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I have absolutely no first-hand knowledge of this situation, so I can't say whether or not racism is involved. Of course, there could be other explanations too; maybe there were some "behavioral concerns" (as alluded to in the article), or maybe the Reisterstown teams were playing too aggressively for their age groups, or maybe there were issues with unsportsmanlike conduct (by players and/or parents), or maybe the Carroll folks just thought that there wasn't enough room in their league for additional teams. Who knows?
It's telling that the vote to exclude them was unanimous. Something caused not a few, not some, not even most, but all 10 teams to want to ban the Reisterstown Mustangs from playing with them. Unless we are to assume that the totality of Carroll County football teams are overwhelmingly racist, this indicates to me that there might be some other explanation. And yet, "racism" is the charge that some of the Reisterstown parents have latched on to. I guess, when you're holding the race card, it's awfully hard to resist playing it.
And I have a question that wasn't addressed by the article: why are teams from Reisterstown -- which is in Baltimore County -- playing in a Carroll County league?
I have absolutely no first-hand knowledge of this situation, so I can't say whether or not racism is involved. Of course, there could be other explanations too; maybe there were some "behavioral concerns" (as alluded to in the article), or maybe the Reisterstown teams were playing too aggressively for their age groups, or maybe there were issues with unsportsmanlike conduct (by players and/or parents), or maybe the Carroll folks just thought that there wasn't enough room in their league for additional teams. Who knows?
It's telling that the vote to exclude them was unanimous. Something caused not a few, not some, not even most, but all 10 teams to want to ban the Reisterstown Mustangs from playing with them. Unless we are to assume that the totality of Carroll County football teams are overwhelmingly racist, this indicates to me that there might be some other explanation. And yet, "racism" is the charge that some of the Reisterstown parents have latched on to. I guess, when you're holding the race card, it's awfully hard to resist playing it.
And I have a question that wasn't addressed by the article: why are teams from Reisterstown -- which is in Baltimore County -- playing in a Carroll County league?
I saw another article because the Baltimore Sun feels its journalism is worth paying for. I disagree. But I digress.
Quote:
"The Reisterstown program was admitted to the league this year on a probationary basis with a decision regarding their ongoing status to be made by the members at the conclusion of the season. Per the leagues by-laws, new organizations can be barred from further participation at the discretion of the Board of Directors and this action can be taken at any time. There have been several behavioral concerns involving this program during the season and tension related to how these occurrences were handled has been rising. Emotions tend to run high during playoffs, therefore, the league elected not to risk the safety of the participants and in an attempt to promote a safe conclusion to the season, the league’s programs voted to remove the Reisterstown program at the end of the regular season and prior to the playoffs."
I think it is racism. The trigger words are there:
behavioral concerns
safety
Black children have always been seen as older than they are, more aggressive than they are, and more dangerous than they are. Behavioral concerns is nothing but a codeword.
The statement also reveals this cultural fear of black children with no basis in that fear. BUt cultural conditioning is strong in this country. Unfortunately, kids suffer.
Put simply, the CCYFCL didn't feel safe. So, they acted out of fear. Kids suffer. Wash, rinse, repeat.
I think it is racism. The trigger words are there:
behavioral concerns
safety
Black children have always been seen as older than they are, more aggressive than they are, and more dangerous than they are. Behavioral concerns is nothing but a codeword.
The statement also reveals this cultural fear of black children with no basis in that fear. BUt cultural conditioning is strong in this country. Unfortunately, kids suffer.
Put simply, the CCYFCL didn't feel safe. So, they acted out of fear. Kids suffer. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Quite a read in there. Teams, as well as individuals, have been excluded here in Calvert in the past. Those individuals included both parents and coaches, both Black and White.
I can read into it just like you do. The league decided that the behavior of the coaches was unacceptable.
There is a WIDE range of time, energy, and enthusiasm put into youth football from Pee Wee all the way through high school. It sounds to me like these Reisterstown teams are much better on the field than their opponents, and in football that nearly always translates to being more physical, more ferocious, and being way more intense than their opponents.
Not everyone wants that in youth football, as a first year team they were given a chance and the other teams have decided this team is not a good fit. It happens.
Up my way, Fort Hill is down to 3 local opponents...........nobody else will play them. Race has nothing to do with it, other teams just don't spend nearly the time and energy on the sport as Fort Hill, and as a result, get the living snot beat out of them. I will argue that finding out you are outclassed at some things in life is a valuable lesson..........but when their is a real, literal, risk of serious and permanent injury by playing teams coached to inflict as much punishment as possible on you, probably better to find new opponents.
And I have a question that wasn't addressed by the article: why are teams from Reisterstown -- which is in Baltimore County -- playing in a Carroll County league?
'It is an independent league with teams from several counties. It is not run by Carroll County Rec Dept.' Acoording to WBAL-TV last night.
