| Judge Bean has belonged to his local
Rabbits Lodge for many years. The Lodge’s charter
includes a declaration that the organization is a civic
and social club whose membership is open to all persons
who demonstrate their commitment to service to the community,
generosity of spirit and amiability. Judge Bean is appointed
to serve on the membership committee, and finds applications
from several Mexican-American men, long-time business
people and generous contributors to community development
projects, on the agenda for the next meeting. After
nominal discussion at the meeting, the applications
are tabled for further review. Privately, a fellow committee
member tells Judge Bean: "We don’t need any
more of their kind in our Lodge. We’re going to
find something to keep them out: maybe a bad debt or
employee complaint. Don’t worry, if we look hard
enough, everyone has something in their past that can
be used against them." The Rabbits Lodge already
has several older Mexican-American members. What should Judge Bean do?
1. Resign from the
committee and stay away from all membership issues,
since the charter’s commitment to open membership
and its inclusion of some Mexican-American members
is sufficient to comply with the Code.
2. Resign immediately
from the Rabbits Lodge on the grounds that it discriminates
on the basis of national origin.
3. Try to convince
the leadership to change its attitudes and otherwise
withdraw from participation in the Lodge’s activities.
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