Black, white Santas draw some criticism
Principal cites diversity of student body
By Andy Paras
Students at St. Stephen Elementary School found out last week that Santa Claus can have the same skin color as them.
That's because two Santa Clauses — one white, one black — were invited to the rural Berkeley County school at separate times last Friday to take pictures with students of the same skin color.
Principal Willa Norton's decision to invite two Santas has drawn criticism from a few parents and from two civil rights organizations, which said the school shouldn't have divided the students by race without asking parents first.
Marguerite Lyons, who found out about the two Santas while picking up her son outside the school Thursday, said dividing the children by race smacked of prejudice. All the children should have seen one Santa, she said.
"I don't care if (Santa) was Chinese or Puerto Rican," said Lyons, who is black. "Everyone's the same."
Norton said everything was done to benefit a student population that is predominantly black and from low-income families. More than 97 percent qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 75 percent are black.
She said most of the children probably wouldn't have a chance to meet Santa otherwise, and she wanted to use the opportunity to let students know that the possibilities are endless.
"It was just an opportunity for my kids to be exposed to a Santa who looks like them," said Norton, who is black. "I just want my kids to know that everyone can do all kinds of things."
She said she even tried to find a Hispanic Santa for the handful of Hispanic children and an Asian Santa Claus for the school's one Asian child.
Parent Jay Paulin, who is black, said he liked that his daughter and the other children could talk and take pictures with a black Santa.
"It shows (Santa) can look like them too," Paulin said.
Norton said she told all of the 489 children that the Santas they met weren't the real Santa, just his helpers who agreed to take pictures while the real one prepared for Christmas.
Norton said she had received only one complaint from a parent who felt she should have been told about the different Santas. Other than that, everyone was happy with the pictures, especially the children.
"The kids were just happy," she said. "They were thrilled about being able to take a picture with Santa Claus. I could have been Santa and they would have been happy."
Dot Scott, president of the Charleston chapter of the NAACP, praised the principal's effort but found flaws in the execution.
Scott, who successfully rallied for a black Santa in the Charleston Christmas parade, said that if there is going to be more than one Santa, the parents should have a choice.
She said even some black children, who have been taught all of their lives by television that Santa is white, may have had a problem with going to a black Santa.
"I promise you, had you told the parents, you would have had some black parents take their kids to see a white Santa, but not one white parent would have taken their child to see a black Santa," Scott said.
Parent David Kirkland said the school should have just had one Santa. Kirkland, who is white, said he may not have liked it too much if that Santa was black, but it's up to what the kids want.
"As long as you keep the young ones happy, it doesn't really matter," he said.
Victoria Middleton, executive director of American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina, said the school might have had the best intentions but, "We would question whether separating the children by race was really a good idea."
The Berkeley County School District took the same position. Pam Bailey, the district's public information director, said the district didn't know about the multiple Santas, but the administration is comfortable that the decision was made for all of the right reasons.
"Unfortunately, it was not communicated to the parents that there would be multiple Santas," Bailey said. "It's a lesson learned."
Norton, who grew up just down the street from the school, said she wants what is best for the kids. In her five years as principal the school has been a red carpet winner and is the Lowcountry's only NASA Explorer school.
She said she's already looking at doing things differently next year. She will either bring in multiple Santas next year or start an annual rotation of Santas. Either way, the parents will be notified.
Scott said it may seem like a difficult issue, but there are ways of making it work.
"Every step in that direction is a step forward," Scott said. "Keep trying and we'll get it right."
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Comments
leep (anonymous) says...
The division wreaks of low community-esteem.
Bad call on the Administration for that move.
December 19, 2008 at 6:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Wow for once Dot Scott was almost satisfied! Your right I would never take my white child to see a black Santa. Only because we tell our kids he comes from the North Pole. How many blacks are up there? Historically Santa derrived from scandnavain countries. How many blacks you see in scandnavain countries? Everything isn't racial somethings are just practical. NAACP and auntie Dot sounds like uncle Louy on Seinfield, anything, I mean anything wrong that happened to him was because the other person was an anti-semite! He got a medium burger when he orderd medium rare because the cook was an anti-semite!
December 19, 2008 at 6:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Frosty (anonymous) says...
Great ideal but have them at the same time. So the children know the helpers came down to help Santa check his list.
December 19, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lois_Lane (anonymous) says...
