To Bullis, from a Prospective Family: Stadium Songs Containing the "N Word"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bullis headmaster appears to have the full support of the board to make a BULLIS a football powerhouse. GET USED TO IT .Cilento is a fantastic coach and is elevating Bullis football program to new heights.

I am deeply disturbed by the targeting hit and Cilento's response. I've seen players wheeled off on body boards in youth, school, and college games usually from illegal hits. I have never seen a coach respond like Cilento. That is a big problem.

And the academics of his recruits are what?

[Anonymous]

It will be interesting to see what happens to all of the recruits bullis has brought in for football and basketball the past 3 years. I'm sure a few a few of them will get passed by the NCAA clearing house however a few may not and that would be an embarrassment for the school.

I agree with the previous poster, its only a matter of time before Bullis is kicked out of the IAC for both football and basketball.

[Anonymous]

15:14-- Oh, please. No school should the song.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

Is the word ever used or interpreted in a "good" or positive way?

Actually, it is. Younger African-American men sometimes use it to indicate friendship/comraderie with other men, white or black. More fundamentally, though, the word can be used or interpreted in a way that is neither positive nor negative, but that informs or describes.

That's all well and fine, but as a mom of children, who happen to be white, I would not countenance their use of the term.

Well, that would be a totally different use of the word, wouldn't it? Unless your child is either Mark Twain or Jay-Z?

I am the PP. There are just way too many (white) folks who want to appropriate the use of the n-word because they hear African-Americans use it. I am just staking out territory that even if young men walking to catch the bus after a day at Wilson, or Jay-Z in a song uses the word, my children will be raised to understand that they are still precluded from using it, that context and history inform and describe (and proscribes) its use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

Is the word ever used or interpreted in a "good" or positive way?

Actually, it is. Younger African-American men sometimes use it to indicate friendship/comraderie with other men, white or black. More fundamentally, though, the word can be used or interpreted in a way that is neither positive nor negative, but that informs or describes.

That's all well and fine, but as a mom of children, who happen to be white, I would not countenance their use of the term.

Well, that would be a totally different use of the word, wouldn't it? Unless your child is either Mark Twain or Jay-Z?

I am the PP. There are just way too many (white) folks who want to appropriate the use of the n-word because they hear African-Americans use it. I am just staking out territory that even if young men walking to catch the bus after a day at Wilson, or Jay-Z in a song uses the word, my children will be raised to understand that they are still precluded from using it, that context and history inform and describe (and proscribes) its use.

Perhaps the song was suggested by the players. Some guys use the word sort of like me saying the f word as i drop a glass jar. DC and friends were little when Pulp Fiction came out so it's catch-up on classics...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is horrible and disturbing. It also could have happened at any school where kids are allowed to pipe in the pre-game in-game or post-game music. Basically, any time a kid is anywhere near a public address system.

Warning shot: every school in this area and anywhere else in the nation should issue a ruling that clearly states that such language is specifically prohibited.

Agreed that it could have happened at any area school - it is (sadly) one of the most popular songs on the radio right now. I am not condoning the playing of the song at the game in any way, but the way OP worded the post (or at least the subject heading) at first led me to believe that it was a Bullis song with the offending word. If Sidwell, St. Albans or any area public high school had played the song, I highly doubt anyone would have the same visceral reaction - it is almost like someone is constantly looking for ways to take swings at Bullis.

I'm not going to read this whole thread but people really shouldn't be singling out Bullis, although the school should clearly have done a better job monitoring what went out over the loudspeakers. My point really is that this is a nationwide problem. I hate hearing anyone say, sing or rap the word ``nigger.'' It's revolting and demeaning and we need to remove it from popular culture. It's not a word to be celebrated. We need people to stand up in the rap world and start saying that the word is unacceptable just like the growing criticism of the homophobia and misogyny that is also widespread in the rap world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

Is the word ever used or interpreted in a "good" or positive way?

Actually, it is. Younger African-American men sometimes use it to indicate friendship/comraderie with other men, white or black. More fundamentally, though, the word can be used or interpreted in a way that is neither positive nor negative, but that informs or describes.

This. There is only one context where the use of the N-word is appropriate. Black individuals are allowed to use it. Jay-z is a black artist. And they didn't quote him, they just played a song he wrote. I don't see this as a big deal.

Someone else wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The "vibe" at Bullis is all wrong. In addition to the use of inappropriate words in warm-up music, the PA announcer actually used a reference to Viagra in describing a play by one of the Bullis running backs. Here it is, "The Matrix must have taken his little blue pill today because he is getting busy out there tonight." While amusing at first, there is just no place for that kind of commentary at a high school game.

In my opinion, this was inappropriate. Not unforgivable or totally shocking, but tasteless.

[Anonymous]

Censorship, no matter how justifiable it seems at the time, is a slippery slope and usually regrettable.

