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Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor
™ opinions@theotherpress.ca
The right to be racist
» Does honest hate equal harmony?
é Elliot Chan
- Opinions Editor
4 », M opinions@theotherpress.ca
| ow do we hold people
accountable for their
racist actions? Perhaps we
can't. Perhaps their racist
actions are justified.
Everyone is a little racist.
It doesn’t matter if you belong
to a race with privilege or one
without; you are a little racist.
The thing is, racism doesn’t
always come out as hate, very
often the solidarity we exhume
is an act of boorish racism—
sure, it’s not oppression or
violence, but acting like a
whole coloured community
needs your help is a brand of
arrogance that sits on one end
of the spectrum. I’m not calling
you a racist, but I’m saying
that if you are, that’s okay.
Sometimes I wonder
why there is that divide.
Why one brand of people is
so intolerant and the other,
so righteous. Perhaps it’s the
old way of thinking versus
the new way of thinking.
I grew up in a conservative
Chinese family. My whole life
I felt ashamed of the things
my parents would say in
Cantonese—out in public. They
: aren't bad people. They don’t
: have an AK47 or a diabolical
: plan for genocide. They just
: don’t know too many people
: of different ethnicities, and
: those they do know have a
: history of taking advantage
: of them because they weren't
: as well-versed in their “new”
: country. They see, they feel,
: they act—just like we all do.
I don’t blame my parents
: for their behaviour. They have
: the freedom to say whatever
: they want and they aren’t
: hurting anybody. So how
: can I blame other people
: for acting the same way?
The majority of my friends
: are Caucasians. In a way, I’m
: the token. I think they forget
: that I’m of a different race most
: of the time, which is why they
: are my friends. They rarely
: call me out and make me feel
: awkward (but they still do...
: rarely). However, now and then
: I catch them in a conversation
: where the topic falls upon race.
: [tend to sit back and watch
: them interact: talking, debating, :
: and agreeing on what is a racist
: act and what isn’t. I wonder if
: white supremacists do the same
: thing but on a different scale. If
: that’s the case, don’t we all just
: create our own cultural norm?
If we look at racism not as
: a thing to eliminate but asa
: thing to be accountable for, I
: believe we would live in a more
: peaceful world. We don’t like
: everyone, and that’s fine. To
: not like someone because of
: his or her race is okay. To not
: like someone because of their
: weight, gender, and other factors
: they can’t control is okay. But
: own up to it, own up to being
: an imperfect, shallow person.
: And allow other people to make
: the same judgement about you.
We can never know what
: it feels like to be a different
: person with different challenges
: and upbringings. While you
may want to call people out for
: being racist, your actions aren't
: as justified as you think. You’ve
: happened to pick a side, just like
: how they did. Being tolerant
: of people means accepting
: that some people won't see
: the world the way you do.
People have the freedom to
be racist just like how you have
: the freedom to be righteous.
: If we start pulling freedom
away from a group of people
: because they have a different
: belief, is that not oppression?
One day I hope to be ina
: room with a group of friends
: of all colours talking about
: what racism is to them. I hope,
: then, we can still all agree.
Image via www.businessinsider.com
(Y Old ideals first
(Y What | hear when we talk about terrorism
(¥ Wake up and compromise
And more!
fr
Christmas
Image via thinkstock
shouldn't be the
sole time for giving
» It is important to help others the rest of
the year too
Lauren Paulsen
Senior Columnist
hristmas is the time of the
year when everyone focuses don’t have a lot of money or
: material possessions. Helping
: others can be in the form of
: donating your time to a cause
: you believe in, or even helping
: a friend move. Maybe someone
: needs an ear to listen. Helping
: others can take many forms.
on giving. Many people donate
to charities and help those less
fortunate than themselves,
because a big part of Christmas
is giving to other people. It
is a wonderful part of the
holiday, but giving to others
shouldn’t be something that is
limited to this time of year.
Christmas reminds us to
give to others, but we should
keep this mindset throughout
the entire year. It is not just
during the month of December
that people are in need. Yes,
we want to give those less
fortunate something nice for
the holidays, but we need
to think of them during the
rest of the year as well. It is
: also important to help the
: special people in your life:
: your friends and family.
It doesn’t matter if you
Giving to others needs to
: be something we remember all
: year round, and not just focus
: on during the holidays. When
: Christmas is over, remind
: yourself that people still need
: help, and that you can give it.
: Altruism is a wonderful trait,
: and if everyone remembered
: that it’s in them, then the
: world would be just that little
: bit nicer for us all to live in.
Edited Text
Have an idea for a story? Let us know!
Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor
™ opinions@theotherpress.ca
The right to be racist
» Does honest hate equal harmony?
é Elliot Chan
- Opinions Editor
4 », M opinions@theotherpress.ca
| ow do we hold people
accountable for their
racist actions? Perhaps we
can't. Perhaps their racist
actions are justified.
Everyone is a little racist.
It doesn’t matter if you belong
to a race with privilege or one
without; you are a little racist.
The thing is, racism doesn’t
always come out as hate, very
often the solidarity we exhume
is an act of boorish racism—
sure, it’s not oppression or
violence, but acting like a
whole coloured community
needs your help is a brand of
arrogance that sits on one end
of the spectrum. I’m not calling
you a racist, but I’m saying
that if you are, that’s okay.
Sometimes I wonder
why there is that divide.
Why one brand of people is
so intolerant and the other,
so righteous. Perhaps it’s the
old way of thinking versus
the new way of thinking.
I grew up in a conservative
Chinese family. My whole life
I felt ashamed of the things
my parents would say in
Cantonese—out in public. They
: aren't bad people. They don’t
: have an AK47 or a diabolical
: plan for genocide. They just
: don’t know too many people
: of different ethnicities, and
: those they do know have a
: history of taking advantage
: of them because they weren't
: as well-versed in their “new”
: country. They see, they feel,
: they act—just like we all do.
I don’t blame my parents
: for their behaviour. They have
: the freedom to say whatever
: they want and they aren’t
: hurting anybody. So how
: can I blame other people
: for acting the same way?
The majority of my friends
: are Caucasians. In a way, I’m
: the token. I think they forget
: that I’m of a different race most
: of the time, which is why they
: are my friends. They rarely
: call me out and make me feel
: awkward (but they still do...
: rarely). However, now and then
: I catch them in a conversation
: where the topic falls upon race.
: [tend to sit back and watch
: them interact: talking, debating, :
: and agreeing on what is a racist
: act and what isn’t. I wonder if
: white supremacists do the same
: thing but on a different scale. If
: that’s the case, don’t we all just
: create our own cultural norm?
If we look at racism not as
: a thing to eliminate but asa
: thing to be accountable for, I
: believe we would live in a more
: peaceful world. We don’t like
: everyone, and that’s fine. To
: not like someone because of
: his or her race is okay. To not
: like someone because of their
: weight, gender, and other factors
: they can’t control is okay. But
: own up to it, own up to being
: an imperfect, shallow person.
: And allow other people to make
: the same judgement about you.
We can never know what
: it feels like to be a different
: person with different challenges
: and upbringings. While you
may want to call people out for
: being racist, your actions aren't
: as justified as you think. You’ve
: happened to pick a side, just like
: how they did. Being tolerant
: of people means accepting
: that some people won't see
: the world the way you do.
People have the freedom to
be racist just like how you have
: the freedom to be righteous.
: If we start pulling freedom
away from a group of people
: because they have a different
: belief, is that not oppression?
One day I hope to be ina
: room with a group of friends
: of all colours talking about
: what racism is to them. I hope,
: then, we can still all agree.
Image via www.businessinsider.com
(Y Old ideals first
(Y What | hear when we talk about terrorism
(¥ Wake up and compromise
And more!
fr
Christmas
Image via thinkstock
shouldn't be the
sole time for giving
» It is important to help others the rest of
the year too
Lauren Paulsen
Senior Columnist
hristmas is the time of the
year when everyone focuses don’t have a lot of money or
: material possessions. Helping
: others can be in the form of
: donating your time to a cause
: you believe in, or even helping
: a friend move. Maybe someone
: needs an ear to listen. Helping
: others can take many forms.
on giving. Many people donate
to charities and help those less
fortunate than themselves,
because a big part of Christmas
is giving to other people. It
is a wonderful part of the
holiday, but giving to others
shouldn’t be something that is
limited to this time of year.
Christmas reminds us to
give to others, but we should
keep this mindset throughout
the entire year. It is not just
during the month of December
that people are in need. Yes,
we want to give those less
fortunate something nice for
the holidays, but we need
to think of them during the
rest of the year as well. It is
: also important to help the
: special people in your life:
: your friends and family.
It doesn’t matter if you
Giving to others needs to
: be something we remember all
: year round, and not just focus
: on during the holidays. When
: Christmas is over, remind
: yourself that people still need
: help, and that you can give it.
: Altruism is a wonderful trait,
: and if everyone remembered
: that it’s in them, then the
: world would be just that little
: bit nicer for us all to live in.