OMG bring in color to everything. Good grief! That's it, keep the kids confused.
December 19, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lois_Lane (anonymous) says...
ironhorse, don't you think that was a bit uncalled for?
December 19, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
We all know that Santa is half black/half white...OBAMA! We are all going to get great things from him, except jimbo, he is still getting coal.
December 19, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ironhorse (anonymous) says...
Lois, that was my dig on rap music.
What is uncalled for is this racist remark by Dot Scott;
"I promise you, had you told the parents, you would have had some black parents take their kids to see a white Santa, but not one white parent would have taken their child to see a black Santa," Scott said.
December 19, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dustym59 (anonymous) says...
pssst...what we gonna do when they find out the Easter Bunny is White,mmm Not Black!
December 19, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
beth1070 (anonymous) says...
Looks like the P&C had a slow news day. The only problem I've got with the whole story is that the children were told that the 2 Santas were just the real Santa's helpers. Hellllloooooo, those would be ELVES! Santa's helpers don't dress up like him. They wear little pointed shoes with bells on them. :-)
December 19, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. One of the best known of the St. Nicholas stories is that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married. Over the course of many years, Nicholas's popularity spread and he became known as the protector of children and sailors. His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6. This was traditionally considered a lucky day to make large purchases or to get married. By the Renaissance, St. Nicholas was the most popular saint in Europe. Even after the Protestant Reformation, when the veneration of saints began to be discouraged, St. Nicholas maintained a positive reputation, especially in Holland.
December 19, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
18th-century America's Santa Claus was not the only St. Nicholas-inspired gift-giver to make an appearance at Christmastime. Similar figures were popular all over the world. Christkind or Kris Kringle was believed to deliver presents to well-behaved Swiss and German children. Meaning "Christ child," Christkind is an angel-like figure often accompanied by St. Nicholas on his holiday missions. In Scandinavia, a jolly elf named Jultomten was thought to deliver gifts in a sleigh drawn by goats. English legend explains that Father Christmas visits each home on Christmas Eve to fill children's stockings with holiday treats. Pere Noel is responsible for filling the shoes of French children. In Russia, it is believed that an elderly woman named Babouschka purposely gave the wise men wrong directions to Bethlehem so that they couldn't find Jesus. Later, she felt remorseful, but could not find the men to undo the damage. To this day, on January 5, Babouschka visits Russian children leaving gifts at their bedsides in the hope that one of them is the baby Jesus and she will be forgiven. In Italy, a similar story exists about a woman called La Befana, a kindly witch who rides a broomstick down the chimneys of Italian homes to deliver toys into the stockings of lucky children.
December 19, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Too bad the "grown ups" (& I use that term loosely)put their own hangups on the kids & assumed it mattered to the little kids that the historically correct Santa is a Caucasian.
My experience with my own children when they were young & untainted by society is that the color of a person's skin was the last thing in their descriptions of a new friend or teacher, or Santa...etc...
December 19, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
IronWoman (anonymous) says...
Just one more way to totally screw up the young minds and lives of our beloved children. Like they don't have enough pressure and confusion in their lives. Whoever dreamed up this idea, is a sick, sick, person. God help these children to see past the foolishness of their teachers and principal (and some of their parents).
Read some history about Santa, ... your questions will be answered without the help of those 'educated' people.
December 19, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
B_Frank, thanks for reminding us that all of us love our children and enjoy making them happy. We really have more in common with each other than what we allow to separate us. Sometimes the differences are important, and sometimes they are not. It's important to know the difference. That lady with the NAACP certainly did make an uncalledfor prejudicial comment assuming what a person would do based on their race. Keeping that in mind, why would I bother to consider anything else that she has to say.
December 19, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realman (anonymous) says...
Damned if you do; damned if you don't.
December 19, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
IronWoman (anonymous) says...
What about the white children born of black Mothers, or the black children born of white mothers? Can someone explain to them why they don't look like Mommy too??? And why they should??? (Or shouldn't they???). It's amazing that these people don't realize that they are traumatizing these children and crippling their understanding of history, tradition, and just plain common sense. If my student went to this school, he or she would already have been pulled out.
December 19, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
dustym59 "pssst...what we gonna do when they find out the Easter Bunny is White..."
I thought the bunny was pink!
December 19, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lois_Lane (anonymous) says...