[Anonymous]

The Bullis commentator during their home games is an absolute joke. Is he a current student or a father of a student or some some person off the street?

It wont be long before the Bullis headmaster is booted out by the board. Bullis will have some financial stress coming its way when a most families start to realize they are paying over $35,000 in tuition a year to allow for these basketball and football players to transfer in and essentially attend the school on an "athletic scholarship". Again, this is the headmasters 4th year at Bullis, it will be interesting to see Bullis' college placement come May compared to the rest of the independent schools in the area. Once full paying parents being to see the hard facts i.e. Bullis college placement has slipped as a result of its heavy emphasis on recruiting, the cards will gradually begin to fall. Bullis tuition has jumped significantly under the new headmaster these past 4 years.

[Anonymous]

This reminds me of when the moms at our school tried to ban "hip hop" songs from our prom in the 80's. Memories....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Bullis commentator during their home games is an absolute joke. Is he a current student or a father of a student or some some person off the street?

It wont be long before the Bullis headmaster is booted out by the board. Bullis will have some financial stress coming its way when a most families start to realize they are paying over $35,000 in tuition a year to allow for these basketball and football players to transfer in and essentially attend the school on an "athletic scholarship". Again, this is the headmasters 4th year at Bullis, it will be interesting to see Bullis' college placement come May compared to the rest of the independent schools in the area. Once full paying parents being to see the hard facts i.e. Bullis college placement has slipped as a result of its heavy emphasis on recruiting, the cards will gradually begin to fall. Bullis tuition has jumped significantly under the new headmaster these past 4 years.

He has been there since at least 2011. That's three seasons now. No one in authority at Bullis seems to have control over his comments or maybe no one really cares.

How things end up for Bullis will be interesting. To observe no effort to restrain the out of control coach on Friday night was very eye-opening. I expect there will be some fallout over Cilento's recent behavior.

[Anonymous]

Someone else wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The "vibe" at Bullis is all wrong. In addition to the use of inappropriate words in warm-up music, the PA announcer actually used a reference to Viagra in describing a play by one of the Bullis running backs. Here it is, "The Matrix must have taken his little blue pill today because he is getting busy out there tonight." While amusing at first, there is just no place for that kind of commentary at a high school game.

In my opinion, this was inappropriate. Not unforgivable or totally shocking, but tasteless.

NP here, and I know nothing about this school or the announcer in question... but I gathered from this specific quote that this was a reference to the film "The Matrix" (do you want to take the blue pill or the red pill?) that just wasn't funny... I think you assumed Viagra because of the "getting busy part" so maybe get your head out of the gutter

[Anonymous]

LOL. PP is right. I was there and the announcer was referring to the "Red or Blue Pill" scene from The Matrix, which is the RB's nickname.

As for Cilento, he was angry at a few calls and got in the umpire/refs' faces a couple of times. Especially given the lopsided score, I can understand how anyone was offended. From what I understand, Cilento was reprimanded for his behavior.

As for the "N" word thing, it was mentioned once in a rap song that was part of the pregame. Obviously some kid created the list, and Bullis didn't know about it. I guess Bullis should have listen to every single pregame song to ensure there is no offensive comment.

I think the Bullis announcer is a recent graduate. Yes, he has a different style. But I never heard him say anything remotely derogatory about any team or players.

Let's be honest - some of the comments here are from STA parents who were upset at Cilento's theatrics (which is justfied), but who are also crying because of their team got pounded. Bullis has a lot more African-Americans on their football team than other IAC schools, and that simply bothers some people.

[Anonymous]

Its high school football in Potomac, MD .... WHO CARES. This isnt Alabama Crimson Tide people.

Go watch Friday Night Lights. Public school you pay for...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL. PP is right. I was there and the announcer was referring to the "Red or Blue Pill" scene from The Matrix, which is the RB's nickname.

As for Cilento, he was angry at a few calls and got in the umpire/refs' faces a couple of times. Especially given the lopsided score, I can understand how anyone was offended. From what I understand, Cilento was reprimanded for his behavior.

As for the "N" word thing, it was mentioned once in a rap song that was part of the pregame. Obviously some kid created the list, and Bullis didn't know about it. I guess Bullis should have listen to every single pregame song to ensure there is no offensive comment.

I think the Bullis announcer is a recent graduate. Yes, he has a different style. But I never heard him say anything remotely derogatory about any team or players.

Let's be honest - some of the comments here are from STA parents who were upset at Cilento's theatrics (which is justfied), but who are also crying because of their team got pounded. Bullis has a lot more African-Americans on their football team than other IAC schools, and that simply bothers some people.

I am not a St. Albans parent but I can tell you that it is not just the coaches behavior but also the "semester transfers" that Bullis seems to like to take for one season or one year just to win at the sport. Why parents at this school who are paying a lot in tuition are happy with this type of behavior is beyond me.