What, Are We Still in the 1700’s?
By Emily Chance
Every day while I’m at work now, someone tries to make me angry by giving me one of their opinions. I am very tolerant towards people’s opinions, values, and thoughts. However, there are still a few things people say that completely bogle my mind to the point where I don’t understand where they are coming from. Here are a few points I’ve heard just the past couple of weeks:
1. “I’m trying to find a white male to put on this ad.” After inquiring about why such a specific type of person, they launched into an elaborate argument about demographics and how white people are being taken over and how white people are going to turn into the minority. However, wouldn’t it be easier to say, “Wow, we are such a group of unique and diverse individuals. People are amazing!” and just choose someone who fits the advertisement? It’s about a newspaper, not a white male supremacy group! Why does skin color matter? And what does that have to do with where they live, how they act, and what jobs they achieve? Good for them for having a job and taking care of themselves and the people they love. Who cares about gender? If they are capable of completing a task needing done, congratulate them! When I see someone, I see how they act before I see the color of their skin or which gender they are.
2. “Women shouldn’t vote because they ruined the country.” I got told this by a woman, and I have never been more surprised in my life! How do you respond to a woman who doesn’t want women to vote? I feel that if someone doesn’t want to vote, then they don’t have to vote, however, women haven’t ruined the country. Men haven’t ruined the country. It’s all a group effort and a domino effect which changes a country. In my own personal opinion, I don’t want a man giving his opinion on how women should act, what they should do, how they should live, and what products they can and cannot have access to. It is a woman’s issue. And the same goes for the men! I don’t want men having to get told by women what they can and cannot have access to! Men and women have both similar and different roles in a country, and I don’t understand why it is such a big deal for some people to understand that these roles are necessary. If someone wants to sit back and let the other voters make the laws, then they have that right. But they do not have the right to tell me that I have to sit back and let someone make the rules for me. Since when did the 19th amendment suddenly become invalid once again?
3. “Rape is the victim’s fault!” The other two statements can be ignored, but this one should be stood up against in any place where it is said or implied. RAPE IS NOT THE VICTIM’S FAULT. IT IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS THE RAPIST’S FAULT. “But she wore a short skit!” Avert your eyes and act like a gentleman, because we all know what happens to a pig when it’s their time… “But he flirted with me and I thought he’d like it.” How about permission before copulation? It is NEVER the victim’s fault, whether they are male, female, wearing skimpy clothing, or throwing out flirtatious remarks. Someone should NEVER preach about how victims are at fault. Because the person who says that obviously has never had that happen to them. They don’t know the trauma the victim goes through. They don’t understand how that person will NEVER be the same again. They will never be able to fully trust. They will never get rid of the anxiety forcefully ingrained in them by a cold-hearted SOB. No ifs ands or buts about this subject. I may be tolerant about some things, but this is one thing someone can NOT be tolerant about. So, one more time for the people in the back: RAPE. IS. NOT. THE. VICTIM’S. FAULT. RAPE. IS. ALWAYS. THE. RAPIST’S. FAULT. I will never change my mind.
I always thought we lived in a relatively tolerant world, but I think it is about time people speak up about real issues. If thoughts like these are still in people’s heads, it is time their mind is changed. It is no longer a world without women’s voices. It’s no longer a white male dominated country. We are not living in the 1700’s anymore, and it is time thoughts like these are eradicated. Thank you for coming to my T.E.D. talk.
Edited by Klancy Hoover
By Emily Chance
Every day while I’m at work now, someone tries to make me angry by giving me one of their opinions. I am very tolerant towards people’s opinions, values, and thoughts. However, there are still a few things people say that completely bogle my mind to the point where I don’t understand where they are coming from. Here are a few points I’ve heard just the past couple of weeks:
1. “I’m trying to find a white male to put on this ad.” After inquiring about why such a specific type of person, they launched into an elaborate argument about demographics and how white people are being taken over and how white people are going to turn into the minority. However, wouldn’t it be easier to say, “Wow, we are such a group of unique and diverse individuals. People are amazing!” and just choose someone who fits the advertisement? It’s about a newspaper, not a white male supremacy group! Why does skin color matter? And what does that have to do with where they live, how they act, and what jobs they achieve? Good for them for having a job and taking care of themselves and the people they love. Who cares about gender? If they are capable of completing a task needing done, congratulate them! When I see someone, I see how they act before I see the color of their skin or which gender they are.
2. “Women shouldn’t vote because they ruined the country.” I got told this by a woman, and I have never been more surprised in my life! How do you respond to a woman who doesn’t want women to vote? I feel that if someone doesn’t want to vote, then they don’t have to vote, however, women haven’t ruined the country. Men haven’t ruined the country. It’s all a group effort and a domino effect which changes a country. In my own personal opinion, I don’t want a man giving his opinion on how women should act, what they should do, how they should live, and what products they can and cannot have access to. It is a woman’s issue. And the same goes for the men! I don’t want men having to get told by women what they can and cannot have access to! Men and women have both similar and different roles in a country, and I don’t understand why it is such a big deal for some people to understand that these roles are necessary. If someone wants to sit back and let the other voters make the laws, then they have that right. But they do not have the right to tell me that I have to sit back and let someone make the rules for me. Since when did the 19th amendment suddenly become invalid once again?
3. “Rape is the victim’s fault!” The other two statements can be ignored, but this one should be stood up against in any place where it is said or implied. RAPE IS NOT THE VICTIM’S FAULT. IT IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS THE RAPIST’S FAULT. “But she wore a short skit!” Avert your eyes and act like a gentleman, because we all know what happens to a pig when it’s their time… “But he flirted with me and I thought he’d like it.” How about permission before copulation? It is NEVER the victim’s fault, whether they are male, female, wearing skimpy clothing, or throwing out flirtatious remarks. Someone should NEVER preach about how victims are at fault. Because the person who says that obviously has never had that happen to them. They don’t know the trauma the victim goes through. They don’t understand how that person will NEVER be the same again. They will never be able to fully trust. They will never get rid of the anxiety forcefully ingrained in them by a cold-hearted SOB. No ifs ands or buts about this subject. I may be tolerant about some things, but this is one thing someone can NOT be tolerant about. So, one more time for the people in the back: RAPE. IS. NOT. THE. VICTIM’S. FAULT. RAPE. IS. ALWAYS. THE. RAPIST’S. FAULT. I will never change my mind.
I always thought we lived in a relatively tolerant world, but I think it is about time people speak up about real issues. If thoughts like these are still in people’s heads, it is time their mind is changed. It is no longer a world without women’s voices. It’s no longer a white male dominated country. We are not living in the 1700’s anymore, and it is time thoughts like these are eradicated. Thank you for coming to my T.E.D. talk.
Edited by Klancy Hoover
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