Comment by ironhorse... What is uncalled for is this racist remark by Dot Scott;
"I promise you, had you told the parents, you would have had some black parents take their kids to see a white Santa, but not one white parent would have taken their child to see a black Santa," Scott said.
Point made ironhorse.
Why bring race into this issue to begin with Ms. Scott? This makes all of St. Stephen look like it's stuck in the 50's. Bad call Dot Scott.
December 19, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ricktib (anonymous) says...
Ridiculous. I can't believe I'm agreeing with the aclu, but yes, why would this principal want to CREATE segregation? Oh yeah, and Dot Scott is an idiot.
December 19, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekboy (anonymous) says...
"Dot Scott is an idiot."
That sir, is an insult to idiots.
December 19, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pluffmuddy (anonymous) says...
What the H*ll does this have to do with EDUCATION? Better check school performance before you go wasting class time on nonsense like this!
December 19, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
summerville_guy (anonymous) says...
Dot Scott is completely racist. How can she promise that not a single white parent would take their child to see a black Santa? That is characterizing all white people based on the color of their skin, and that is racism at its purest level.
I really don't care if my child sees a black Santa or a white Santa. I make sure my child knows that Christmas is not about Santa, but is rather about the birth of Jesus.
December 19, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SimplyMad (anonymous) says...
Ever notice that if you re-arrange the name SANTA it can also spell SATAN...?
Hmmmmmm...Just saying.
December 19, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sailaway (anonymous) says...
True story: My children (white) had the experience for years of visiting on Christmas Eve with a black Santa. He was a neighbor of my Mom's who dressed up and came over every Christmas Eve for years to visit with everyone, young and old. My children knew he was her neighbor, but something about seeing him in that suit made them always feel like he was, in a way, Santa Claus! The fact that he was black was not important. We all loved him, and still miss those visits, as he died a few years ago. It's never quite the same without his visits.
December 19, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Government run public schools!
Name one progressive government program that is NOT a failure.
December 19, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tgr83 (anonymous) says...
So now we're back to "separate but equal" with Christmas, of all things?
The school administrators would do well to remember that nobody is born racist; it's taught. They may have had good intentions with this, but I really don't see how anyone benefits from making an issue out of Santa's race.
December 19, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Test2007 (anonymous) says...
I don't care too much for Dot Scott BUT I can honestly say that this statement is probably true. Most white parents would not have their kids go see black santa. That is not racist. That is just the truth. I don't think the parents are racist if they do that. People make too much out of nothing. The fact that they did all of this means that they are trying to cater to too many folks. Get one santa this year and do another one next year. Good grief.
Beth - um no they ARE santa's helpers that is how you get out of explaining why there are so many diff santas everywhere. duh. lol
on another note, the last picture i took with santa was in college. He was the santa for the college and he was black. Most girls (black and white) took pictures with him. The fact that he was a young, cute santa probably helped though. : )
December 19, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
n4dhs (anonymous) says...
someone email me and tell me what ironhorse said...thanks
December 19, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sc4peace (anonymous) says...
Is this really what the world is coming to???? Santa is not real, for one...two...Santa has always been represented as a caucasion male....if you bring in a different colored Santa- it can really throw a child off who still "believes". This is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard of. We already know that a black man can become President.....but here's the kicker for all of you NAACP whiners and supporters- you can't be Santa Clause because he is not real!!!!! It's not equality it's about tradition- so quit trying to be so politically correct...and while we are talking about Christmas- my daughter's classroom cannot have a Christmas party because it's not fair to those who don't believe....the world is changing and I think it's bullcrap that we change our customs and traditions here...but I can guarantee you if I went to a Muslim based country and tried to tell them that they couldn't have their traditions anymore because it wasn't fair to my "Christian" child they would laugh all the way to the mosque.....MERRY CHRISTMAS was on my cookies I sent to the classroom- if the parents don't believe in the same thing, they can at least teach their children to repect others beliefs and be tolerant and gracious while they celebrate a tradition that has been celebrated for years and years. Ho Ho Ho
December 19, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
sc4peace;if the parents don't believe in the same thing, they can at least teach their children to repect others beliefs and be tolerant;
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That would be nice, but not likely to happen.
Most of the politically correct crap originates with progressives who preach tolerance and respect but offer neither to anyone that disagrees with their own views.
Name one progressive government program that is NOT a failure.
December 19, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blah_blah_blah (anonymous) says...
