Myth Busters: Reverse Racism

With the recent events occurring in Baltimore, Maryland, I've heard multiple white people argue that when a white person gets shot by a black officer, there is no uproar. Let me tell you one thing, reverse racism is nonexistent. This fight is not simply because a black male was shot by police. It is about the fact that the white cop is never prosecuted and often just set free.There is no such thing as reverse racism and you can never use it as a means to justify your arguement. Racism by definition is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. Obviously, the Caucasian race is superior in this paradise we call America. White people often pull the racist card when a joke is made to humiliate them. "White people cant dance" or "white people think everything is spicy" are only a few of the stereotypes that are used as a punchline. The difference between white jokes and jokes that mock black culture is the simple fact that white stereotypes don't make Caucasians a target of police violence. They don't make them out to be theives or thugs. You don't get followed by clerks in a grocery store because you don't season your food. Black people are made out to be monsters and dangerous, while whites are just told they have no rhythm in their hips. People need to start educating themselves.

Sincerely,
      Olympia

Leelah's Law

Transgender teens currently have one of the highest suicide rates in the nation. Conversion therapy is a major factor in this statistic. It is obvious that these conversion therapists do nothing but harm youth and have often driven some, like Leelah Alcorn, to self harm and suicide. Leelah was a 17-year-old transgender female who decided to end her life on December 27th of 2014 when she ran onto the street and into a tractor trailer. She documented the final years of her life on Tumblr and often posted about the lack of understanding and  acceptance from her parents. Like many other LGBT kids today, Leelah was obligated to visit a conversional therapist that would basically try to brainwash her. In her suicide note, Leelah wrote that she wanted her death to mean something. She strived  for change and her one wish was for us to "fix society". After everyone learned about Leelah, someone started a petition. It is a law that bans conversional therapy all across the U.S. This law could possibly save lives and make that future a better place for LGBT youth. If you have time, please sign this petition. It is heartbreaking to know that, due to her unaccepting parents, Leelah was buried in a tux with the wrong name on her tomb. We can make a change. For more information and resources on how you can help, please visit LeelahsLaw.com.

Sincerely,
        Olympia 

Why Feminism Is So Important

"Are you a feminist?" "No, I'm an egalitarian." Believe it or not, this conversation actually occurred. You can imagine the look on my face when he told me that he was an advocate of equality for all, but not a supporter of equality for the sexes. It is honestly the most ignorant statement I've ever heard. Uninformed people seem to think that feminism is seeing women as superior beings to males. The reality of the matter portrays something completely different. Being a feminist means that you are an advocate of women's rights because, believe it or not gentlemen, you are the privileged ones in our society. One of the ugliest things I've begun to see are anti-feminist females. That is a concept I will never be able to wrap my head around. How could you be a woman in today's world and not want equal pay? Why would you not want to put an end to the objectification of all females? If people changed the fixed definition of feminism that they have implanted into their heads, there wouldn't be a need for me to write this. Put an end to ignorance and educate people on their rights (or lack thereof). And don't even get me started on abortion.

Sincerely,
         Olympia

Stay In Your Lane

Something that has really caught my attention in the past few months is the cultural appropriation going on in the media. A trend that needs to be stopped is the privileged taking credit for things that black culture created. With people such as Kylie Jenner and Miley Cyrus, people think that they have the right to copy other people's culture and that the whole world is going to be fine with it. Why are white women being praised for having luscious features when black women are humiliated for them. Big hips, plump lips, and dark skin are all features for the African American women and they are constantly called 'ratchet' and 'ghetto' for showing off their curves or putting on bright lipstick to showcase their lips, but if a white woman were to have the same characteristics, she would be considered a young girls 'goals'. It is shocking how celebrities in today's world are stealing black culture and becoming popular for being 'innovators' and 'visionaries'. African American women are deamed for expressing their culture, but, again, the privileged are celebrated. Culture appropriation is a major issue in the media and it is even worse that white people don't even realize they are robbing people of their culture. The first step to solving the problem, is admitting that there is one.

