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Racism is still an issue, even if people ignore it
Letter to the Editor
by Diego Hernandez |
PUBLISHED ON 5/8/07 IN Commentary
People have a tendency to believe that racism is abolished just like slavery. I hate to break it to you, but racism does exist. To this day, we are still judged by the color of our skin. Sean Jin said that he had never experienced racism before he came to the University and it was not until people of color started "expressing their hatred and contempt for whites" that he saw ethnic bigotry ("Schwoeffermann's remarks only deepen racial divide," ODE May 7, 2007). To assume that people of color only have hatred toward white people is bigotry. If standing up to racism and if fighting for equality is hatred, then so be it.
I think that Sean Jin has a problem with people saying "white people." I do not think there is anything wrong with saying "white students" or "white people," because when I say it I do not mean their pale skin, but because white people are the majority in this country.
Sean Jin is obviously offended by Ty Schwoeffermann's writings and I feel like he is tokenizing Ty as a representative of all students of color. Jin, would you like us to call "white people" American, so people don't have to feel uncomfortable when they talk about race?
Jin missed the point completely of Ty's article; all I see is a person trying to defend a culture he has assimilated to. Jin repeatedly mentions that he is a student of color and a minority as if that gives him credibility to talk about race. It is not our job to educate people about oppression. It is hard to understand what you have not lived. I am tired of seeing people suffer, people being cheated out of opportunities, and I am especially tired of people who think they know what they are talking about just because they identify as a "minority." There is a struggle for social equality and institutional equity. You may not see it because you may not have experienced it or seen it on television. But this struggle is happening and has been for a long time now.
Diego Hernandez
University student
I think that Sean Jin has a problem with people saying "white people." I do not think there is anything wrong with saying "white students" or "white people," because when I say it I do not mean their pale skin, but because white people are the majority in this country.
Sean Jin is obviously offended by Ty Schwoeffermann's writings and I feel like he is tokenizing Ty as a representative of all students of color. Jin, would you like us to call "white people" American, so people don't have to feel uncomfortable when they talk about race?
Jin missed the point completely of Ty's article; all I see is a person trying to defend a culture he has assimilated to. Jin repeatedly mentions that he is a student of color and a minority as if that gives him credibility to talk about race. It is not our job to educate people about oppression. It is hard to understand what you have not lived. I am tired of seeing people suffer, people being cheated out of opportunities, and I am especially tired of people who think they know what they are talking about just because they identify as a "minority." There is a struggle for social equality and institutional equity. You may not see it because you may not have experienced it or seen it on television. But this struggle is happening and has been for a long time now.
Diego Hernandez
University student
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 27
Blaster
posted 5/08/07 @ 2:00 PM PST
And another racist speaks up. Mr. Jin has every right to speak out about racism, especially that from the people who claim to be about protecting race. (Continued…)
ASUO Insider
posted 5/08/07 @ 4:36 PM PST
Add him to the list of racists at our school, right there with Nate Gulley, Steve of the Multicultural Center, Kahn Le, among those alreasy mentioned. (Continued…)
Morning Valley
posted 5/08/07 @ 6:50 PM PST
Obviously race is a complex issue. When Diego venomously attacked Sean for not experiencing racism, it seemed that he wished racist experience on everyone, that he wished he himself belonged to the more dominant race. (Continued…)
Nedermeyer
posted 5/09/07 @ 11:07 AM PST
Amen, Yin... you said it.
F
posted 5/09/07 @ 5:37 PM PST
Don't ignore the racism that exists, especially you nedermeyer. There's a reason that no one voted for you. Don't tell me that I don't care about issues, you can't read my mind. (Continued…)
Umm
posted 5/10/07 @ 9:48 AM PST
Maybe they didn't vote for him because he asked them not to. See, when you are a JOKE candidate, you're not in it to win. Get it?
And I can read your mind . (Continued…)
Diego Hernandez
posted 5/10/07 @ 10:36 AM PST
Most of your responses are ignorant, and full of biased talk of people you obviously don't like. You can call me a racist all you want, but I know and the student unions know who the real racist are. (Continued…)
Mark
posted 5/10/07 @ 2:18 PM PST
All I can say is thank God I was a business major. At least I can apply what I learned in college to real world business issues.
What is clear from reading posts from Mr. (Continued…)
Diego Hernandez
posted 5/10/07 @ 11:47 PM PST
Your a business major, your definition of success is having a job that makes good money. A victim of social construction of capitalism. If you don't know anything about sociology or anthropology then please stick to business. (Continued…)
Morning Valley
posted 5/11/07 @ 9:18 AM PST
Thank you Andrea Blaser for your eloquent commentary (5/11/2007), it invites understanding and communication rather than anger and hate. I applaud your wisdom and thoughtfulness. (Continued…)
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