Enlightenment?
Dear students of the Philosophy Club at UWM…
Just because you gather together to challenge and discuss the mysterious question of the known and unknown universe does not give you license to make racially offensive comments at such gathering, nor does that give you the right to be rude to a person from that marginalized group who tries to explain why they found that comment offensive. For example…
When you make comment like “we’ll you could just say you were American Indian and cash in on the casino money…”
It should be no surprise that the NdN student sitting behind your table who is drowning in loan debt to pay for college is offended by your comment. Responses like…
“I have some American Indians in my family…”
OR
“I’m taking American Indian studies…”
These are not a pass for making such insulting comments,
Nor is the statement “Your wrong, what I said wasn’t offensive.” The proper response is such a situation. You may think that turning your back and simply silencing me in that way solves the problem…
You are wrong. My people and people like us have had their voices silenced that way for a long time, and we’re still fighting. You may believe you can find enlightenment through philosophy, but until you can find true humanity by respecting your fellow human beings (no matter how they might be different from you) enlightenment will be eternally out of your reach.
*rant over*
Just because you gather together to challenge and discuss the mysterious question of the known and unknown universe does not give you license to make racially offensive comments at such gathering, nor does that give you the right to be rude to a person from that marginalized group who tries to explain why they found that comment offensive. For example…
When you make comment like “we’ll you could just say you were American Indian and cash in on the casino money…”
It should be no surprise that the NdN student sitting behind your table who is drowning in loan debt to pay for college is offended by your comment. Responses like…
“I have some American Indians in my family…”
OR
“I’m taking American Indian studies…”
These are not a pass for making such insulting comments,
Nor is the statement “Your wrong, what I said wasn’t offensive.” The proper response is such a situation. You may think that turning your back and simply silencing me in that way solves the problem…
You are wrong. My people and people like us have had their voices silenced that way for a long time, and we’re still fighting. You may believe you can find enlightenment through philosophy, but until you can find true humanity by respecting your fellow human beings (no matter how they might be different from you) enlightenment will be eternally out of your reach.
*rant over*