Sincerely,
        Olympia

Black Lives Matter

Nearly 322 African Americans have been killed by police as of April 11th. Former U.S. Coast Guard Walter Scott has been added to the devastating list. On the morning of April 4th, a fatal altrecation began between Officer Michael Slager and Scott after a routine traffic stop. This led to Slager chasing Scott and using his Taser shortly afterward. The five year police officer got into a competitive shooting position and shot eight bullets into the unarmed 50-year-old with the confidence of an expert at a shooting range. As if the father of four was just a paper silhouette being used as target practice. After Scott was shoot down, Slager proceeded to handcuff him as if he had the slightest chance of survival. Young 23-year-old Feidin Santana captured the entire ordeal of his phone and later uploaded the video to the Internet. After the video surfaced, Slager was arrested and charged with first degree murder. Everyone seems to be surprised that this case is actually going to be investigated since that seems like a foreign concept in most cases of police violence. It shocks me that we are being blown away by how the issue is being handled since this is how it is always supposed to go. As the media tries to cover these stories, they constantly seem to demonize the victim and make them out to be a monster. While reporters fumble to find Walter Scott's mugshot, the only photo they will come across is the photograph of him during his tenure in the U.S. Coast Guard. The chilling video of the shooting made my blood run cold. View the video here (viewer discretion is advised): https://youtu.be/kXO3Ix_GIyI

Sincerely,
        Olympia

Boys Will Be Boys

Well what were they wearing? Is the answer to this question supposed to justify the crime? If someone is sexually assaulted, is the rapist simply given a slap on the wrist and sent home if the victim was just showing some skin? In multiple public schools across the country, students are given a dress code and females, in particular, are restrained from wearing inappropriate clothing, typically consisting of leggings, tank tops, and yoga pants. Girls are often punished for wearing these articles of clothing and are told that wearing them is a disruption to the learning environment. In what world is a girl's clothing getting in the way of other students' education? Do the other classmates lose their self control when they spot a female's shoulders? No. Do teens get so distracted by tight pants that they can't complete a simple math equation? No. At times, the teacher is the one who gets sexually frustrated when a student wears revealing clothing. Why should the student be punished? If you are sexualizing a child, then YOU are the problem. This concept also comes up in the topic of rape culture. Was that woman "asking for it" by wearing a short skirt? Was that young girl "asking for it" by showing a little skin? I once heard that it is like dangling raw meat in a shark's face and expecting the shark not to eat it. Last time I checked, men aren't sharks. Men are not irrational creatures that only use 5% of their brain. Rapists CHOOSE to rape and it is their decision. I hope to one day live in a world where people are not blamed for being sexually assaulted and are never accused of "asking for it". In this day in age, that sounds like Utopia.

Sincerely,
        Olympia

Homophobia: Not An Actual Phobia

In the Oxford dictionary the term 'homophobia' is defined as dislike or prejudice against homosexual people, so why do we continue to call it a phobia? You are not scared of them. You are simply being a terrible human being. As the years go on, members of the LGBT community have been gaining acceptance from all over the country, but the state of Indiana just took a major step in the wrong direction. According to the new Religious Freedom Restoration Act, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are no longer protected from discrimination at the state level. Business owners now reserve the right to pick and choose their customers if they feel like their religious freedom is being threatened. LGBT customers can easily be denied service under this new law. The discrimination will be justified by the business owners faith and there is no way that the customer would be able to file a lawsuit. This new legislation has caused an uproar among Americans and LGBT rights advocates have begun protests against the law's enactment. Republican Gov. Mike Pence, who signed the bill last week, said he was going to "clarify" the legislation. As far as changing the law goes, Pence has stated that the legislation will stand and he will take no part in removing the law. The idea of being refused food or basic services because of their sexual orientation has members of the LGBT community furious. Many say that the new law feels like legalized discrimination, which is exactly what the law actually is. I feel like this legal battle will end terribly and it is absolutely ridiculous that homophobes have the right to discriminate now. It's 2015 for crying out loud. For further information on the new law visit CNN:  http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/31/us/indiana-religious-freedom-discrimination-opinions/

Sincerely,
          Olympia