I do not know about your neighborhood, but around here the ladies get together every once in a while for certain gatherings. Purse parties, jewelry parties and sometimes Bunco game night. Although I have never played, from what I can gather, Bunco is a game that these ladies fully intend to play, but most times do not and end up drinking the night away instead. That is why many have nicknamed the game “Drunko”.
I found it interesting that among my aquaintances, not one had an “ethnic” player in their Bunco group. Not one person whose name was not easily pronouncable by English speaking Americans was in attendance at any of these gatherings.
I made my point by interviewing about 20 women who play Bunco, and maybe it was coincidental, but only ONE knew of a woman who she thinks is of partly-Asian descent that sometimes plays with her group. Hmmm.
I can see why some people of certain faiths and backgrounds who do not drink would not be included, but then again, do you not invite a vegetarian to a barbeque where meat is served?
Another Orland Park mom thought this was pretty funny and recently gave me my very own Bunco game. I intend to use my new gift for the common good.
So I am taking a stand, making a move that will rock my suburban town, I am forming an Ethnic Bunco group. Think of it as the UN of Bunco gaming. Women from all over the globe, drinkers or not, are all welcome. Scarved women, women with bindis on their foreheads, women with accents and women of any color, religion and origin…All welcome.
Ethnic Bunco, GAME ON!
**UPDATE** I have been informed that this post has caused some distress and has been taken much too seriously and some have even felt insulted by its tones of racism. I want to clarify that it was written in jest and with satirical tones and sarcasm. I did not mean to insult or cause distress. With that I also wish to add that I have been invited to many events that are attended solely by people of one ethnicity or another.
That being said, I still want to have a global initiative bunco gathering. Fine, no bindis or scarves required, just open minded and fun folks of all colors, races and religions. Hopefully this will suffice and put to rest any unintended distress.
GAME ON……again.
Orland Park Mom 
Can I come and bring a dip please? Sounds awesome.
You are in!
Definitely count me in!! I’m like you… i’ve always heard about the Bunco games but never from someone “ethnic” lol. I’ll be there with bells on! Oh and some tequilla and flan. 🙂
You had me at tequilla and flan. You’re in!
Seriously, is this an issue for you?
Put your money where your mouth is! I expect you to do a follow up article in the near future describing the varied UN group you choose for your “Ethnic Bunco”. Funny that the replies on your blog are all girls who are dying to dive right into “Drunko”!
Dear Seriously, thank you so much for your comment. I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have a hunch you arrived biased towards the negative in the first place. To answer your question, it IS an issue for me. It keeps me up at night and requires therapy. Sometimes I curl up into a fetal position and rock gently back and forth while clutching my Bunco box and murmur in foreign languages while eating hummus to calm my frazzled nerves.
But seriously, Seriously, I think you fail to see the satire in the post. And when we have the first Ethnic Bunco gathering, I hope you will join us. Opposing viewpoints make for great conversational content.
Dear Orland Park Mom, your comments, made in jest or not, are insulting to every American, and they are very hurtful to the people that you supposedly “interviewed” for your “article”. A real journalist would not do that, in the name of “fun” . You were deceitful in your interest about the topic, and in fact, knowing the ladies you are referring to, I would venture to say they would have invited you to Bunco, if only you would have asked. Just to clarify, Bunco is generally started in a neighborhood, where the members live in close proximity, so that if it does, on the rare occasion, turn to Drunko, there is no worry of driving home intoxicated. I actually have Polish, German, Greek, French, Sweedish, Irish, Spainish and Americans in my Bunco group. We don’t talk about our differences however, as it is usually our chance to talk about the things that make us alike, our kids, our jobs, our husbands, and the struggles that we all experience. You chose to take a stand that you and others are excluded because of your ethnicity, and that statement shows you are the one who is prejudiced against others!!!! When it came time to defend your statements, you went all “eighth grade” on everyone and said it was just sarcasm! I believe Orland Park has always been welcoming both as a community, and individually to people of many different backgrounds. Your negative commentary on the fact that you haven’t been invited only serves to divide people. If you don’t want to be discriminated against, then I suggest you stop pointing out your differences, and feeling sorry for yourself for not being invited to something, you might actually make friends with somone who isn’t just like you! This country is known as the “Land of the free” and last time I checked, I can invite anyone I want to my Bunco group, and I am going to fight to keep it that way!!!!!
