Odd, how we speak of tensions, then can’t see how we, as individuals, contribute to them. Many want to sit on their own high horse and dictate what’s right or how it should be.
And based on what? Anecdotes, opinions, how someone else has flared us up.
We’ve had promises that seek to defeat our democratic principles (that go beyond our right to vote and go home.) Some are happy with that. Some are angry. And many only half paid attention.
Now what will you do? Business as usual? You’re ok, so you don’t know what this fuss is all about?
To follow up on myloves’ post, one of my kids sent me several screenshots of Facebook posts by their friends who wrote diatribes against their peers who didn’t vote for Hillary–and not just for those who voted Trump. These students called them some nasty names, accused them of some horrible things, and ended their rants with statements like, “So if you voted for Trump on a third party candidate, do me and yourself a favor and unfriend me immediately.”
hys·te·ri·a
həˈstirēə,həˈsterēə/
noun
exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people.
I know the origin, however, this is the current definition. I think GFG is using it correctly. I disagree with the term “bubble”. I see it as a viewpoint. A bubble closes people out and assumes that people can’t be persuaded by a reasoned argument. A viewpoint can be changed. College professors can handle their class any way they wish. Some students will take advantage of the opportunities for their own reasons most likely will not. The viewpoint we differ on is whether we require students to take personal responsibility for their emotions and feelings or do we treat them as people not yet ready to handle those responsibilities. There can be arguments made for both views. The violent reactions are unfortunate because they tend to confirm those with opposing viewpoints worst prejudices. In today’s instant information world much of the information is false or highly skewed as a viewpoint and we need to spend more time confirming our information.
I fall in the camp that feels that some students are overreacting and that some university faculty are encouraging it. I don’t think it’s many. I have two Ds in college and neither has mentioned it to me. I know my younger D has been far too busy to be concerned about it though she likely voted differently than I (base on the flyers to her that get sent to our house). The only request I have of them is that they can articulate their reasons for their choices.
On my side, I don’t think everything will go to hell in a hand basket. But I think it’s critical for people to occasionally step out of their cocoons and open their eyes to the reality of others, not sweep them aside.
Our system is being tested. It’s much more than our right to vote. Or whether every student on every campus just goes to class the next day. Just as parenting is more than whether you dust them off and send them back or let them get over it by themselves.
When my girls called on Wednesday, what I told them was, if you see inequities, if you’re worried, if you find an injustice (eg, on social media,) if you encounter taunting (of either side…)
What are YOU going to do? Besides cross your arms and dig in your heels?
I, for one, am extremely grateful my son’s school has offered venues for students to destress since this election complete with puppies and hot chocolate! The puppies, hot chocolate, and coloring books are just props which have no meaning other than to destress… its really about coming together within community to talk, support one another and not feel alone. Thats mental health 101.
I am shocked reading this thread that some wouldn’t have empathy for what many minority students are going through since this election, or understand how they would need outlets to destress.
This election has had unprecedented hate rhetoric directed at minority groups who now rightfully fear their civil rights will be eroded. Undocumented students don’t know if they or their families will be deported or not, muslim students fear for their safety, black students fear for an increase in systemic racism, LGBT students fear RFRA bills aimed at allowing legal discrimination towards them will increase tenfold… And, because of the results of this election, all of these groups feared there would be an immediate increase in hateful rhetoric, slurs and hate crimes directed at them… WHICH THERE HAS BEEN! https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/11/11/students-many-colleges-reporting-ethnic-or-racial-harassment-election-day http://kdvr.com/2016/11/14/list-of-post-election-hate-crimes-keeps-growing/
On my son’s campus, racists in OK , added every single black freshman into a group me chat entitled **slur and lynching complete with vile racist jargon.
Minority students knew immediately that bc of the outcome of this election their safety would be in jeopardy. That is extremely stressful. If your student didn’t have any reason to fear for their safety or their civil rights due to the outcome of this election that is called privilege. Be grateful that they have it. But don’t pretend everybody has that same privilege.
Clearly, Universities finding ways to offer students solace, de-stressing opportunities and ways to come together and not feel alone are important. BRING ON THE PUPPIES!
Let’s just tackle one of those things. I really want to understand why Muslim students fear for their safety. Are they undocumented? Do they have terrorist ties? If not, then what political rhetoric makes them afraid? As I mentioned, I live in an area that was ravaged by 911, yet my town just elected a Muslim woman to office. Clearly, they had no fear she was a threat to America, or that she’d be deported in the middle of her term. Furthermore, we live near the hometown of the man who in August placed bombs in NY and at the 5K race on the Jersey shore. Trump spoke of limiting a particular aspect of immigration: Syrian refugees and Muslims from countries associated with terrorism. It seems to me that neither of those relate to a law-abiding, documented Muslim student living and studying here. As far as any increase in hate crimes related to Muslims, I think it’s important to remember that we have recently seen an uptick in terrorist incidents here and abroad that could be responsible for any fear or hatred. Even if there is link to the election, it’s not fair to blame someone for the actions of another person. That’s on them. Trump never called for violence against Muslims.
This behavior isn’t limited to college kids and goes both ways. Several HS alum friends and I were ad-hominemed by a FB friend who was a proud supporter of the Yuge one of a mutual HS alum friend of ours when we were having a calm reasoned FB discussion with said friend.
In my encounter, it came right out of the blue as I was having a civil discussion on a FB thread posted by the FB friend before her friend barged in with a barrage of ad-hominems and insults so bad that she felt the need to call him out on his behavior. I dealt with it by calmly explaining to him that those insults were uncalled for…especially considering he butted into our conversation and that by resorting to such ad-hominems he lost the argument.
Should mention she also voted for the Yuge one and her friend who lobbed a string of vicious insults toward me. Later found he had a long history of similar behavior with 3 of our mutual friends going back several years. To top it all off, the ad-hominem slinger ENDED UP DEFRIENDING HER after she called him out on his behavior towards me and 3 of our mutual HS alum friends because “You’re violating my free speech rights”.
And he’s not a traditionally-aged college undergrad…but a 50-60 something executive who was her boss in a past job. Scary to find someone acting as he did in a senior managerial position in their profession.
Some other supporters of the Yuge one, sometimes as a massed group have also randomly came onto FB friends’ posts to disrupt discussions on their FB posts, post vicious* insults, and even a few threats which were reported to FB and relevant authorities.
Even saw a couple do the vicious insults and then attempt to convert them to fundamentalist evangelical Christianity which added to the sheer level of absurdity.
Adding to the absurdity was the fact the FB friend who made the initial post before being deluged by a barrage of Yuge one supporters is from an area of the south where such fundamentalist evangelical Christians were commonplace and overbearing in their expectations for everyone to conform to their worldview so his retorts to the proselytizers were particularly pointed.
I totally agree that there should be no threat to the Asian adoptee. People tend to personalize their concerns and sometimes it gets out of hand. Sure. I also think some of what’s being spread now, by both sides, is purely alarmist.
But see, asking why Muslims would have concerns is kind of like asking why many URMs, despite their education, work, contributions and access, would still be looking over their shoulders. To our more-accepting and tolerant minds, it doesn’t happen. A sort of, “I’m not prejudiced, so why are they worried.” But it does happen, they do experience all sorts of challenges, from preconceptions others hold.
This happens on CC, every time we stereotype Asians and URMs, from their stats to their chances. We’re just so self-accepting that we miss it.
Closing the thread - I have repeatedly had to delete political posts (15 just now) not related to college. And I haven’t even looked at all of the posts.