Upon reading the title, you’re probably thinking, “Oh no, here goes this kid again talking about another wildly sensitive topic.” But do not worry, I just wish to part my knowledge about the topic in hopes that for some it is conducive to a greater understanding of the issue. Among all modern day issues, political correctness enforcement around educational environments has captured the media’s eye more frequently than many see necessary. As a student of the University of Vermont, I and all others are ubiquitously exposed to political correctness, acceptance and open-mindedness through a number of different mediums. More so than other universities; our school is among the first to recognize the “neutral” gender classification visibly around campus. Among the many outstanding qualities of acceptance of all types here in Burlington, there still exists a looming aura of racism and bigotry; the wispy remains of a more old-fashioned society.
The truth remains that humans come in all shapes and sizes; kinda like Lego bricks. There may be some colorful bricks, some large, some small, some thin, some thick, some dull, some interesting, some loud, some quiet but also some that do not fit in. These alien bricks are like those people who see wrong in others for not fitting into their obscure exclusive judgmental sub-niche that the world has no room for. These type of people either get thrown in the trash, lost in the bottom of the tub, chewed up by the dog, or ousted in one way or another.
For example, a good friend of mine, Joey (who subsequently was my Orientation Leader before I began school here), was walking down South Prospect Street last year to attend one of his classes. Joey (as most of you may know) is a man of color — a proud man of color and one of the most genuine and inspiring people I have ever met. His ultimate control of his demeanor and awareness of the feelings and reactions of others made him such a marvelous figure to look up to. In addition to steadfast scholarship, Joey excelled strongest of all at being a standout dude. As Joey was walking down the street, a man without motivation shouted several slurs involving the “n-word” in his direction. People like this haven’t got much space within this ever-changing society, as the line for racism is very cut-and-dry, and encompasses just about any slur invented for any ethnicity. This should be standard for everybody.
What can and cannot be said should with regards to sex and race should be brutally obvious, however large issues have risen through the cracks that lie within a vague grey-area between flat-out ridiculous and questionably inappropriate. One happening may make one person feel unequivocally victimized, and another frustrated at the arrogance of the “victim.” Whose job is it really to draw this line, the victims or the institutions? Ironically, institutions have followed in unison with the victims, as they feel obliged to cater to the smallest cry for help, while shunning their own point of view to appear as if they’re ultimately doing the right thing. I read an article the other week from the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University that gave a beautiful summation of this issue: "Any time their feelings are hurt, they are the victims. Anyone who dares challenge them and, thus, makes them 'feel bad' about themselves, is a 'hater,' a 'bigot,' an 'oppressor,' and a 'victimizer''' (E. Piper, 2015). Doctor Piper talks about “narcissistic” and “self-absorbed” students feeling self-obliged to not reflect upon their own shortcomings and blame others for theirs, however, he doesn’t depict the hypothetical line in which feeling “victimized” is justifiable.
To restate an argument which I used in a previous article; everybody makes choices and those choices are applicative to them and only them. Those choices that they make do not deserve to be attacked or scrutinized in any way if those decisions do not tangibly affect other people. Somebody of an alternate faith or sexuality or tangent belief does not possess intentions of harming others; rather those individuals seek out happiness of their own. If somebody is outwardly professing an opinion to belittle the regularities of another, then a word in defense is justifiable. This is where I believe the line should be drawn; somebody should feel victimized when they have no control over the situation. When a member of a different culture, sexuality, or race feels bad because they are who they are, this is not okay. Some people may also argue that in response these things should be “celebrated” and embraced loudly to counteract the backlash. This brings to mind the phrase “live and let live” – in this world humans of all different varieties, they should celebrate who they are and what they believe in for that is the essence of life.
I see two large points to this plot that if changed would bring much peace and stability to the issue. The first, the suppression of maliciousness and re-alignment of the public eye to embrace the differences of others. People must realize that were those individuals not different and bringing a whole new periphery to the state of being, the clock would no longer tick.
The second, that the recoil from those in the spotlight be less severe. If somebody’s spewing nasty things about them for their commendable pre-disposition, they should just have pity. A good buddy of mine, August, once told me: “Life is about 10 percent what happens and 90 percent how you react to it.” This got me to thinking that most of the time, the best reaction is none at all.
Our society has been progressively pushing away the expended exoskeleton that was racism and sexism that existed in the past. As time goes on, this too will rectify itself. Victimizations that lie beyond actual racism or slanderous words simply waste time in neglecting those factors that are under their control. “Micro-aggressions” such as a bunch of boisterous drunk college kids yelling things on a bus that trigger large scale responses are worthy of a second thought. As the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan stated in paraphrase, college is an environment to learn not only about scholarship but also the ways of the world. It should be treated as nothing more, and nothing less.
