Okay, so Valley Swim Club is not, in fact, in Bucks County *sigh*. It’s in Montgomery County, and not but 5 minutes from where my parents live in Bucks, so it’s no wonder I got my counties screwed. My bad. My heart felt apologies go out to my beloved Bucks–who I am sure has its own set of demons. Alas, I digress.
The gist, of course, is not really about logistics, as much as it is about the wonder of politics and yes, other people’s ignorance.
I must tip a hat to Arlen Specter’s office and the powers that be who moved so quickly in putting in motion the investigation on Valley Swim Club. I’m sure it had everything to do with you who joined me in lighting up the phone lines and sending scathing e-mails to our public officials, who in turn, acted on our accord. For that, envision me in a deep bow toward you, as I honor your efforts.
By now, I hope you can hear, as I do, the screeching halt of the record player which in some heads is now playing “We Shall Overcome” or “We Are the Champions”. Stop that! We sure ain’t nowhere near done.
My good friend Quintero has been getting groups of folk together in front of the Valley Swim Club a few days this week and has been met (honorably and to our utter surprise) by loads of national media coverage. I’ve been reading blogs and comment pages from folks from around the country (and around the world) who are simply outraged and completely disgusted. It’s all heartening, but there is still so much more to do. Mostly because Valley Swim Club management seems to be, well… stupid. Every good racist knows…hell, I have no idea what any good racist knows. I really don’t think John Duesler is as blatantly racist as we all would like to believe. I do however think the Valley Swim Club Board and a good smattering of its more powerful membership IS.
I’ve also learned that one of the grown male people who attended the protest on Thursday, was walking around with the protesters, holding up Jim Crow signs and what not–turned up to work today as the doorman of The Valley Swim Club. Really. A Spy. (Yes, there’s a bit of a click to my teeth as my head continues to do the “deeply disappointed” head shake).
I’ve also learned that Althea Wright (who lives in the area mind you), of The Creative Steps Camp was told by a representative of The Valley Swim Club Board that “they” would: “Let the chips fall where they may.” In response to the media attention and being asked to reinstate the Creative Steps Camp swimmers. Huh? “Let the chips fall where they may?” Is that a NO? I’m confused.
Now. Valley Swim Club pleads it’s innocence to this complete and utter “misunderstanding”! Nope. they said (I’m paraphrasing): “We certainly didn’t mean to say ‘complexion’, we meant to say ‘complexity'”, is what the Club Manager’s wife said as she’s holds back crocodile tears for the CNN cameras. Girl, Please.
They also said the club just could not handle the number of children that showed up to swim. I’m sorry. Forgive ME Mr. Duesler, but wouldn’t you know PRIOR to agreeing to host a camp of 65 kids and taking their $1950 membership fee if your facilities could handle the swimmers? Oh, and in knowing so prior to signing a contract with the camp, wouldn’t it have made sense to NOT take the camp’s money and NOT extending the invitation of the camp PRIOR to embarrassing the campers and possibly scarring them for life by this misunderstanding???? I’m just saying. And further, how much trouble can 90 minutes of swimming on one day a week be? Besides offending club members with issues about “complexion”. (here comes the head shake again)
Here is what I think happened. With probably the best intentions, Mr. Duesler gave the go-ahead for the camp to swim at the club. The white membership was shocked and appalled by the change in “complexion” of their beloved club and they protested the “colored” kids being there. Mr. Duesler called an emergency board meeting which amounted to: “we must comply with the will of our membership” and the camp was asked not to return. Period. Of course, Mr. Duesler assumed the incident wouldn’t make the national rags and what not, but it did, and so now the club is scrambling to save face. Albeit, not all that successfully.
With that in mind, it has also come to my attention that there is another swim club in the area that I’m investigating the name of, who is turning away our Jewish fam from swimming in their pool. Are you kidding me? (I can’t possibly shake my head any more without something coming unhinged. It’s uncomfortable, I have to stop this.)
Am I to believe that some little stretch of Earth between Bucks County and Philadelphia houses people who are really so inbred and deranged that they believe the “complexity” of their paleness AND the “complexion” of their religion makes them think they hold some sort of pass key to determine who is worthy to swim in their chlorinated waters come summer? Is this what they’re teaching their kids in school? In church? Have they even once considered what Jesus would really do or are they clenching tight to their limited edition Jim Crow bibles still?
I’m wondering now about the settlers of that little stretch of Earth. Is there something in the water? Maybe somebody from 1950’s Alabama spiked their pate at a recent cocktail party? Are these folk crazy? Certainly, they are blatant. Seriously, arguing with foolishness is… well, foolish. So your answer is still, arrogantly, “let the chips fall where they may”? Okay. Good luck with that.
I’m quite positive that the only thing left for us to do is to follow the Valley Swim Club’s lead and let the chips fall where they may (re-enter, the head shake here). Unfortunately, those chips are looking a lot like they will soon read: “Welcome to The Valley Swim Club–UNDER NEW (and far less racially ridiculous) MANAGEMENT”.
The moral to this story? I have no idea. Just some food for thought. But thank you for reading this and continuing to call and e-mail our elected officials until this swim club is shut down. And certainly, don’t forget to forward this to everyone in your network. We got the ball rolling, let’s keep it going. Don’t worry, I will keep you posted. Peace and Abundant Blessings. -e-
Here are the pertinent contacting bits:
Valley Swim Club
22 Tomlinson Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
Club Phone Number:
215-947-0700
Club E-mail:
info@thevalleyclub.com
Patrick J. Murphy (D)
8th District
Website: www.patrickmurphy.house.gov
Bristol Office
414 Mill St.
Bristol, PA 19007
215-826-1963
Fax: 215-826-1997
Doylestown Office
60 North Main St.
Garden Level
Doylestown, PA 18901
215-348-1194
Fax: 215-348-1449
Arlen Specter (D)
Website: www.specter.senate.gov
Philadelphia Office
600 Arch Street
Suite 9400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Tel: 215-597-7200
Fax: 215-597-0406