Navy to honor 1st black graduate..................

[sommpd]

Originally Posted by ImnoMensa

So what is this guy's record. What did he do to deserve such an honor besides being born black.

The story doesn't say. Just mentions his rank, Retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Wesley Brown .

Do they now name a building for the first Hispanic who graduated> The First Japanese, the first Chinese?

If he did something special (except for being black) why doesnt the article mention it?

Well, I think the idea behind this is since people of his color generally came to this country as slaves, and then suffered through predjudice soley based on their color, this person breaking the color barrier and paving the way for other great minds to graduate from this prestigious institute of higher learning deserves special honors.

You're right, you really aren't no mensa!

[ImnoMensa]

Originally Posted by sommpd

Well, I think the idea behind this is since people of his color generally came to this country as slaves, and then suffered through predjudice soley based on their color, this person breaking the color barrier and paving the way for other great minds to graduate from this prestigious institute of higher learning deserves special honors.

You're right, you really aren't no mensa!

Youre no Mensa either if you believe that simply being black and graduating from Annapolis qualifies you to have a building named after you.

You also suffer badly from white guilt. This man hasnt been a slave and neither have his father or grandfather. All graduiates at Annapolis certainly have good minds but what makes you think this guy's is great?

By the way you should check out a good book on Grammar saying "you really arent no mensa" isnt proper English and is very telling that you arent no mensa either. LMAO

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by sommpd

Well, I think the idea behind this is since people of his color generally came to this country as slaves, and then suffered through predjudice soley based on their color

I'll bet you $100 that you can't find a single person of "his color" that came to this country as a slave.

[sommpd]

Originally Posted by ImnoMensa

Youre no Mensa either if you believe that simply being black and graduating from Annapolis qualifies you to have a building named after you.

You also suffer badly from white guilt. This man hasnt been a slave and neither have his father or grandfather. All graduiates at Annapolis certainly have good minds but what makes you think this guy's is great?

By the way you should check out a good book on Grammar saying "you really arent no mensa" isnt proper English and is very telling that you arent no mensa either. LMAO

First, the "you really aren't no mensa" was written in tounge and cheek. Second, I don't suffer from white guilt, but I can recognize the accomplishment of a black man who, at a time when he would have had to use a different bathroom than a white man in many parts of this country, ride in a different part of the bus than a white person in many parts of this country, and who's children would not be allowed in the same schools as a white person in many parts of this country, had the courage to be the first to attend this school. Do you really not think that this was a challenge for him to first be accepted, then to maintain himself to be able to make it through?

I'm not suffering from any guilt, but I do see a time when this country made mistakes soley based on a persons race. If you can't see that then I think you have blinders on.

So yes, I think the guy should have a building named after him. I think his name should be honored just as Jackie Robinson's name is honored in Cooperstown. Just as I think Rosa Parks should have buildings named after her, and Martin Luther King should have buildings named after him. All Rosa Parks did was some civil disobedience. Do you think she deserves no credit?

[cwo_ghwebb]

Originally Posted by sommpd

First, the "you really aren't no mensa" was written in tounge and cheek. Second, I don't suffer from white guilt, but I can recognize the accomplishment of a black man who, at a time when he would have had to use a different bathroom than a white man in many parts of this country, ride in a different part of the bus than a white person in many parts of this country, and who's children would not be allowed in the same schools as a white person in many parts of this country, had the courage to be the first to attend this school. Do you really not think that this was a challenge for him to first be accepted, then to maintain himself to be able to make it through?

I'm not suffering from any guilt, but I do see a time when this country made mistakes soley based on a persons race. If you can't see that then I think you have blinders on.

So yes, I think the guy should have a building named after him. I think his name should be honored just as Jackie Robinson's name is honored in Cooperstown. Just as I think Rosa Parks should have buildings named after her, and Martin Luther King should have buildings named after him. All Rosa Parks did was some civil disobedience. Do you think she deserves no credit?

And yet this isn't a mistake as this country is going to name a building after a person based solely on their race?

[sommpd]

Originally Posted by cwo_ghwebb

And yet this isn't a mistake as this country is going to name a building after a person based solely on their race?

It's not soley on race. It's about being the first in a time when it was difficult to do anything based on race. When during a time when there was still separation of military troops based soley on color, this man had the courage and fortitude to step up and do something nobody else had before. This honor isn't based on the man's race, it's the man's race that caused this man to do something nobody had done before. So yes, I believe this is much deserved.

[ImnoMensa]

Well I am glad you are such a feeling person. I am proud of you.

As for me I dont think its appropriate to name a building for a graduate, just because he graduated and was black.

Obviously others dont feel that way, as they are doing it.
It seem too obvious that the University of Alabama should name a couple of buildings after the students who entered there first. We need a football stadium named after the first white professional football player. West Point is behind times they need to name a building after the first black to attend there . On and on ad infinitum

You believe its deserved, I believe its another feel good act of pandering.

Thats what makes horse races.

[sommpd]

Originally Posted by ImnoMensa

Well I am glad you are such a feeling person. I am proud of you.

As for me I dont think its appropriate to name a building for a graduate, just because he graduated and was black.

Obviously others dont feel that way, as they are doing it.
It seem too obvious that the University of Alabama should name a couple of buildings after the students who entered there first. We need a football stadium named after the first white professional football player. West Point is behind times they need to name a building after the first black to attend there . On and on ad infinitum

You believe its deserved, I believe its another feel good act of pandering.

Thats what makes horse races.

It wouldn't be appropriate with West Point since the first black graduate was court-martialed for embezelment. To each his own, but to say I suffer from white guilt would be as presumptious as me assuming you are a bigot because of your opinion. I don't! I just assume that is your opinion!

[cwo_ghwebb]

Originally Posted by sommpd

It's not soley on race. It's about being the first in a time when it was difficult to do anything based on race. When during a time when there was still separation of military troops based soley on color, this man had the courage and fortitude to step up and do something nobody else had before. This honor isn't based on the man's race, it's the man's race that caused this man to do something nobody had done before. So yes, I believe this is much deserved.

The man's race caused him to do nothing. He as an individual did graduate, something that was a first. I can name about 30 firsts I accomplished in my career and I certainly don't expect a building to be named after me. IMO, it's much to do about nothing, other than the honor is based on his race.

[LexiGirl75]

Originally Posted by cwo_ghwebb

And yet this isn't a mistake as this country is going to name a building after a person based solely on their race?

Blacks can be killed for race but not honored? Yes, I know you're not condoning either of those but never the less, a first is a first be it the first man on the moon or the first black man to accomplish something during a time period when there was much faith that he couldn't. Hats off to him for proving them wrong.


If it makes you feel any better, think of it as a game show obstacle course that he participated in and won. His prize is having the building named after him.