It is funny how you can 1) title your speech using the words “reverse oppression” only revealing how truly privileged and ignorant you are to be able to find oppression in the simple expression of cultures different from your own and 2) not think twice, or maybe even three or four times, before deciding to quote John Lennon in using a word that should never come out of your mouth. But for a moment I will put your mistakes and misjudgments aside to address the ignorance you shared with us in your Wespeak directed towards Brotman.
Somehow you managed to take the simple expression of pride and sharing of information on a person’s sexual identity, race or any other part of them that they wish to identify with and labeled it racism. Marches, banners, and months centered around specific racial or ethnic groups are not reverse oppression and should never be mislabeled as such. Yes, Carp, we are all just human beings. I completely agree, but our experiences and struggles are different. The sad fact of the matter is that every day of every year people who are white straight males can go about their daily lives sharing, demonstrating, teaching, watching and listening to their experiences everywhere they go. The rest of us are not privileged enough to experience that. The use of these months, rallies, marches, and banners are to take back a couple of days or weeks or months out of an entire year to share our experiences our triumphs our struggles, and our histories, not just with each other but with everyone and anyone who will listen, because in our classes, at our work places, in our neighborhoods, ON THIS CAMPUS, our voices, our experiences, our struggles and our accomplishments are not acknowledged, celebrated or respected.
Yes, I would love to wake up one day to a world where banners and chalking and marches and months are not necessary—a world where everyone was respected for who they are, but until that day we will continue to celebrate, share and “OPPRESS” ignorant people like you with our struggles, accomplishments, anger, HISTORY and PRIDE.
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