By: Daniel Nardini
They can be found on at least nine college campuses in the United States. They may soon be expanding into Canada and Australia. This student youth organization is called the Youth for Western Civilization. The title itself may sound harmless enough. But there is more to this student organization than its name implies. Although they claim they are not “racist,” their orientation and those involved with it are indeed racist, anti-immigrant (especially non-white immigrants), and white supremist.
Youth for Western Civilization was founded on the principle that “white people” should be “proud of their heritage.” And what heritage is that? The founder of this, Kevin DeAnna, stated that Western civilization is founded on Greco-Roman, Christian and folk traditions that make-up what is the European continent. Apparently it never occurred to DeAnna that European values, history and culture also includes Judaism and Islam. Remember, Bosnians, the majority of Albanians, and the Turkish are Muslim and very much a part of Europe as anybody else.
Besides having a very distorted view of what is “white” European values is the fact that their pedigree includes immigrant xenophobes such as former U.S. House of Representatives official Tom Tancredo. Yes, this is the same man who was responsible for sponsoring a series of anti-immigrant measures in the U.S. Congress, who called Miami, Florida, a “Third World country” (because of its large Cuban American constituency), and who called the National Council of La Raza the “Latino KKK” (note: Tancredo’s views are so extremist he was actually kicked out of the White House by then U.S. President George W. Bush. Considering how conservative Bush was, that says something). This person is clearly an enemy of “non-white” immigrants regardless of their immigration status. And it is the likes of this person who is being hailed as a hero and role model by the Youth for Western Civilization.
Youth for Western Civilization has been gaining support especially among conservative and right-wing groups. It has sent representatives to conservative political action conventions, and had held a national convention for all its branches in Washington, D.C., June 17-19. Considering the number of people, like Tancredo, who are financing this organization, it may grow even larger. Such financing can be used to finance Internet websites, print materials for handing out, and sending Youth for Western Civilization representatives to recruit new members. This scares me. At a time when young people should be learning more about things and people from other countries and cultures, we have groups like this that distort what our western values and history were and are. Heaven help us all!
A Growing Threat on Our Campuses
By: Daniel Nardini
They can be found on at least nine college campuses in the United States. They may soon be expanding into Canada and Australia. This student youth organization is called the Youth for Western Civilization. The title itself may sound harmless enough. But there is more to this student organization than its name implies. Although they claim they are not “racist,” their orientation and those involved with it are indeed racist, anti-immigrant (especially non-white immigrants), and white supremist.
Youth for Western Civilization was founded on the principle that “white people” should be “proud of their heritage.” And what heritage is that? The founder of this, Kevin DeAnna, stated that Western civilization is founded on Greco-Roman, Christian and folk traditions that make-up what is the European continent. Apparently it never occurred to DeAnna that European values, history and culture also includes Judaism and Islam. Remember, Bosnians, the majority of Albanians, and the Turkish are Muslim and very much a part of Europe as anybody else.
Besides having a very distorted view of what is “white” European values is the fact that their pedigree includes immigrant xenophobes such as former U.S. House of Representatives official Tom Tancredo. Yes, this is the same man who was responsible for sponsoring a series of anti-immigrant measures in the U.S. Congress, who called Miami, Florida, a “Third World country” (because of its large Cuban American constituency), and who called the National Council of La Raza the “Latino KKK” (note: Tancredo’s views are so extremist he was actually kicked out of the White House by then U.S. President George W. Bush. Considering how conservative Bush was, that says something). This person is clearly an enemy of “non-white” immigrants regardless of their immigration status. And it is the likes of this person who is being hailed as a hero and role model by the Youth for Western Civilization.
Youth for Western Civilization has been gaining support especially among conservative and right-wing groups. It has sent representatives to conservative political action conventions, and had held a national convention for all its branches in Washington, D.C., June 17-19. Considering the number of people, like Tancredo, who are financing this organization, it may grow even larger. Such financing can be used to finance Internet websites, print materials for handing out, and sending Youth for Western Civilization representatives to recruit new members. This scares me. At a time when young people should be learning more about things and people from other countries and cultures, we have groups like this that distort what our western values and history were and are. Heaven help us all!