[Elspode]

I can't dispute that ethnicity and race are separate constructs, and I cannot think of another strictly racially-based series of hypothetical events comparable to that to which I allude.

So, we'll leave it at the most obvious comparison...if it is okay to have Black History Week, and to celebrate all things African-American, why would the inverse be racism? As you say, "reverse discrimination" is a misnomer, because discrimination (and, by association, prejudice) is bad, no matter who is fostering it, no matter what the rationale might be, and no matter how narrow or widely tossed around it is.

The only reason all of this is on my mind at all is that the bullshit from last school year with my youngest kid is starting again, and it would seem to be racially based (he was accused by a group of black kids of using a racial slur - further investigation on the part of the principal and others revealed that this was not in fact true, BTW - and that seems to me to be a racist thing for those kids to have done).

When we went to the school Thursday morning to discuss the situation with the principal, I related to her that it was apparent to me that a certain segment of her student body was participating in a culture of intimidation, and that there was a certain 'gangster attitude' being projected by this segment. She became highly offended and flatly told me that "This does not happen in this school."

Apparently, the woman doesn't spend much time looking at her students, hearing and seeing them interact with each other, because most of these kids positively *ooze* badass attitude, and it is even worse outside of school. My kid is having to bear the brunt of it, and I can't for the life of me see how that he would be targeted except for the fact that he is part of a racial minority in his school.

Comments? Because it is entirely possible that I'm not seeing things clearly since I have a kid who is constantly getting pushed, kicked, threatened and otherwise jacked with.