[ladyjane]

I don't understand why this is upsetting to Freepers. Didn't we just decide that it was okay to keep women out of golf clubs? By the same reasoning it's okay to keep blacks out of proms. Where's Hootie? He'll explain it all.

[mabelkitty]

Private club, public school.

Big difference.

[Onelifetogive]

I don't understand why this is upsetting to Freepers. Didn't we just decide that it was okay to keep women out of golf clubs? By the same reasoning it's okay to keep blacks out of proms.

I could explain how it's not the same...but it would be a twisted and tortured, hillary-like explanation. I think I'll just say "Good point" instead.

[sharktrager]

Jane

Nobody is disputing their rights, just as most of us simply said we agree that Augusta has the right to do as it chooses.

We are saying that being unable to associate with people because of race, creed, gender or whatever is sad.

I support Hootie not because I don't want women at Agusta, but because he and the membership should have the right to be as dumb as they choose.

John

[xm177e2]

I don't understand why this is upsetting to Freepers. Didn't we just decide that it was okay to keep women out of golf clubs? By the same reasoning it's okay to keep blacks out of proms. Where's Hootie? He'll explain it all.

This is not a valid comparison.

The question is not whether they have the right to discriminate (both do) but whether the discrimination is such a terrible thing. Racial segregation is much worse than gender separation. In fact, women are allowed to play at Augusta if they're invited by a member, just not to be members of the club. If Augusta did not want to allow blacks to become members, FReepers would be up in arms about it. Whether they have a right to do something like be a whites-only club is not the same as whether they are morally right. If the kids wanted to hold single-gender proms (a guys' prom and a girls' prom) FReepers would not blink an eyeball.

Discrimination on the basis of race and discrimination on the basis of gender are two very different things. Don't try to equate them, because it just doesn't work.