“Unfriend me.”
“Unfollow me.”
“This is your fault.”
“You have no right to that opinion.”
In admission, that last one is more of a summation of what was said, but the idea of the message was loud and clear: the area was a safe space, but for specific people.
Dear Scotties,
I love you, but you’re also terrifying.
Ironic right? Since the results of the presidential election, the majority of Agnes Scott has been sending support to each other while discussing the anger, frustration, and fear felt throughout campus grounds. Yet those minorities within the school that either didn’t vote, voted Third Party, or voted for Trump aren’t afraid of the presidential results but are afraid to go to school because an atmosphere of, “Fuck you, you voted for [him],” has been created. And yes, I overheard a Scottie say this, apparently in response to a friend wishing them a happy birthday.
Anger from all sides is justified; we all have our reasons to happy or upset. But since most of my life is currently spent in places surrounded by those speaking about fearing Trump, I thought it’d be interesting to discuss the other side of the anger pool. While no side has been responding appropriately, I believe it’s hypocritical for Scotties, in particular, to respond with such fiercely closed ears and minds when their fellow Scotties that disagree aren’t at all what many think they are. For example, an alumna posted this image on facebook recently and many friends of hers, including Scotties, agreed with the sentiment:
All have a right to this opinion, but think about this:
According to many Trump supporters, he isn’t racist. Why? Because anything he’s supposedly said against certain groups of people has been either taken out of context, which the media is known for doing, or he simply said it to cause commotion which gave him attention and therefore more votes. Many would say that was a creative and smart move to get what he wanted, no matter who it angered. Now, on the Hillary supporter side of things, what they don’t realize is that those opposed to her believe she’s a criminal, and I’m not talking about the emails so don’t give me the, “Half of them weren’t even real and the ones that were aren’t even a big deal plus she apologized, so it doesn’t even matter.” What is meant by “criminal” is that she is a war monger that has supported America’s creation and funding of ISIS. So to Hillary supporters, while Trump supporters all apparently think racism isn’t important, they could respond with saying that Hillary supporters think that terrorism and killing millions of people isn’t important.
I’ve been told, “that’s just a conspiracy theory.” That statement was preceded by, “It’s Bush’s fault.” So tell me, is it safe for me to assume that the opinion could have possibly been biased? Yes. Could it not have been biased? Absolutely. But when someone completely rejects my ideas without a second thought when I am open to their interpretations, I will assume that they are biased.
Additionally, if it’s so unbelievable that Hillary could be involved in such an act, take a look at this satirical article titled, “Syrian child disappointed she won’t get to be drone-striked by the first female president.” Whether you believe this is true or not, there are plenty of Syrians, as well as Americans, in and out of America that share this point of view, and they have their own resources that they trust. So before you roll your eyes and scream propaganda, tell me how much this view has been reported on your television screens. If you’re interested in views that aren’t broadcast in our media, here are a few sources to get you started (all in the English language):
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Heetstreet → reports on unpopular opinions
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RT → the Russian perspective
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SyrianGirlpartisan → a young Syrian woman that lives in Australia sharing her perspective on The Truth
Here’s a short video from a comedian addressing the Left: President Trump: How & Why… Warning: the video contains foul language.
I love Agnes Scott. You know the first thing I fell in love with? The welcoming atmosphere. Orientation was an overwhelming experience, but it was also heartwarming and relaxing. As the years went on, my love for the school with its acceptance of all races, religions, sexual orientations and genders, along with the wonderful professors that provide me with a fantastic education, has stayed strong. However, I can not emphasize my frustration and heavy heart enough over the attitudes displayed over political differences of opinion. Many have feared to express themselves. This is a college setting. This is Agnes Scott. All private colleges have some sort of conforming viewpoint, but let’s be proud to call ours a place where everyone has the Freedom to Speak. If we need impartial mediators in a formal setting to do it, we should organize it.
If one idea is taken from this article, I hope it’s that there is a reason behind every voice. As Aristotle said, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
Sincerely,
Ready to Hear and Be Heard