The expression of oppression

In regards to Zil Jaeger’s Nov. 11th Wespeak, “Racism? Homophobia? We got it!” Zil, I don’t know if this comes as a surprise to you or not, but racism, homophobia, and oppression are institutionalized in the United States. You make a few good points, and your examples are used well, in the sense that you successfully shock the reader using vivid examples of what you call, “racism, homophobia, and sexism.” I am sorry you had a frustrating experience a few weekends ago, but just as you have taken the liberty to share your frustrations, I would like to share some of mine. These aforementioned frustrations occur on a regular basis as I try to read between the lines of ignorant Wespeaks. What are you saying? Are you taking it upon yourself to publicize all forms of oppression on campus? It seems, rather, that you are taking the opportunity to blame all people of “white” phenotype and “straight” identification. Your well-intentioned message gets lost in your own confusion, bias, and masochistic tendency which so easily transfers blame onto large, ambiguous groups of people, whom you choose to represent with language that is ill-suited to further your cause. (Would it be presumptuous for me to assume that you are including yourself in this group of white-oppressors you so broadly describe? Do you forgive yourself for your phenotypic-whiteness because you are female?) This makes it hard for me to agree with anything you say, not because I don’t presume that you have good intentions, nor because I don’t attempt to fight oppression in my own right. Rather, your anger and frustration lead you to overt generalizations and misconceptions. You are not only perpetuating the ‘black-white’ and ‘homosexual-heterosexual’ dichotomies, but further alienating people from important issues because they are not the direct recipients of hatred. You apply blame without creating an intellectual or structural framework, and appear, like most Wesleyan students, to react publicly and vocally using terminology and ideology that is fundamentally flawed. I write this in solidarity with your cause (or at least my perception of your cause) but vehemently against your choice of expression. Be assured that I have considered not publishing this, out of concern that I might endure criticism and be labeled as the ‘malevolent other’, but my concern for myself has been overpowered by the grief, fear, hopelessness and sadness I feel when I think about BOTH the perpetuation of oppression AND the blatant misrepresentation and misapplication of blame towards those not necessarily responsible.