According to B_Fwank, Santa Claus is Arab
December 19, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sc4peace (anonymous) says...
yird- I agree- I guess I meant in a perfect world...which will never happen because there are too many close-minded and ignorant people...
December 19, 2008 at 11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tgr83 (anonymous) says...
sc4peace, actually it's interesting that you mention Muslim traditions; apparently it really depends on what specific country you are referring to. My father is retired military, and now a contractual civilian employee with a job that requires him to travel to the Middle East several times a year. A couple of years ago he was in Oman in December, and said the Arab staff members at the hotel were all wishing the guests Merry Christmas, and they even had a group of Muslim school children in the lobby singing Christmas carols! Now, in Saudi Arabia, you wouldn't see that in a million years....
December 19, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
citizenbo (anonymous) says...
You will never be able to please all of the people, all of the time. If you try, you will end up pleasing no one.
December 19, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
johnnyholmes makes my head hurt... "Just being practical, aren't children of both races taught to be very suspicious of a black man, in disguise, during the holidays"
I'm embarrassed for this principal and her school.
I hope her intentions were pure, but that would make this situation even sadder.
To somehow believe that segregating children will reinforce self-esteem is ludicrous and Ms. Norton really needs to be counseled on her decision and have a written reprimand placed in her personnel file.
December 19, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CHRISJIII (anonymous) says...
Aren't there more pressing issues to discuss in this paper than the color of Santa's skin? PC next time try reporting on something that is import to the community instead of fanning racial tensions.
December 19, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sc4peace (anonymous) says...
tgr83- that's what I mean- they don't believe in the same thing but they respected it...I have nothing against Muslims or any religion at all- I was merely just citing it as an example...just to clarify because I don't want to come across the wrong way :)
December 19, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tgr83 (anonymous) says...
Oh no, I got what you were saying sc4peace. Actually it's kind of ironic that they would be fine with wishing people a Merry Christmas in that country, when here we are with all this "politically correct" nonsense.
December 19, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
To prevent incidents like this let children visit Santa in the shopping malls.
December 19, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better (anonymous) says...
White or black, I really don't know. But anyone who breaks into a house to LEAVE gifts is just plain retarded. The REAL misrepresentation is that Santa comes to visit in a sleigh- it should be a short, yellow bus!
December 19, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Good gravy those children(parents) will be permanently ruined. It's the parents with the issues. Kids are taught it and Santa is well, Santa.
Then again it's nice to see such "serious" investigative reporting going on. Good job P&C
December 19, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JLWDALFAN (anonymous) says...
it's almost 2009 and racism is alive & well. why not just rotate santa's and quite stirring trouble. the principle had good intentions. lets all get along.
December 19, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hightide (anonymous) says...
What the heck? Black Santa, White Santa... something that isn't real doesn't even matter. What really matters here is that Santa has no place in the schools when our kids are not getting the education they need. Keep the Christmas parties at home or at church, but not in school. Not when SC is known for terrible public education. And keep Santa in the mall where he belongs!
December 19, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LynSuMae (anonymous) says...
Depending on where they live, children are told that gifts are brought by Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, Pere Noel, Knecht Ruprecht, the Magi, the elf Jultomen(or Julenissen), or a witch named La Befana. Of course, none of theses stories are actually true. Does the telling of such stories build in children a respect for truth, and does such a practice honor Jesus Christ, who taught that God must be worshiped with truth?-John 4:23, 24.
Are we not taught that we should not tell lies? Telling our children that a man or elf or witch...whatever is coming into the house at night to bring them gifts is a make believe story...truly a down and out lie.
December 19, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JD_Simms (anonymous) says...
"I promise you, had you told the parents, you would have had some black parents take their kids to see a white Santa, but not one white parent would have taken their child to see a black Santa," Scott said.
To paraphrase Pogo, Dot has met Jim Crow and, unfortunately, he is she.
It amazes and appalls me that such racist views and utterances from so-called minority members of our society are tolerated to the degree they are today. It is the supreme height of hypocrisy to have those who speak loudest for "diversity" to be the least among us to grant it in their own hearts.
Current sociological studies tell us that there is a very real core belief among many racial and ethnic minority groups that it is impossible for them to hold racist views. By virtue of being a minority member of society, their definition of racism does allow for the possibility that their own beliefs are in fact discriminatory. For them, racism is only possible in those humans that are outside their own group.
