Check Your Privilege
Start writing a post
Politics

Check Your Privilege

A response to Emma Deering’s “An Open Letter to the Offended College Student”

15
Check Your Privilege
Emory University

On April 11th of 2016, Emma Deering wrote an article on the “offended college student,” and how she was “sick and tired” of university students constantly feeling “threatened” or offended by opposing views and ultimately disregarding them instead of engaging with them, specifically with chalked walls and benches that read, ” Trump 2016.”

Find her article here: http://theodysseyonline.com/kentucky/an-open-letter-to-the-college-student/396527

While I agreed with about 6% of this article, the rest was complete bullshit written by someone too privileged to empathize or even acknowledge the experiences of marginalized students and their valid fears and concerns regarding the hate speech in their community.

Here are the top 3 reasons Emma Deering’s article was completely wrong in almost every single way:

1. Her disregard for the experiences of undocumented students and minority communities

Deering’s article seemed to suggest that these signs weren’t “threatening” in any way, but just someone’s opinion. However, if you are undocumented, and the leading republican presidential candidate is literally THREATENING to deport you and your family, how are you not supposed to feel threatened? It’s much easier to dismiss these acts of hate when you’re not the one being targeted.

2. Her ignorance of the true meaning of “Trump 2016”

Deering downplays this act as merely an opposing political view, but it stands for much more than that. The simple act of writing “Trump 2016” has so much hatred rooted into it. It implies the criminalization of all Latinos,as well as the scapegoating of all Muslims. Imagine being in the communities that Trump threatens and having to read that every day in your own community. What would that do to your self-worth? To your state of mind? How scared would you be that someone will take those words and act upon them? Words have power, and Deering completely ignores that.

3. When she says “Wake up college students! We are talking about the probable Republican presidential nominee, not Hitler.” (This one is my absolute favorite!)

This is by far the most ridiculous sentence in the entire piece. In case you didn’t know Emma, Hitler didn’t begin his acts of genocide by instantly putting Jewish individuals in concentration camps, he started by slandering and defaming them first; using hate speech to scapegoat them and eventually turning society against them in an attempt to render them obsolete. How dare you try and devalue someone who fears that this is happening all over again.

While Deering tries to encourage everyone to engage in dialogue and conversations, she forgets that that in itself is her form of privilege. If you are undocumented, how are you supposed to engage in conversations without fear that they will call immigration services? If you are Muslim how are you supposed to engage in opposing conversation when you constantly fear being attacked in a hate crime? And when someone writes on a college campus “Trump 2016,” that is saying more than “I support a political candidate,” that is telling an entire group of people that they do not belong.

I am sick and tired too Emma, sick and tired of people like you not trying to see something from a different perspective. I am sick and tired of everyone calling millennials too sensitive simply because we want to create a world where people shouldn’t have to live in fear.

If people are allowed to preach hate, then we are allowed to preach inclusiveness, and you can keep being annoyed at everyone getting offended, but it is because you will never understand what it is like to be oppressed, marginalized, and fighting every day for some god damn acceptance.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71409
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133468
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments