Dear Norah,
1. I am going to respond to your article in your language, because I too have been taught that this cold and narrowly constructed form of discourse is the only legitimate form of communication. I hope that if I refrain from using “fuck you’s” or other expressions of emotion that I might be taken seriously.
2. After reading your Wespeak, I think that you might be feeling defensive about our position of power on the Wesleyan campus. First of all, I believe that Jose wrote that the stolen computer affects him more because of his class and race than it does rich, white kids, not that his computer was specifically targeted (I’m sorry Jose if I am not understanding your argument). Regardless, if a crime was committed against me, I would not consider it because of my race. That would be silly—I’m white. I think that makes me pretty lucky that I pretty much never have to consider the way that my race affects the things that happen to me if I don’t want to. But maybe that is something specific to white people? And is there a reason why we get uncomfortable when people do start talking about race?
3. Your Wespeak reminds me of the time that President Bennet told students that he would only engage in “civilized dialogue.” I am curious, who decides what is “civilized”? Who decides if what is being said is “something worth listening to”? If I were to throw in a “fuck you” (shit, I said I wasn’t going to do that) would my thoughts lose value?
4. Finally, in response to your “Everyone regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, whatever is capable of cruelty” comment: OPEN YOUR EYES. Jose’s Wespeak is not what is perpetuating the cycle of cruelty and intolerance. What about racist graffiti that’s been popping up in Clark? What about what happened to gender neutral housing? What about the professor who told me that classes in the Latin American Studies department were “fluff” and I should study something “real” like Economics? The history of discrimination against white people on this campus is really pretty limited. In fact, the administration, many professors, and many white peers like to reward me for communicating in the ways that prep schools and elite private education have taught us. But maybe what President Bennet and my high school English teacher call “civilized dialogue” is not the only form of communication. Maybe the problem is not in the arguments being made but in your resistance to hearing them.
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