Thanks to the civil rights movement in the US as well as other culturally enlightening movements elsewhere in western society, there has been great progress made by Anglo-Americans over the last 40 years. The election of a bi-racial president is but one such evident example. And what is also encouraging is that these enlightened views have been and are currently being passed from one generation to the next.
But where is the in-kind progress from folks such as Dot? Sadly, it is not there. Sadly the exclusionary and discriminatory practices that continue to be promoted by Dot and others of her ilk are being internalized, further entrenched, and being passed on to the next generation by many minority members of our society such as Dot.
It makes me wonder where the focus of their racism will land in a few years when the Anglo-American is no longer in the majority and when the diversity of our population will force them into a new paradigm. Will they turn inward for some self-examination and perhaps grow in enlightenment? Or will they continue on the same path of outward blame for their own lack of self-esteem?
December 19, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JD_Simms (anonymous) says...
Typo fix. The second sentence in the third paragraph shoud have read: "...their definition of racism does NOT allow for the possibility..."
December 19, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
usna04 (anonymous) says...
It never ceases to amaze me that some black people who cry racism are the root of it themselves.
December 19, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
usna04 (anonymous) says...
well said sc4peace
December 19, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
beth1070 (anonymous) says...
Like someone said in an earlier post, children don't differentiate between black and white. They aren't corrupted in that way until we adults get our hands on their precious little minds. The ones who really matter in this are the children, and if you ask a group of 5 year olds what color is Santa, you'll probably hear more about his red suit, or his white beard and black boots than you will about the color of his skin. Can't we just let them be children in all of their beautiful innocence for this brief moment in time, for all of it will fade away all too quickly.
December 19, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chs294 (anonymous) says...
I can't bring myself to waste the energy. So instead I must correct a horrible error.....
Moonpie- it's Uncle Leo on Seinfeld, not Louy. How can you make such an unforgivable mistake?
December 19, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Charleston1 (anonymous) says...
Posted by JimIslander: "They should have kept the real Santa and got rid of the white one."
JimIslander you are a racist idiot.
December 19, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outrage (anonymous) says...
I saw a black Elvis once!
I think an Asian Santa would have been an interesting sight.
Willa Norton made a mistake(Santa is white and does not belong in the schools) and Dot Scott does nothing but hurt our chances of shrinking the racial divide in this area.
97% qualify for free lunch, WOW! times must be tough in St. Stephens.
December 19, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mypointofview (anonymous) says...
"I promise you, had you told the parents, you would have had some black parents take their kids to see a white Santa, but not one white parent would have taken their child to see a black Santa," Scott said.
Dot Scott unequivocally is a bigot and should be immediately removed from her position.
December 19, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blah_blah_blah (anonymous) says...
mypointofview,
but for the sake of debate:
really, is she wrong?
December 19, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GermanyXO (anonymous) says...
What are you going to tell these children when they attend church on Sunday?
If you worship in a church predominantly attended by Black Americans, then you teach the black students that everyone in the Bible and everyone and everything associated with religious holidays is black, right? If you worship in a church predominantly attended by Caucasian Americans, then you teach the white students that everyone in the Bible and everyone and everything associated with religious holidays is white, right? For every white Santa, there's a black Santa; for every white Easter Bunny, there's a black Easter Bunny; for every black turkey, there's a white turkey; and for every black Jesus Christ, there's a white Jesus Christ.
We Charlestonians are living in a state of Burger King reasoning in which we can truly have it our way. If you were to ask me, I'd ask each to bear the skin color of those who truly originated from that region of the Middle East where the history enveloping these beliefs all started.
Anyone order a Bronze Jesus Christ with his/her Bronze Santa Claus?
December 19, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scconservative (anonymous) says...
Outrage, I'm not sure what to think of the 97% of students 'qualify' for free lunch in St. Stephens...maybe it is part of the Publick Skools program to make sure the youth learn early that they are wards of the state. By the time they become adults they will have relinquished all individuality and become an easily controlled member of the collective. It appears to be working well, look at the grifters that get voted into office.
December 19, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
HO, HO, HO! Oops, can't use that word anymore.
December 19, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
I went to this school for K-5 to 5th grade.....
I have nothing to add, just wanted to say that.
December 19, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mypointofview (anonymous) says...
For blah blah blah...