I don't know how anyone can form an opinion on whether this was racism or not without understanding exactly what happened. If the team was admitted under a probational year and there were "behavioral concerns" (whatever that means) as well as all 10 teams voting this way maybe there was a reason.
I have absolutely no first-hand knowledge of this situation, so I can't say whether or not racism is involved. Of course, there could be other explanations too; maybe there were some "behavioral concerns" (as alluded to in the article), or maybe the Reisterstown teams were playing too aggressively for their age groups, or maybe there were issues with unsportsmanlike conduct (by players and/or parents), or maybe the Carroll folks just thought that there wasn't enough room in their league for additional teams. Who knows?
It's telling that the vote to exclude them was unanimous. Something caused not a few, not some, not even most, but all 10 teams to want to ban the Reisterstown Mustangs from playing with them. Unless we are to assume that the totality of Carroll County football teams are overwhelmingly racist, this indicates to me that there might be some other explanation. And yet, "racism" is the charge that some of the Reisterstown parents have latched on to. I guess, when you're holding the race card, it's awfully hard to resist playing it.
And I have a question that wasn't addressed by the article: why are teams from Reisterstown -- which is in Baltimore County -- playing in a Carroll County league?
Some people see RACISM in EVERYTHING?
As they say, "those that make the charge are USUALLY the ones GUILTY of the charge"!
Had the rec league been more direct and forthcoming to dissuade any notions of discrimination instead of being evasive, it would've put them in a better light in the public eye and cleared up any misunderstandings. As it is, their actions makes them look suspicious and guilty.
I do find it interesting though how they declined to comment and deleted their Facebook page -- the only thing they provided as a very vague and flimsily ambiguous statement that proves essentially nothing -- yet they're given the benefit of doubt. But one of the victims of this incident -- who can recall her and her team of children being called racial slurs while on the field and who were kicked out of the league with no prior warning and were told of their removal at literally the last moment -- are overlooked and accused of "throwing the race card" or "seeing racism in everything" by some.
I have little to no reason to doubt any of what the Reisterstown team experienced considering the deceitful nature of the rec league and Carroll County's history of racial animosity, particularly over the past decade or so. I love visiting the area, but I've experienced deliberate profiling and racial issues myself and amongst my colleagues a few times when I've been there. I also vividly remember there being an increased presence of Confederate flags during that period a few years back when they were being removed from the public. Most of this I experienced in the county center of Westminster. These incidents are certainly not indicative of the entire population of Carroll County -- most of my experiences have been wonderful -- but enough has occurred to conclude that there is an undercurrent of racial resentment that exists, among other things, amongst the populace if you aren't white.
The rec league's thinly-veiled attempt to malign black youth -- something we in general all too willing to quickly succumb to -- with accusations of "behavioral concerns" and "emotions running high" is hypocritical considering that they went behind the team's back with no warning beforehand and voted them out of the league right before the postseason started, then attempted to hide their hands. It sounds like the Reisterstown team did nothing wrong, at least nothing out of the ordinary that the Carroll County teams got away with, other than being "different" and, arguably worse from their point of view, being too good, since they were undefeated. That only exacerbated things, in my opinion.
Had the rec league been more direct and forthcoming to dissuade any notions of discrimination instead of being evasive, it would've put them in a better light in the public eye and cleared up any misunderstandings. As it is, their actions makes them look suspicious and guilty.
I do find it interesting though how they declined to comment and deleted their Facebook page -- the only thing they provided as a very vague and flimsily ambiguous statement that proves essentially nothing -- yet they're given the benefit of doubt. But one of the victims of this incident -- who can recall her and her team of children being called racial slurs while on the field and who were kicked out of the league with no prior warning and were told of their removal at literally the last moment -- are overlooked and accused of "throwing the race card" or "seeing racism in everything" by some.
I have little to no reason to doubt any of what the Reisterstown team experienced considering the deceitful nature of the rec league and Carroll County's history of racial animosity, particularly over the past decade or so. I love visiting the area, but I've experienced deliberate profiling and racial issues myself and amongst my colleagues a few times when I've been there. I also vividly remember there being an increased presence of Confederate flags during that period a few years back when they were being removed from the public. Most of this I experienced in the county center of Westminster. These incidents are certainly not indicative of the entire population of Carroll County -- most of my experiences have been wonderful -- but enough has occurred to conclude that there is an undercurrent of racial resentment that exists, among other things, amongst the populace if you aren't white.
The rec league's thinly-veiled attempt to malign black youth -- something we in general all too willing to quickly succumb to -- with accusations of "behavioral concerns" and "emotions running high" is hypocritical considering that they went behind the team's back with no warning beforehand and voted them out of the league right before the postseason started, then attempted to hide their hands. It sounds like the Reisterstown team did nothing wrong, at least nothing out of the ordinary that the Carroll County teams got away with, other than being "different" and, arguably worse from their point of view, being too good, since they were undefeated. That only exacerbated things, in my opinion.
"in my opinion" which is the ONLY thing I read in your post with not a single FACT to back any of it up!
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