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TheGFG · 05-16-2008, 06:38 AM

High school D is running for class officer. Suddenly, the campaign has taken a racial/ethnic tone, which D finds annoying and slightly offensive. Several ethnic candidates have decided to run in a block in an obvious ethnic appeal. Another candidate running for the same position as D, just put up posters saying "Vote for me because I'm ___________." (Fill in the blank with the name of an ethnic group that is in the minority nationwide but extremely well represented at D's school.) D dislikes that tactic, and wouldn't want to try to counter it in kind. Besides, she couldn't do it even if she wanted to. D is quite certain that submitting for the required school appproval, a poster reading "Vote for me because I'm white" would get her in major hot water. At best, she'd be accused of being racist with all that would entail such as bad college recs. Also, doing so would get her off on the wrong foot with the advisor with whom she'd have to work next year if elected, since school people there are notoriously PC. At worst, D fears she'd get expelled for hate speech.

D is thinking she should probably just ignore the whole race thing. She is also considering trying to use this as a springboard for challenging the thinking that race matters in a school election. I had a blast last night coming up with great comeback posters, but D thought they were too complex for high school consumption. On one I put: Vote D, below that a photo of self-tanning products, then Skin Color: $12.99, Personality: Priceless. S suggested a photo of a saltine cracker, with the caption: "Vote D because she knows it doesn't matter that she's white." D did not like these or the others I came up with.

Thoughts anyone?

05-16-2008, 06:38 AM	#1
TheGFG Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 988	Pls help my D save her election campaign High school D is running for class officer. Suddenly, the campaign has taken a racial/ethnic tone, which D finds annoying and slightly offensive. Several ethnic candidates have decided to run in a block in an obvious ethnic appeal. Another candidate running for the same position as D, just put up posters saying "Vote for me because I'm ___________." (Fill in the blank with the name of an ethnic group that is in the minority nationwide but extremely well represented at D's school.) D dislikes that tactic, and wouldn't want to try to counter it in kind. Besides, she couldn't do it even if she wanted to. D is quite certain that submitting for the required school appproval, a poster reading "Vote for me because I'm white" would get her in major hot water. At best, she'd be accused of being racist with all that would entail such as bad college recs. Also, doing so would get her off on the wrong foot with the advisor with whom she'd have to work next year if elected, since school people there are notoriously PC. At worst, D fears she'd get expelled for hate speech. D is thinking she should probably just ignore the whole race thing. She is also considering trying to use this as a springboard for challenging the thinking that race matters in a school election. I had a blast last night coming up with great comeback posters, but D thought they were too complex for high school consumption. On one I put: Vote D, below that a photo of self-tanning products, then Skin Color: $12.99, Personality: Priceless. S suggested a photo of a saltine cracker, with the caption: "Vote D because she knows it doesn't matter that she's white." D did not like these or the others I came up with. Thoughts anyone?