<p>Stepped up to the plate that Richie! Great job, Spectrum.</p>
<p>Spectrum:</p>
<p>You should be commended for using a teachable moment in a positive way. Changing people’s perceptions one person at a time! Hope he continues to have a different viewpoint and even helps out other people that get stuck with stereotypes…a domino effect! :)</p>
<p>I missed the Richie thing (but I got the gist.) I am glad to hear he apologized.</p>
<p>Thank you for the cyber-pats on the back. As a transplant from NYC to TX, over time I have learned that it is empowering to at least attempt to make a change. It feels much better than being angry and hurt, all things that I have experienced. It doesn’t always happen but it feels really great when you feel that the effort to teach is well received. I got the okay from Richie to print this. (I’m sorry, I haven’t figured out how to copy and paste a portion of a post so I’ll settle for quotation marks.) </p>
<p>"I sincerely apologize for posting that comment. In retrospect it was a stupid and thoughtless thing to post, I certainly would have felt the same way if some one had exposed a derogatory comment regarding Asian Americans. </p>
<p>I completely agree, people should be judged by quality of character, not by ethnic stereotyping. I will not make excuses for what I did because it was wrong and I thank you for helping me realize that.</p>
<p>Best regards,
Richie"</p>
<p>Richie also posted an apology on his thread.</p>
<p>Spectrum: Thanks for sharing Richie’s response. He really sounds sorry. I doubt that he will use that expression again. Your handling of the situation is a good example for all of us.</p>
<p>Wow! When does an apology ever come across loud and clear and not merely “IF I offended you, THEN I apologize.” Way to go, Richie!</p>
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<p>Peonies: I’m not very familiar with western schools, but if your son would like a big school, “B” students in our area are very happy at Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado.</p>
<p>nicely done, spectrum. not only is Richie unlikely to use the phrase again, he sounds like the kind of young man who will pass on his new knowledge when he hears others using the same offensive words.</p>
<p>kudos for spectrum for tactfully handling the situation and also kudos to Richie for being willing to listen and apologize respectfully for his behavior.</p>
<p>Maybe some of us should write something supportive to him on his thread after he wrote that apology. If he sees how many people it affected, he’s liable to really learn how & why it was offensive. Good teachable moment for a 17/18 year old. He also will no doubt come into contact with many jewish students at those schools…maybe he’ll even have a jewish boss someday 
so hopefully he will change his viewpoint.</p>
<p>Is Linymom in Florida? Hopefully she’ll read this and be very happy with the outcome!</p>
<p>Peonies: Where are you looking for “B” schools?</p>
<p>you are a wise, wise person Spectrum. thank you for taking the high road and resolving this in such a temperate manner.</p>
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<p>Hi. What an interesting day here! I lauded Richie over on his thread. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised by what it seems he learned. It’s just so sad that so many people who don’t have experience with diversity are so blind to how offensive their comments could be. It is especially disappointing with someone who is apparently so book-smart. Anyway, we all did a very good thing together. I will have to share the end-result with my DD tomorrow. Like us, she was appalled at the beginning of the story, but it has a good result!</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m in FL and will miss the snowstorm in NY this week. Hoping we can extend an extra day without extra plane fees (supposed to fly home Thurs, but want to stay till Fri). I think I will call tomorrow. Southwest is so good and it’s not a busy season… fingers crossed. It’s just so nice here and DD and I are running out of time to do all we want to do!</p>
<p>REally hoping the snowstorm doesn’t materialize on Wednesday as I have to drive my dad an hour away to have surgery (and then back again that evening!). OY!!!</p>
<p>Thank you for the compliments. CCC I really like your idea. I was impressed with Richie’s straight forward apology. I was even more impressed that he took it a step further and took it upon himself to post the apology on his thread. A very sensitive leap for a young man who ironically came accross as insensitive just days ago. I agree he deserves to be
supported. As Vitrac said, no excuse apologies are rare. </p>
<p>peonies: I don’t remember discussing Chapman University on this thread and I don’t know much about it in general or from a Jewish perspective but I have seen good things posted on CC and I was planning on checking it out if S2 is interested in looking at California.</p>
<p>Holliesue, we cross posted good luck with the snow and the surgery.</p>
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<p>Holliesue: I hope the snow doesn’t make your drive too difficult. I love snow as long as I don’t have to drive in it.</p>
<p>Linymom: I hope you can work it out to say in FL an extra day. I’m jealous. I missed our annual Florida trip to visit the in-laws this year due thanks to the mono.</p>
<p>momjr: me too, love snow, except for the driving. Now my dh is a big skier so he just loves snow.</p>
<p>thanks for the good wishes for the surgery everyone!</p>
<p>
same here. snow due in Ohio today so I’ve converted a couple of meetings to conference calls and stocked up on firewood :)</p>
<p>holliesue: good luck tomorrow.</p>
<p>LINYMOM: hope you are able to extend your time in Florida!</p>
<p>peonies: D2 is an A-/B+ student whose main college search criteria at the moment is warm weather, so Pitzer and Occidental are on her list. I haven’t had a chance to explore Jewish life at Oxy, but I’m pretty sure Pitzer shares Jewish resources with the other Claremont colleges so I’m guessing it is fairly robust. again, haven’t done the research yet.</p>
<p>for those of you interested in Debbie Friedman, here is today’s NY Times obit: <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/ar...1friedman.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/ar...1friedman.html</a> Also, her funeral will be streamed beginning at 11:00 PST today [Temple</a> Beth Sholom live streaming of Debbie Friedman Funeral](<a href=“http://www.tbsoc.com/debbie/index.html]Temple”>http://www.tbsoc.com/debbie/index.html)</p>
<p>Spectrum - kudos to how you handled Ritchie. I am impressed by his apology - it’s a good lesson for all - think about how your words can affect others.</p>
<p>Holliesue - thinking good thoughts your way. Good luck to your dad and hopefully, the snow will not be a problem.</p>