Comments on K-NDP: A letter on discrimination

I guess I'll just jump right in.Natalka, I too fac...

2006-04-04T12:43:00.000-04:00

I guess I'll just jump right in.

Natalka, I too face this very same problem. In fact i stumbled across this thread while i was searching for articles related to equal emplyment opportunites for a college paper.

Not to be rude, but I seriously do think that anyone who finds this "whiny" or offensive is missing the larger picture. This is clearly not how the world should be. Yes, we arent born with tattoos, you don't need to remind us of that. But its clearly a choice that we made for personal reasons, and the working place shouldn't be turn their nose up at that. It would be like not hiring someone because they were gay. It would be RIDICULOUS! but they can't help it becuase that's how they want to be and how they choose to be. And no one should have the authority to turn anyone down because they don't meet "normal peoples" standards.

-thanks

And what about shaving is exactly so appealing?I t...

2006-01-16T20:39:00.000-05:00

And what about shaving is exactly so appealing?

I think that this is discrimination for sure; so would be turning a bearded guy away.

Hi Jacob,Good point, I'll update the post to make ...

2006-01-11T21:11:00.000-05:00

Hi Jacob,

Good point, I'll update the post to make that clearer.

I think the issue's a little more complex than you're making it out to be. People face discrimination for more than just inborn traits like skin color. You're not born in any particular religion; you have to choose it. Poverty is neither birthright nor matter of choice.

I don't want to say "discriminating on the basis of tattoos is the same as discriminating on the basis of religion." But I have known quite a lot of tattooed folks personally and, for many modern tattooees, the decision to get a tattoo is a deeply personal decision and can even be a spiritual one. People take their tattoos pretty seriously, is what I'm saying.

(By the way, the letter's author was careful to mention that he was clean-shaven and well-presented when he was turned away from the interview.)

The important thing here is that discrimination in some form can touch any of us, tattoos or no. We thought this letter that Rob got illustrated that, so we decided to post it on the blog (with the author's permission).

It's not a plank in Rob's platform, a major moment in his campaign, or even a focus of the blog; it is the voice of one K&I constituent, and one that we thought worth sharing in one post on the blog.

I'm not sure what you mean by "a serious organization." We're really trying to get Rob elected. He really would make a good MP -- he's been active on the Left in Kingston for many years and is widely respected by the Left here; here's his bio. And, we really do believe in the NDP policies.

You can read more about the NDP's and Rob's positions on the issues here:
Kingston NDP Web Site

I appreciate the time you've taken to follow up here, even though you're obviously not thrilled with the Kingston NDP. If you've got any questions or comments about the issues, policies, platform or even Rob's background, feel free to follow up to this post or email us at info@ndpkingston.org .

Good thing your pitching for tattoed whiners right...

2006-01-11T14:18:00.000-05:00

Good thing your pitching for tattoed whiners rights. If Simple Plan lived in Kingston, you might have a shot at winning.

Look, I'll take you at your word that you didn't intend to make the comparison. But the letter you blogged about does, and so you can see how others might draw that conclusion.

Anyway, the main reason there's no comparison is because being black is an intrinsic part of your identity. It's who you are. You're not born with tattoes, you don't have to get them. If you came to a job interview unshaven and disheveled you would be at a disadvantage, it's the same with tattoes.

Your weblog and your candidate (viz- his embarrassing performance at the debate last night) have done nothing to show the Kingston NDP to be a serious organization. This post tipped it over the edge.

I'm sorry the letter offended you. I didn't mean ...

2006-01-10T11:43:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry the letter offended you.
I didn't mean to suggest that being turned down for a job is the same thing as being arrested for one's race. That wasn't my intention at all, and I'm sorry you read it that way.

I do think that some folks who aren't people of color feel "Oh, discrimination only happens to other people." And I think this letter's a good reminder that whether it's for your background, your tattoos, your religion, your gender, your education, your socio-economic status, etc, discrimination in some form can touch almost anyone's life.

If empathy and a sense of justice aren't enough to get everyone stirred up about discrimination, then perhaps a reminder of its universality is.

Does recognizing this reality make the Kingston NDP "not a serious organization"? No. It means we recognize that discrimination in all forms, from racial profiling to a snub in the street, is an issue that we all need to address.

What an offensive letter. How dare that person co...

2006-01-10T00:45:00.000-05:00

What an offensive letter. How dare that person compare what happened to him to discrimination against blacks.

And so whiny too. This company dodged a bullet.

The fact that you posted it in all seriousness and that you compared it to the racial profiling issue shows that the Kingston NDP is not a serious organization.