Affirmative Action Gone Wild? - AZ To Hire Minority Lifeguards Who 'Can't Swim' - Wake Up America

[Penny Lane 8,159]

why not just provide a link?

That would be the logical thing to do. But it's more fun to copy and paste his letters, I guess.

Fox News has a reputation of not getting the facts right. I'd like another source that doesn't just quote from Fox.

Only in this bizarre forum is asking for another source considered "ignoring the facts"..

Edited October 22, 2013 by Penny Lane

[B_J 2,752]

It's kind of an old story.

After noticing that most of the lifeguards at the public pools used by Latino and African-American kids were white, the Phoenix aquatics department decided to try to recruit minorities.

More than 90 percent of the students at Alhambra High are black, Latino or Asian. On a recruiting effort there over the winter, the city's Melissa Boyle tells students she's not looking for strong swimmers. Like many under-resourced schools, Alhambra doesn't have a swim team.

"We will work with you in your swimming abilities," Boyle says.

Boyle's colleague Kelly Martinez takes on the delicate task of explaining the scenario the city is trying to correct.

"The kids in the pool are all either Hispanic or black or whatever, and every lifeguard is white," she says, "and we don't like that. The kids don't relate; there's language issues."

Martinez turns to a Latina student next to her. "Do you speak Spanish?" she asks. "We need more lifeguards who can speak Spanish."

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http://www.npr.org/2013/03/28/175571277/in-phoenix-a-new-quest-for-diverse-public-pool-lifeguards

[decocker 7,198]

Yes Danno. Didn't you get the Memo. White kids have all white teachers assigned to them at birth.

Pardon the Obvious, but would't white lifeguards at mostly Hispanic and black pools increase diversity and life guards of color decrease it.

Just saying

I thought I posted one in the original story,

pardon the obvious, indeed.

you posted a you tube video. i didn't even watch it. you know why? because youtube isn't a credible source of information. another reason? the title alone completely stupid and obviously written that way to cater to a certain audience. the scare way too easy, always assume black folk can't swim, old white demographic. sound familiar?

[Penny Lane 8,159]

So there's language barriers and the new lifeguards will, of course, be trained.

Oh the hysteria.

Also, thanks B_J for actually providing another source. I'm sure it was a lot of work.

Edited October 22, 2013 by Penny Lane

[B_J 2,752]

So there's language barriers and the new lifeguards will, of course, be trained.

Oh the hysteria.

Also, thanks B_J for actually providing another source. I'm sure it was a lot of work.

I'm just providing the link so that everyone knows it is a real story.

My attitude is: If I'm drowning, just help me. I don't care if you speak English, Spanish, anything else; just get me out of the water.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

It's kind of an old story.

http://www.npr.org/2013/03/28/175571277/in-phoenix-a-new-quest-for-diverse-public-pool-lifeguards

As long as they are trained up to standards, I don't see the issue.

Plus, some minorities can swim quite well. They can pass the test like anyone else, if not, you work at it until you are ready.

Edited October 22, 2013 by Su and Marvin

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I'm just providing the link so that everyone knows it is a real story.

My attitude is: If I'm drowning, just help me. I don't care if you speak English, Spanish, anything else; just get me out of the water.

If a lifeguard is instructing you on what to do when you're in trouble while they attempt to help you, it would probably be nice to be able to understand them properly.

Lifeguards don't just save you from drowning. They're there to make sure the rules of the pool are being followed. If they see children doing something against the rules that could potentially be dangerous, they will inform them. Again, would probably be nice if the kids could understand them properly.

Edited October 22, 2013 by Penny Lane

[decocker 7,198]

It's kind of an old story.

http://www.npr.org/2013/03/28/175571277/in-phoenix-a-new-quest-for-diverse-public-pool-lifeguards

well, thank you. i didn't really pick up on any sensationalism in this article. i'm not really how to process how i'm supposed to fear the information within without hype.

[B_J 2,752]

Now that I give it a little thought; if you're a lifeguard in an area where everybody speaks Spanish then it's probably helpful to know Spanish. If a Spanish speaking person is drowning, they're probably not going to translate "Help" into English, they'll be too busy drowning.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Obviously OP searched maniacally to find a story of under qualified person being promoted through AA. He found some old story, didn't think it through, didn't see what they were really doing, and bam! We have hysteria.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Obviously OP searched maniacally to find a story of under qualified person being promoted through AA. He found some old story, didn't think it through, didn't see what they were really doing, and bam! We have hysteria.

That's what happens when Fox News or any other biased news source gives information.

Not everything is a conspiracy to bring down whitey.

[decocker 7,198]

wake up america! lifeguards are being trained. AND THEY MAY NOT BE WHITE.

[B_J 2,752]

What if there is a white kid; excellent swimmer, certified lifeguard who applies for the position; but he is turned down because they want to train somebody else for the position? Does that change anything?

I think that, if I was that white kid, I would find it more than a little frustrating.

[Ban Hammer 13,590]

pardon the obvious, indeed.

you posted a you tube video. i didn't even watch it. you know why? because youtube isn't a credible source of information. another reason?

the youtube shows it's from fox news.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

some minorities can swim quite well.

It helps when the "boat" you made out of tires and corrugated metal starts sinking.