lack of knowing what was really written and what the issue was actually about. (Continued…)
Seth Sclair
posted 11/20/07 @ 5:18 PM EST
Superb piece by Mr. Tanenbaum. As an alum of Brandeis, I worry very much about the type of lynch-mob mentality that tends to grip some issues and segments at my alma mater. (Continued…)
Josh Bornstein, Esq.
posted 11/20/07 @ 5:27 PM EST
I'm also an alum, and I completely agree with the 3rd posting. Asher very clearly has his act together, and I give him props for standing up to this perverse, anti-intellectual intimidation that festers in some segments of Brandeis. (Continued…)
Thomas Quasthoff
posted 11/22/07 @ 10:47 AM EST
Nice try, Tanenbaum. Are you going to go after the numerous other campus groups with similar purposes, or just the ones with black people in them? I thought so. (Continued…)
Man, Esq
posted 11/30/07 @ 10:59 AM EST
Asher,
Most of the Student Body that knows anything about politics in the union knows that you're no fan of african and african-american people. Your politics are strange and your association with Michael Goldman and his own ludicrous ideas about race make me feel incredibly confident that people like you will only get away with this kind of thing at Brandeis. (Continued…)
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