Yes, she's wrong. Period. Just as wrong as if I'd said..."none of the black people will take their child to see a white Santa." Just as wrong. Racism is NEVER acceptable.
December 19, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
I do have something to add...it is St. Stephen not St. Stephens. Please drop the "s". Thanks!
December 19, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mypointofview (anonymous) says...
JD_Simms: Thank you for your intelligent, and might I say brilliant, post.
December 19, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nappyd (anonymous) says...
Awesome. The school district can get sued by blacks AND whites over this.
December 19, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
nappyd....& maybe then they'll came together?
hello Lovely..how's the little one?
Of course it is pretty well accepted that at least one of the magi[wise men], Balthasar, came from Ethiopia or Saba...meaning that his skin was black black black.
So if this school ever puts on a Christmas pageant someone better tell Dot Scott that in order to be fair she will need to have several versions in production..just to make sure all the children of all the various colors see that people so important to the Christmas story have the same color skin as they....now does that sound ridiculous & dim-witted or what?????
Lovely..glad to see you escaped that school with all of your good sense intact!!!
December 19, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wucherer (anonymous) says...
Oh my GOD. This must be a slow news day for the low country. Hate....well, no i don't hate to burst the imaginary bubble but listen close people of all ages. SANTA CLAUS IS NOT REAL, NOT A PERSONAL AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. SANTA CLAUS is not white, not black, not Hispanic, not Arabian, not Chinese, not Korean, not any color of skin or belongs to any nation since this imaginary character of the holidays become real for the sole purpose of those who celebrate with the sole intent of passing into the next generation the gift of materialist values. We have covered our selfish behaviors, self-center attitudes with deceit and we as a national should be ashame of ourselves promoting this kind of childish behavior that we carelessly promote in our dissolving society. On the subject of that employee of the school that my difficult to earn tax payer dollars go into their pocket should be either suspended or fired because that is a waste of money we have not enough in today's economy with the struggle during the lay-offs and businesses closures. The purpose of the holidays have been distorted from the original concept and twisted to the distorted values of today's society. It's a VERY SAD DAY indeed.
December 19, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
time4change (anonymous) says...
i never knew white ppl could b so dang stupid, but o well thats life and white ppl. but bet half of the crap they talk on the internet they would never say it to a black person's face!!!! idiot smelling dogs!!!!
December 19, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...
santa isnt real? dang man, and here I thought he was.
December 19, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Hey abitskeptikal! He is doing just fine. He just needs to get his days and nights untangled...Lol.
As far as the school, it wasn't bad when I was there back in the 80s. We had a level headed principal and the teachers were awesome. Skin color meant nothing to us back then and the teachers never talked about it with us.
We had plays and we were all given a shot at the parts. In Kindergarden our Santa was played by a black child and no one really noticed. We had a black Elvis in our 5th grade play...that was no big deal. We even had a white Martin Luther King one year. It was all the same to us. It was all a matter of who did better during the auditions.
I was a Beatle (the group not a bug...lol!) in one play and lead "Let it Be". I believe Paul McCartney is a white man and last I check I am a black woman, so I transcended both gender and race in that part.
I said all of that to say, that Ms. Norton is going backwards and is making my school look bad.
December 19, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
But wucherer, this situation isn't really about Santa Claus(Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, Sinter Klaas, Father Christma, Kris Kringle,Pere Noel).
However, I agree that the original intent of keeping alive the spirit & inspiration of the very real person, St. Nicholaus, has been distorted, in modern day, to a point of absurdity.
St. Nicholas was well known to be generous & loving toward children & the poor. He was known to throw gifts into the windows of the homes of poor children at Christmas time.
I believe the spirit of gift giving during this time of year was a natural expression of the joy that the significance of Christmas brings to Christians.
There is a way to keep the spirit of St. Nicholaus alive without encouraging materialism.
The problem is not Santa Claus. The problem is people's distorted attitude which they often pass often to their children.
December 19, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lowcountrydawg (anonymous) says...
Holy Crap!! PC is kiling us all..............why not tell them the real story of Christmas concerning Jesus Christ...oh yeah that's offensive, too...
Stupid me!!!
December 19, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
Posted by B_Fwank on December 19, 2008 at 7:50 a.m.
The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick.
One of the best known of the St. Nicholas stories is that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married.