Have an idea for a story? Let us know!
Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor
™ opinions@theotherpress.ca
The right to be racist
» Does honest hate equal harmony?
é Elliot Chan
- Opinions Editor
4 », M opinions@theotherpress.ca
| ow do we hold people
accountable for their
racist actions? Perhaps we
can't. Perhaps their racist
actions are justified.
Everyone is a little racist.
It doesn’t matter if you belong
to a race with privilege or one
without; you are a little racist.
The thing is, racism doesn’t
always come out as hate, very
often the solidarity we exhume
is an act of boorish racism—
sure, it’s not oppression or
violence, but acting like a
whole coloured community
needs your help is a brand of
arrogance that sits on one end
of the spectrum. I’m not calling
you a racist, but I’m saying
that if you are, that’s okay.
Sometimes I wonder
why there is that divide.
Why one brand of people is
so intolerant and the other,
so righteous. Perhaps it’s the
old way of thinking versus
the new way of thinking.
I grew up in a conservative
Chinese family. My whole life
I felt ashamed of the things
my parents would say in
Cantonese—out in public. They
: aren't bad people. They don’t
: have an AK47 or a diabolical
: plan for genocide. They just
: don’t know too many people
: of different ethnicities, and
: those they do know have a
: history of taking advantage
: of them because they weren't
: as well-versed in their “new”
: country. They see, they feel,
: they act—just like we all do.
I don’t blame my parents
: for their behaviour. They have
: the freedom to say whatever
: they want and they aren’t
: hurting anybody. So how
: can I blame other people
: for acting the same way?
The majority of my friends
: are Caucasians. In a way, I’m
: the token. I think they forget
: that I’m of a different race most
: of the time, which is why they
: are my friends. They rarely
: call me out and make me feel
: awkward (but they still do...
: rarely). However, now and then
: I catch them in a conversation
: where the topic falls upon race.
: [tend to sit back and watch
: them interact: talking, debating, :
: and agreeing on what is a racist
: act and what isn’t. I wonder if
: white supremacists do the same
: thing but on a different scale. If
: that’s the case, don’t we all just
: create our own cultural norm?
If we look at racism not as
: a thing to eliminate but asa
: thing to be accountable for, I
: believe we would live in a more
: peaceful world. We don’t like
: everyone, and that’s fine. To
: not like someone because of
: his or her race is okay. To not
: like someone because of their
: weight, gender, and other factors
: they can’t control is okay. But
: own up to it, own up to being
: an imperfect, shallow person.
: And allow other people to make
: the same judgement about you.
We can never know what
: it feels like to be a different
: person with different challenges
: and upbringings. While you
may want to call people out for
: being racist, your actions aren't
: as justified as you think. You’ve
: happened to pick a side, just like
: how they did. Being tolerant
: of people means accepting
: that some people won't see
: the world the way you do.
People have the freedom to
be racist just like how you have
: the freedom to be righteous.
: If we start pulling freedom
away from a group of people
: because they have a different
: belief, is that not oppression?
One day I hope to be ina
: room with a group of friends
: of all colours talking about
: what racism is to them. I hope,
: then, we can still all agree.
Image via www.businessinsider.com
(Y Old ideals first
(Y What | hear when we talk about terrorism
(¥ Wake up and compromise
And more!
fr
Christmas
Image via thinkstock
shouldn't be the
sole time for giving
» It is important to help others the rest of
the year too
Lauren Paulsen
Senior Columnist
hristmas is the time of the
year when everyone focuses don’t have a lot of money or
: material possessions. Helping
: others can be in the form of
: donating your time to a cause
: you believe in, or even helping
: a friend move. Maybe someone
: needs an ear to listen. Helping
: others can take many forms.
on giving. Many people donate
to charities and help those less
fortunate than themselves,
because a big part of Christmas
is giving to other people. It
is a wonderful part of the
holiday, but giving to others
shouldn’t be something that is
limited to this time of year.
Christmas reminds us to
give to others, but we should
keep this mindset throughout
the entire year. It is not just
during the month of December
that people are in need. Yes,
we want to give those less
fortunate something nice for
the holidays, but we need
to think of them during the
rest of the year as well. It is
: also important to help the
: special people in your life:
: your friends and family.
It doesn’t matter if you
Giving to others needs to
: be something we remember all
: year round, and not just focus
: on during the holidays. When
: Christmas is over, remind
: yourself that people still need
: help, and that you can give it.
: Altruism is a wonderful trait,
: and if everyone remembered
: that it’s in them, then the
: world would be just that little
: bit nicer for us all to live in.
