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The Daily OrangeNow is the time to take a stand
By
Posted: 10/21/05, 3:20 AM EST Section: Opinion
The recent events at HillTV and "Over the Hill" have exposed a serious problem that exists at our university. Racism and ignorance pervade our community, some of it blatant, most of it hidden explosively just below the surface.
Ironically, all students have to write an essay on diversity to get into this institution. Our attentiveness to this issue should only be beginning at that point. Unfortunately, for most of our community, writing that essay is the end of the discussion.
It's unfortunate that it takes an event like this to spark conversation and debate on racism and sensitivity. However, I believe that it also has presented an opportunity that we must quickly seize upon. It's what we do now that will make the difference. There is a unique opportunity to educate, inform and to take a stand, but history teaches us that our window of opportunity will likely be brief.
At a time in our nation's history when we legitimately are more concerned than ever about outside threats to our homeland security, this incident exposes that we have another threat to our security from within that threatens to divide and tear us apart. The First Amendment not only protects the kind of hateful ignorance that "Over the Hill" has shown; it also demands that we expose, confront and learn from it.
The Syracuse campus can and must stand up now against these ignorant expressions of racism. I want to make a difference and I strongly believe that we can.
Jason Fisher
Senior broadcast journalism major
Ironically, all students have to write an essay on diversity to get into this institution. Our attentiveness to this issue should only be beginning at that point. Unfortunately, for most of our community, writing that essay is the end of the discussion.
It's unfortunate that it takes an event like this to spark conversation and debate on racism and sensitivity. However, I believe that it also has presented an opportunity that we must quickly seize upon. It's what we do now that will make the difference. There is a unique opportunity to educate, inform and to take a stand, but history teaches us that our window of opportunity will likely be brief.
At a time in our nation's history when we legitimately are more concerned than ever about outside threats to our homeland security, this incident exposes that we have another threat to our security from within that threatens to divide and tear us apart. The First Amendment not only protects the kind of hateful ignorance that "Over the Hill" has shown; it also demands that we expose, confront and learn from it.
The Syracuse campus can and must stand up now against these ignorant expressions of racism. I want to make a difference and I strongly believe that we can.
Jason Fisher
Senior broadcast journalism major
