Reedsport Braves News
Volume 1 • Issue 10 •
November 14, 2003
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Editorial Page Letter to EditorStaff
Learning, Not Judging
by Alison Law
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I'm disturbed by some of the things I've been hearing lately in my
Global Studies class. No, it's not the teacher or the history
we're learning. It's the ignorant and discriminatory comments
I've heard from my classmates. Right now our topic is the Middle East. It's pretty controversial, and I can understand that. After all, we do have troops fighting over there. But I was surprised by what was spoken during class about it. We're focusing on the Islamic religion and have watched a few videos about it. Every time, I've heard something that slightly offends me. As we watched a woman prepare for her holy journey to Mecca, I distinctly heard someone say, "What a freak.” I've heard other comments too, pertaining to their belief systems and culture. Another popular expression which I find offensive is the use of Jewish as a derogatory insult. During our class I've frequently heard, “That’s so Jewish!” What exactly do people mean by that? What do the have against Jews? There seem to be some major misconceptions about different cultures and religions, ones we aren't familiar with. The purpose of a social studies class is to LEARN about other cultures and customs, not ridicule the people, their style of dress, or their beliefs. We need to move past the stereotypes. In America, we're supposed to be accepting of other cultures. Was that not what our country was based on? I sometimes have to agree with the Europeans that Americans are ignorant and too ethnocentric. I don't think it's just my Global Studies class either. This is a problem throughout America. People, knowingly or unknowingly, say things about race and religion that could hurt someone else's feelings. As a whole, we need to be a little more accepting of other people and their beliefs, and not make comments that are uneducated and uninformed. It makes the speaker and the rest of America seem ignorant and dated. |
Discrimination In Our Society
by Victoria Schaaf
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I
often question society's view of what is normal. I wonder why our
culture
accepts the idea of what they think is standard. The "norm" in our and
many
other non communities is one of segregation. Our population does not
blend
well with nonconformists. When someone is acting outside the norm
is
recognized, they are isolated. Our behavior of rejection have
caused
depression, dejection, high school drop outs, and hate crimes. In school, what is viewed as model is the idea that unintelligent people sit in the back of the classroom, and intellectual suck ups sit in front. This idea is somewhat biased. People are pointed out and ridiculed for the clothes they wear, the people they talk to, and/or anything else that is not typical of us. If you say one wrong thing in this hypocritical town, its held against you for all eternity. Social groups form cliques, though they do not want to face it, that cause others to act outside their norm. Students wear the "cool" clothes and go against their own morality just to fit in, and quite often, they never do. Students who do not conform well often tend to drop out, only lowering their chances of succeeding in our society. Our refusal to accept our peers as different can cause a negative impact on them. In the past, our community has actually forced a minority to move out of town just for the simple fact that they look different. The people in our public that should have been enforcing the law against hate crimes didn't bother to do so; only making it harder for racial and ethnic groups to join our society. And if this is the norm, I don't want to be a part of it. What is expected to be normal of women in our society is to be second to man and insubordinate. Women are not allowed to do the same things men are, even though it is in our constitutional rights. The Declaration of Independence speaks only of men, about men, and for men. "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Women are not always given the same opportunities, among these are playing the same sports, holding the same government offices, and being paid equal salaries. They are denied their life, liberty, and happiness more than our society wants to accept. I'm not saying I want everything to be perfect, I just want to look at my community and finally be happy and pleased in the fact that they are accepting and equal to everyone. I know that being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections. |
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Tattoos Ink or Not!
by Linz Jones
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Tattoos are a new thing these days. It seems like everyone is
getting them. Many people think about what they want for a long
time or others just go in and look through a book and decide right then
and there what they want. The experience was pretty weird. I cried and laughed at times when I was getting it done. I've been thinking about what I wanted for like 5 years, and when I decided, I took pictures in and he did a very good job. I'm happy with it, I love it, I can't wait till it's done! I will never get another one though, I'm happy with just one tattoo. |
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