Because this is my neck of the woods--about Swimgate

There is another story were the actual word "complexion"-- was used. How Freudian!

When I was growing up, I had the Lawncrest Recreation Center just a couple blocks up from where I lived. That's where I learned to swim. But in the current economy, not every city neighborhood has a pool, and if summer camps can pay to have the kids swim at private pools, this is a great activity for them. I know I loved swimming, and still do it when I can get a chance.

Because I'm from NE Philadelphia and know this area--I have a suspicion that this is about "complexion". The swim club might maintain that they do have "diversity" already, but the presence of the kids in toto probably just touched a nerve somewhere with the membership, where it was easier to hand the money back than let them stay. That's beyond sad. Because in 2009, the people running the club should have stood their ground, said "These are paying members", and told the others they should get over themselves. Because that much should have been enough to actually get the people, whoever they were, who had their issues, to find their awareness and stop being what they were.

Which was....you know....white and uptight.

But they didn't.

I hate to think that actual "shaming" needs to be done here, but maybe it does. It's a shame these kids aren't welcome. It's a shame this even seems to be about race. It's a shame in this day and age that the swim club didn't let those kids just--swim. It's a bigger shame they tried to find an excuse for why they didn't.

The Valley Swim Club is just pretending they don't know better. But I suppose they should.