These past four weeks of the Dixie Sun have…appalled me. The opinions of Dixie State College students and faculty have proven to me that Dixie State College of Utah is not the school I once thought of it to be. Not because of the arrival of our new trans-gendered friend, not because Christa (I first met her as Eric) has crossed gender lines, creating controversy in this school, but because of the responses that disgrace all that Dixie State College of Utah supports – a world of equality and safety for all involved.We have experienced on Dixie State College, what I call the New Face of Racism. In the past few weeks every Dixie State student and faculty member has borne witness to libel, mudslinging, and false judgments that force me to write this article.
Especially in this state, where the majority of citizens have been taught to “Love one another as Jesus loves you,” it scares me that here, on the home front, some students and faculty members lack the inability to be kind to others regardless of what they do.
It shocks me that 40 years after the civil rights movement, we say that racism is on its way out but we sweep under the carpet any mention of socially deviant behavior. Trans-gendered people are not the only ones who have been so affectionately called “it.” Humans use the term when they want to degrade their fellow man in order to justify prejudice. What about the Jews? Or the Blacks? Asians? Arabs? Irish? Mormons? Believe me -- the list goes on.
This addiction to racism controls our society and our thoughts. If we can’t persecute one group, we persecute someone else. “Okay… we can’t persecute Blacks or the communists any more so let’s move on to the next group.” Okay… that seems a little harsh but, just watch: when this “Sexual” revolution calms down, people will find something they have a problem living with. Do we have the power, as Americans and as humans, to end this dangerous cycle of racism? Can we quit our deadly addiction to hate and prejudice?
I am not a lesbian, and those who know me best can attest to that. I do not understand Christa’s desire to be female, nor do I think I ever will. But there is one thing I do understand: that I cannot change her, just as I cannot change where the sun sets or the direction the wind blows.
Do you remember that old adage, “God give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference?” Christa’s predilection for all things female is one of those things that we need to have the serenity to accept because changing her now is really a moot point.
We are not required to be best friends with the trans gendered and transsexual. We are not even required to make them a part of our life. But we are required to be civil and kind. They are they who will quote, “if thine eye offends thee, pluck it out.” But Jesus also says that, “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” is the greatest law in heaven, second only to Loving God. I intend to do just that – to love and care for my neighbors, as Christ would have me do.
I am a firm believer in world peace. It sounds idealistic, but world peace happens when we put down our own selfish desires and learn to live with one another without slitting each other’s throats. World peace does not happen when we are all best friends, it happens when we can understand that we all have differences, but we can live with that fact and not kill each other because of it. We need to look at each other with kindness instead of hate.
Let’s start “world peace” here at Dixie State College of Utah, and be kind to everyone. When this happens Dixie State College will become the college that everyone can be proud to attend.
2 comments:
I sincerly hope you don't mind me emailing you here but I had to comment on your blog posting. I really enjoyed what you wrote and wish to thank you for your support. You seem to have a insight that most our age do not for whatever reason. I am glad that you took the time to say what you did. That takes guts.
One person can change the world simply by changing the mind of one single person. Racism of all forms is a problem that will one day be fixed as long as there are people like you and me who have the guts to stand up and say something about it. That is what I set out to do with my life starting with those articles. I expected people to talk and rant about them and I am fascinated by their opinions be they good or bad for my cause. I am appalled by the way people changed. In my eyes those people realized that I am no less then anyone else. I am equal. The attitudes people express toward me on campus have changed drastically. They are more accepting and nicer then they were before and I am glad for that. When people like me come in the future, they wont have to face discrimination then because of what I am doing now. At least that's what I like to think.
I love how you said that racism was an addiction, because it truely seems that way to me. The old addiction fades and comes again, changing with the times but never dying out. I wish more people looked at the world like you do. I wish more people were willing to open their eyes and see that homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgender-ness (is that a word?) have been around for ever. Look at the Greeks and Romans. Look at the Egyptians. The only thing that has really changed is publicity, public opionion, and now the technology for people like Christa to change themselves to be the gender that they feel they belong to. Why should people descriminate? There is no reason, but to hurt others. I'm glad you wrote this, that you take a stand and speek for it. A voice can move a mountain, and the more voices that speak against predjudice in all it's forms, the more likely the chance of eliminating it forever.
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