This negative comment was too great to not respond to.
“”Dear Orland Park Mom, your comments, made in jest or not, are insulting to every American,””
I hereby apologize to every American, including myself, which you undoubtedly speak for.
“”and they are very hurtful to the people that you supposedly “interviewed” for your “article”. A real journalist would not do that, in the name of “fun” .””
Newsflash, this is a blog, not the New York Times. The people I spoke to about this topic thought, and continue to think the subject matter is hilarious. I have had only one person who took it the wrong way and we have discussed it and things have been smoothed out.
“”You were deceitful in your interest about the topic, and in fact, knowing the ladies you are referring to, I would venture to say they would have invited you to Bunco, if only you would have asked. “”
I was deceitful? First you speak for all Americans, now you question my honesty? If you know the ladies I am referring to, which I highly doubt, then ask them if they were hurt. I talk to these women regularly and I think you are simply a negative person with a need to vent. Take your venting to someone who can help you, like a good friend or therapist.
“”Just to clarify, Bunco is generally started in a neighborhood, where the members live in close proximity, so that if it does, on the rare occasion, turn to Drunko, there is no worry of driving home intoxicated.””
Thank goodness, bitter and angry drivers like you are dangerous enough without adding intoxication to the mix.
“”I actually have Polish, German, Greek, French, Sweedish, Irish, Spainish and Americans in my Bunco group. “”
I wonder if your multicultural bunco buddies that hail from “Sweeden” and speak “Spainish” know that they are not Americans. Should we call INS?
“”We don’t talk about our differences however, as it is usually our chance to talk about the things that make us alike, our kids, our jobs, our husbands, and the struggles that we all experience. You chose to take a stand that you and others are excluded because of your ethnicity, and that statement shows you are the one who is prejudiced against others!!!! “”
Oh my goodness, I never thought I was prejudiced against any other ethnicity, but your quadruple exclamation point ending made me see the error of my ways. Thank you for that. I chose to take a satirical stand because there were no people of ethnicity in the local bunco gatherings that I encountered via acquaintances. That’s all. You can make of it what you wish, which you undoubtedly will, so have at it.
“”When it came time to defend your statements, you went all “eighth grade” on everyone and said it was just sarcasm! “”
I do not need to defend my statements and only did so to make good on a promise to a friend. I stand by my post and will continue to stand by everything I write, on my personal blog and what I write as a “real journalist” professionally. What do you do for a living? I just thought I could pick apart your professional abilities as well. Isn’t that your game?
“”I believe Orland Park has always been welcoming both as a community, and individually to people of many different backgrounds.””
As do I, that being one reason we chose to live here. That and the fantastic schools, we do have great schools.
“”Your negative commentary on the fact that you haven’t been invited only serves to divide people. If you don’t want to be discriminated against, then I suggest you stop pointing out your differences, and feeling sorry for yourself for not being invited to something, you might actually make friends with somone who isn’t just like you! “”
Was it negative commentary or satire that may point out the obvious? I guess it depends on the perspective. Your perspective, no doubt, was that of a person who came here under false pretenses with intention to attack me. I have many great friends whom I adore and will continue to cherish.
“”This country is known as the “Land of the free” and last time I checked, I can invite anyone I want to my Bunco group, and I am going to fight to keep it that way!!!!!””
Fight on, sister! This land of the free is the reason I can write a blog and say whatever the heck I please. I cherish my country and my freedoms. It is sad that a blog post about bunco has brought out such hostilities in you. Maybe you need to look deep inside to find what the cause of such anger is really stemming from. I guarantee it is not my bunco post.
Thanks for reading! Have a great day.
I’m rolling on the floor laughing my white-hillbilly-never-been-invited-to-bunco-also butt off! I love it! Offensive? For real? I’m in Lockport but would gladly drive to the OP for some Ethnic Bunco.
Are men allowed to play?
If you bring food and drink, we will think about allowing it.
Seriously… wow
Love the response. Great job OPM.
However, the fact that “Seriously Disappointed” has “… Polish, German, Greek, French, Sweedish, Irish, Spainish and Americans in my Bunco group. ”
Really? She has all of those ethnic groups AND Americans???
How can she tell who are the French and who are the Americans?
How can she tell who are the SwEEdish and who are the Americans?
How can she tell who are the SpAInish and who are the Americans?
Should I keep going?