Have an idea for a story? Let us know!
Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor
™ opinions@theotherpress.ca
The right to be racist
» Does honest hate equal harmony?
é Elliot Chan
- Opinions Editor
4 », M opinions@theotherpress.ca
| ow do we hold people
accountable for their
racist actions? Perhaps we
can't. Perhaps their racist
actions are justified.
Everyone is a little racist.
It doesn’t matter if you belong
to a race with privilege or one
without; you are a little racist.
The thing is, racism doesn’t
always come out as hate, very
often the solidarity we exhume
is an act of boorish racism—
sure, it’s not oppression or
violence, but acting like a
whole coloured community
needs your help is a brand of
arrogance that sits on one end
of the spectrum. I’m not calling
you a racist, but I’m saying
that if you are, that’s okay.
Sometimes I wonder
why there is that divide.
Why one brand of people is
so intolerant and the other,
so righteous. Perhaps it’s the
old way of thinking versus
the new way of thinking.
I grew up in a conservative
Chinese family. My whole life
I felt ashamed of the things
my parents would say in
Cantonese—out in public. They
: aren't bad people. They don’t
: have an AK47 or a diabolical
: plan for genocide. They just
: don’t know too many people
: of different ethnicities, and
: those they do know have a
: history of taking advantage
: of them because they weren't
: as well-versed in their “new”
: country. They see, they feel,
: they act—just like we all do.
I don’t blame my parents
: for their behaviour. They have
: the freedom to say whatever
: they want and they aren’t
: hurting anybody. So how
: can I blame other people
: for acting the same way?
The majority of my friends
: are Caucasians. In a way, I’m
: the token. I think they forget
: that I’m of a different race most
: of the time, which is why they
: are my friends. They rarely
: call me out and make me feel
: awkward (but they still do...
: rarely). However, now and then
: I catch them in a conversation
: where the topic falls upon race.
: [tend to sit back and watch
: them interact: talking, debating, :
: and agreeing on what is a racist
: act and what isn’t. I wonder if
: white supremacists do the same
: thing but on a different scale. If
: that’s the case, don’t we all just
: create our own cultural norm?
If we look at racism not as
: a thing to eliminate but asa
: thing to be accountable for, I
: believe we would live in a more
: peaceful world. We don’t like
: everyone, and that’s fine. To
: not like someone because of
: his or her race is okay. To not
: like someone because of their
: weight, gender, and other factors
: they can’t control is okay. But
: own up to it, own up to being
: an imperfect, shallow person.
: And allow other people to make
: the same judgement about you.
We can never know what
: it feels like to be a different
: person with different challenges
: and upbringings. While you
may want to call people out for
: being racist, your actions aren't
: as justified as you think. You’ve
: happened to pick a side, just like
: how they did. Being tolerant
: of people means accepting
: that some people won't see
: the world the way you do.
People have the freedom to
be racist just like how you have
: the freedom to be righteous.
: If we start pulling freedom
away from a group of people
: because they have a different
: belief, is that not oppression?
One day I hope to be ina
: room with a group of friends
: of all colours talking about
: what racism is to them. I hope,
: then, we can still all agree.
Image via www.businessinsider.com
(Y Old ideals first
(Y What | hear when we talk about terrorism
(¥ Wake up and compromise
And more!
fr
Christmas
Image via thinkstock
shouldn't be the
sole time for giving
» It is important to help others the rest of
the year too
Lauren Paulsen
Senior Columnist
hristmas is the time of the
year when everyone focuses don’t have a lot of money or
: material possessions. Helping
: others can be in the form of
: donating your time to a cause
: you believe in, or even helping
: a friend move. Maybe someone
: needs an ear to listen. Helping
: others can take many forms.
on giving. Many people donate
to charities and help those less
fortunate than themselves,
because a big part of Christmas
is giving to other people. It
is a wonderful part of the
holiday, but giving to others
shouldn’t be something that is
limited to this time of year.
Christmas reminds us to
give to others, but we should
keep this mindset throughout
the entire year. It is not just
during the month of December
that people are in need. Yes,
we want to give those less
fortunate something nice for
the holidays, but we need
to think of them during the
rest of the year as well. It is
: also important to help the
: special people in your life:
: your friends and family.
It doesn’t matter if you
Giving to others needs to
: be something we remember all
: year round, and not just focus
: on during the holidays. When
: Christmas is over, remind
: yourself that people still need
: help, and that you can give it.
: Altruism is a wonderful trait,
: and if everyone remembered
: that it’s in them, then the
: world would be just that little
: bit nicer for us all to live in.