Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Student Support for Cystic Fibrosis Charity Dropped Because Disease is too "White"

When this story was thrown through the proverbial transom, I thought it must be from The Onion. Alas, no. A student organization at Carleton University has dropped supporting cystic fibrosis charities because the disease is not diverse enough. I kid you not. From the story:

The Carleton University Students' Association has voted to drop a cystic fibrosis charity as the beneficiary of its annual Shinearama fundraiser, supporting a motion that argued the disease is not "inclusive" enough. Cystic fibrosis "has been recently revealed to only affect white people, and primarily men" said the motion read Monday night to student councillors, who voted almost unanimously in favour of it.
But wait, it might not just be white men that suffer from the disease!
The rationale for dropping cystic fibrosis as the beneficiary is not correct, she said. CF is diagnosed just as often among girls as boys, although the health of girls deteriorates more rapidly, she said. It is commonly considered an illness that affects Caucasians, but that includes people from the Middle East, South America, North Africa and the Indian subcontinent."'Caucasian' as we understand it isn't just white people," said Ms. Morrison. "It includes people with a whole rainbow of skins."

One of the councillors who voted in favour of switching the charity said Monday night that the information provided to the panel prior to the vote was factually incorrect, and he will be seeking support from other members to hold an emergency meeting to reconsider their decision. "After seeing all the reaction today, I definitely think it should be revisited and reconsidered," said Michael Monks, who represents Carleton's business students for the student council.
I've been to Canada often. I like Canadia. I know these kinds of attitudes don't come from the water. They come from political correctness that subverts reason and the ability to think critically.

I can't stand it!

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7 Comments:

At November 26, 2008 , Blogger Lydia McGrew said...

So the one guy is changing his mind because he decided that he was misinformed and CF is _not_ a white disease? Not because it _shouldn't matter_?

Makes your head hurt.

(Does this mean that a college with a largely white student population shouldn't give to a charity that works on sickle cell anemia?)

 
At November 26, 2008 , Blogger Wesley J. Smith said...

Lydia: Probably a college that was mostly black. That was the analogy that sprang to my mind, too. Totally ridiculous.

 
At November 26, 2008 , Blogger karen gaddass said...

CF IS A REALLY SCHOCKING DESEASE I AM THE MOTHER OF A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER WHO IS NOW 21, ITS DISCUSTING TO READ THE COLLEGE WILL DROP SUPPORT. I WATCH MY DAUGHTER SUFFER EVERY DAY IM FURIOUS READING THIS. SHAME ON YOU ALL, LIVE WITH A CF ADULT FOR ONE WEEK AND YOU OPINION WOULD CHANGE.

 
At November 26, 2008 , Blogger ** said...

Did these students pass their SAT's? Shouldn't university level students know enough about English grammar to recognize adjectives, that describe "COLOUR" and "SEX"?

Canada Human Rights Act - R.S., 1985, c. H-6 July, 1996 1982
Part 1
Prohibited grounds of discrimination
3. (1) For all purposes of this Act, the prohibited grounds of discrimination are race, national or ethnic origin, COLOUR, religion, age, SEX, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability and conviction for which a pardon has been granted.

 
At November 26, 2008 , Blogger SAFEpres said...

This is the quintsential problem with those who claim to be "enlightened," yet hypocritically limit their concept of diversity to race, sexuality and gender, ignoring disability and reverse discrimination issues.

 
At November 26, 2008 , Blogger Unknown said...

There is a silver lining to this. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation supports embryonic stem cell research - which kills embryonic human beings (as opposed to adult stem cell research, which does not)

With the bigoted and assinine action, the Student society is helping to defund nazi-style medical research.

Bravo!

 
At November 28, 2008 , Blogger T E Fine said...

Aidan -

I recall reading once that the house of the CEO of a large tobacco corporation (I want to say Marlboro but I can't guarantee it) burned down when he fell asleep while holding a lit ciagrette.

I feel as aghast, amused, disquieted, and befuddled reading your statement as I did reading that article.

 

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