lxxxii
2.7.08
published on 11/18/05
Letter to the Editor | Discussion key in racism debate
Racism and discrimination are, have been and probably will forever be distinguishing characteristics of American (not to exclude other locales) society. This is a fact, one that should not be swept under the rug by or hidden from the members of our populace. The recent situation surrounding the Moderate, Independent and Conservative Alliance (MICA) and The Imperialist blatantly displays this truth. While I strongly encourage and support forums and discussions that address the issue of racism and discrimination, I also find it necessary to express a fear that I have, a fear that I believe we all should possess.
I worry that by lambasting (though I do admit that this may be too strong of a term) MICA and those responsible for the material in The Imperialist, we as a community are forcing those who do retain racist thought and discriminatory ideology to hide those thoughts and feelings, not to learn how and why such thoughts pose a danger, a serious threat to the community and society within which we live.
How are we to educate those who truly and honestly believe that safe spaces for minority students are “zoological preserves,” if we are unaware of whom these persons are? Yes, one can argue that we do know who these persons are—they are members of MICA—but that would be all too simple and a rather brash simplification of the matter at hand. I am sure that there are many students on this campus who possess a similar ideology and thought process as the infamous Constantine, but harbor these opinions and beliefs. I believe that these persons should be free to openly express their views (albeit in a manner that is not in any way intentionally harmful to members of the Vassar community).
For in order to facilitate honest and fruitful discussion, in order for true education to occur, there must exist some level of truth, of openness of ideas regardless of how backwards, ludicrous or ignorant these ideas may be. How are we to fight, educating the enemy, if we are not aware of who exactly the enemy is?
—Charisma Miller ’06
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Alumnae/i posters are strongly encouraged to include their class year with their name. The maximum length for comments is approximately 100 words; longer responses should be submitted as letters to the editor to misc@vassar.edu. More information about our letters policy can be found on our Policies page.
Alumnae/i posters are strongly encouraged to include their class year with their name. The maximum length for comments is approximately 100 words; longer responses should be submitted as letters to the editor to misc@vassar.edu. More information about our letters policy can be found on our Policies page.
