Uncomfortable? Well, good

Author: LAUREN CURATOLO '06 and ASSIA ELGOUACEM '06

We have never been more appalled by the cliché backlash from people who rarely, if ever, attend any events on campus that are geared towards activism. I am sorry to the people who wrote in response to the board and were dismayed at having to be forced to look at "racial and sexual epithets three times a day as they walk into the dining hall."

What's the goal, you ask? The goal is to raise awareness surrounding issues of diversity in the world and on campus. If you are feeling forced into having to look at these words, imagine being someone who is forced to listen to them everyday. Imagine walking down your block, or around campus, and being called a "nigger" or a "slut" or a "faggot" or a "bitch." Imagine that. We ask you, Middlebury College community, to open your minds. For once, let a group of people act in a positive way to address derogatory uses of speech. We are a nation that is corrupt. We are a nation that is premised on genocide, rape and racism.

Look at our past and then our present. Slaves were freed - 150 years ago. Women were given the right to vote - 85 years ago. The sexual revolution took place - 35 years ago. So, where are we now? Is all of this just a distant past? Can we actually believe that we have overcome all of this? We would say: "NO!" Look at the bigger scheme of our history. Assess our past. Assess the present and look at where we are today in terms of human rights. Change does not happen when we are comfortable. We can never move forward if we do not know where we stand now. If you are content with the status quo, it means that you have failed to care about others. We are sickened by the apathetic nature of people's reactions to positive events on campus. Honestly, everyone does not know that the words written on the boards are not tolerable because they are used every single day against some human being, and this is the problem we are addressing.

What is the point, you ask? The point is to be proactive in whatever community in which you find yourself. Language is the foundation of human existence and interaction, and yet it has been one of the most problematic foundations of our existence. Thus, we must address issues of how language is used. We live on a serene little campus but at the same time we have to recognize that because we are a microcosm of the rest of the world, we should be able to protest events that place hierarchies based upon racial and sexual epithets. It was also mentioned that tour guides must walk past these signs with their groups of prospective students.

Do we want these signs to be the focus of their visits, you ask? Yes. We do. The reason we do is because we want people to realize that even though we are seemingly detached from reality, we mean to say that we live in a fairly edenic setting; we realize that our actions affect the rest of the world, including the town of Middlebury. We are at Middlebury, at least the two of us are, to work towards a common goal: raising global consciousness. If people are disturbed, we are glad. What is wrong with making people feel uncomfortable? Why do you want to live in a perfect world when we don't have one…clearly!? We respect the critiques written in the paper, and we are not ignorant of the fact that this protest will not eradicate racism or sexism or homophobia. The point was to raise consciousness, get people speaking about real issues and create solidarity against various forms of discrimination. It is obvious that not all the degrading words used around the world could be put on a board…the point was to do what we could. If you were disturbed, then we don't apologize…that was the point. And we challenge you: why not join the good fight? We are two activists on campus that are graduating in May knowing that we have done what we could to improve issues surrounding sexism, racism, classism, homophobia and other social injustices that pervade society.

Those privileged few who run our world and perpetuate human rights violations are our devil's advocates. So, instead of playing devil's advocate, why not become allies with those who do amazing work? We are certain that every individual here is a leader and has the potential to enact positive change on this campus and in the world. Thank you to our allies and to those activists who have risked everything for something; your efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed and are greatly felt and appreciated. Now, for everyone else, what are you waiting for?