Over the course of many years, Nicholas's popularity spread and he became known as the protector of children and sailors. His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6. This was traditionally considered a lucky day to make large purchases or to get married. By the Renaissance, St. Nicholas was the most popular saint in Europe. Even after the Protestant Reformation, when the veneration of saints began to be discouraged, St. Nicholas maintained a positive reputation, especially in Holland.
Posted by B_Fwank on December 19, 2008 at 7:51 a.m.
18th-century America's Santa Claus was not the only St. Nicholas-inspired gift-giver to make an appearance at Christmastime. Similar figures were popular all over the world. Christkind or Kris Kringle was believed to deliver presents to well-behaved Swiss and German children. Meaning "Christ child," Christkind is an angel-like figure often accompanied by St. Nicholas on his holiday missions.
In Scandinavia, a jolly elf named Jultomten was thought to deliver gifts in a sleigh drawn by goats. English legend explains that Father Christmas visits each home on Christmas Eve to fill children's stockings with holiday treats. Pere Noel is responsible for filling the shoes of French children. In Russia, it is believed that an elderly woman named Babouschka purposely gave the wise men wrong directions to Bethlehem so that they couldn't find Jesus.
Later, she felt remorseful, but could not find the men to undo the damage. To this day, on January 5, Babouschka visits Russian children leaving gifts at their bedsides in the hope that one of them is the baby Jesus and she will be forgiven. In Italy, a similar story exists about a woman called La Befana, a kindly witch who rides a broomstick down the chimneys of Italian homes to deliver toys into the stockings of lucky children.
December 19, 2008 at 8:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Lovely-I played Joseph one year in our school's big Christmas play. So I crossed the gender & race line on that one. Of course I was indignant that that was the part I was given since I tried out for the much prettier Mary & "speaking angel" parts.
What was really really strange though, was when I looked back in my year book at the color pictures from back stage & on stage photos of that play & saw that when I was made up as Joseph I looked exactly like my oldest son! Of course the beard I had glued on my face had a lot to do with that since my son usually has one.
That same oldest son played a piece of cheese in a Kindergarten play & he wasn't, then or now, yellow, full of holes, or wedge shaped!
Hope your little one gets on an easier schedule. When ours slept all day, my husband used to say "Honey, you know he/she has to rest up for tonight!".....
I find that funny now, but during the sleep deprived years that never seemed very funny.
December 19, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CedarPosts (anonymous) says...
Black Santa? Sure why not? I've got a Black Reindeer, ok so it's not really a Reindeer it's a Lab with fake antlers, but hey Christmas is 99% fake anyways.
The only 1% that matters is that very very short period of time on Christmas Eve, normally around midnight long after when King street is all closed up and the bells at St Micheal's ring out across the Peninsula and you suddenly realize that all this madness comes down to one event that changed the course of history forever, the birth of Christ.
December 19, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
letstakeawalk (anonymous) says...
I'm going to go out on a limb and bet nobody thought to include Sinter Klaas's slave Black Peter? The one who kidnaps the bad children?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dX6wJ...
December 19, 2008 at 10:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
walleyedwoman1215 (anonymous) says...
JD_Simms wrote: "To paraphrase Pogo, Dot has met Jim Crow and, unfortunately, he is she."
I was going to post a thoughtful, incisive comment but then I read this post and started laughing so hard my dog ran out from under my desk.
Thank you and amen, JD!
December 19, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Creeker01 (anonymous) says...
Well, at least the PC didn't mention that forbidden Christian belief or Baby Jesus at all...:rolleyes:
December 19, 2008 at 11:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Italianguy141 (anonymous) says...
Too bad for them. Santa is made up but Santa is part of Western Culture. Not African culture. Therefore he should be portrayed as white. If black kids or other kids of color have a problem with it or their parents, go celebrate/create your own holiday with your own black mythical figure.
Bring in multiple Santa's? Ha. The only Santa they should only be bringing in is a white one.
"Everyones the same"....hmm great line and great liar. Use that line only when it benefits you.
December 20, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Ramona (anonymous) says...
Living in Charleston in the mid-sixties, I was a white child who was bussed to an all black school. That was called DEsegregation.
What this school has done to itself is called REsegregation.
Today such-thinking people are REsegregating themselves by themselves in the name of equality.
Unfortunately, common sense cannot be legislated.
December 20, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Ramona (anonymous) says...
