Carleton…choose your word more carefullly
Quite recently, a motion was carried out at Carleton to stop funding for cystic fibrosis indicating that the disease was not “inclusive” enough. You can read the details here: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=992946
I am a graduate of Carleton University and as proud as I am of being a graduate, I am not so proud of this decision regardless of their true intent behind canceling support for this charity. Any disease deserves attention whether it affects the entire world or a specific race of humans. What is next, stopping funding for research to combat alzheimers simply because it predominantly affects the older generation.
But moving back to c.f., the decision does not affect “whites” as this article suggests. Cystic Fibrosis affects a larger portion of the population in numerous countries as someone had pointed in a scientific followup article:
Science behind cystic fibrosis shows fatal disease is colourblind
Here is an excerpt from the article:
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* CF affects males and females equally, although the health of girls is more severely compromised, and in past years, young women with CF have tended not to survive as long as young men.
* CF affects Caucasian populations, primarily. Caucasian populations include people from South America, Arabian countries, Israel, North Africa and populations from the Indian sub-continent, such as people who live in or originate from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
* In North America, we find that North Americans of African origin, native Canadians, and people of Chinese origin can also be affected by CF, although cystic fibrosis is less common among these groups.
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As much as I hate to say it, people shouldn’t be quick to judge the written mistakes of others. Could it have been avoidable, given the write context and material….I would say “YES”.
However, root of the problem is not necessarily the statement, but the fact they decided to cancel the charity drive. As stated, I think funding any disease is worth fighting.
Carleton, specifically CUSA. Instead of dismissing a charity, why not add more to your drive and get more people to donate worthy causes beyond C.F.
Paul