I don't think the articles' main premise is Santa Clause .... although Santa is a creation of Western Culture.
Aside from that, other cultures have their own rendition of "St. Nick".
This discussion is about RESEGRIGATION and what people are doing TO THEMSELVES.
December 20, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
Good post sc4peace! I grew up knowing Santa as white. My friends who were black or mixed didnt give a crap that Santa was white. He was the guy bringing the goods, color didnt matter. It's not like "white" Santa wears a damn clan robe and delivers to white kids or "black Santa" only delivers to black kids. I would be super pissed at anyone displaying two Santas of any kind at once. I also don't want my child being taught that black people or white people have to have a different Santa. Thats wrong. Santa crosses all boundaries and brings unity-not segregation.
December 20, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seneca264 (anonymous) says...
"I don't care if (Santa) was Chinese or Puerto Rican," said Lyons, who is black. "Everyone's the same." Well then, why did the school insist on a black Santa? What a bunch of hypocrits. Everyone is not the same. It is my opinion that the school officials are racist. If you want a black Santa, fine. Just don't try to wrap all this up in one big happy we are all the same crap.
December 20, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Ernest (anonymous) says...
LMAO! This is funny stuff. IT also shows how fouled up PC is making everything. It will only get worse. Lets' see we need a black Easter Bunny, black Leprechauns, black snowmen...
December 20, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Republiker (anonymous) says...
Good God. What next, a black Leprachaun? Folks, Santa Claus is a nice old guy who lives at the North Pole. He just happens to be white. America is about assimilation, not twisting our culture and traditions. Did they call him Kwaanza Claus?
December 20, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Republiker; You just stole my thunder.
I was thinking since there are so many exclusively black organizations why not cotinue the trend and just stop subjecting black children to such a racially insulting personage as Santa Claus and have Kwanta Klaws available to them.
In spite of their cries for inclusiveness it appears that separate but equal is the real goal of the black community.
December 20, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chuckie2u (anonymous) says...
Good for the TEACHER. Why perputrate the Santa myth on children in the first place? These kids should relate to the MYTH of Santa in their respective RACE.Why should a Black child think of SANTA as a big Fat White Guy in the first place? Any kid of intelligence sees through the farce by the time they are 5 and 6 at the latest.
December 20, 2008 at 6:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Republiker (anonymous) says...
The tradition of Santa Claus is in no way a myth. He is a character for children to enjoy during the traditional holiday. Kris Kringle,Saint Nicklaus, or Santa Claus; same man created by Europeans for all to enjoy. Therefor his skin is light colored. Just enjoy the tradition as it was created and keep your political correctness at home. What a bone headed decision by this principal. He made a mockery out of a tradition.
yird stated it best. The black community believes in being seperate but equal. Now that is pure racism. Pure reverse racism.
December 20, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
People have been "perpetuating" stories for as long as they have been communicating. Folklore & legends have been a part of human history & virtually all cultures from the beginning of time. Before the written word, story telling was the way to pass on information as well as "life lessons".
Most of the stories & legends have a basis in truth/facts.
Such is the case with Santa Claus.
By the time most children discover that their parents are Santa Claus, they also are old enough to realize the significance of their parents giving gifts for all of those years & not getting "credit" for it.
Children learn by the actions of their parents & when Christmas & Santa are done right, children learn about selfless giving, & usually are eager to "Play Santa" to the poor & disadvantaged.
Regardless of the definition of myth that one uses, it cannot be applied to Santa Claus.
Now, the tooth fairy & the Easter bunny...they are "myths"...according to the popular definition of myth...in that these characters have absolutely no basis in fact.
December 20, 2008 at 8:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KatieKat (anonymous) says...
African Americans complain when you exclude them, they complain when you include them. There is no making these people happy! They want a black world, period and they say so. It is only the Whites running around hollering, "We can all get along! We are all one!" Only you Whites. And, while you are hollering this to the world so they will not think you are some sort of racist, you are getting stabbed in the back and setting a world up where your children are going to end up spitting on your grave.
December 21, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KatieKat (anonymous) says...
I'm Asian by the way!
December 21, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joadams (anonymous) says...
You are crazy Kat. I bet you don't even know any black people.
Italianguy141-""Everyones the same"....hmm great line and great liar. Use that line only when it benefits you."
You do know that the person that said that..was a black person that said their should not have been two Santas right?
December 21, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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