Last Wednesday morning, millions of young people arose from
bed in a new America that targets them for harm. In New America, they will be subjected to increased overt ridicule and violence because of their color, or their
parentage, or their gender, or how they worship, or who they love. Emboldened by the overt racism
and sexism expressed by the leader of New America, the worst forms of
schoolyard bullying have been implicitly encouraged. Formal government policy
will soon threaten the very hearths and homes of families who do not match the narrow
white, rural, christian mold of New America.
For those young people who are our students in colleges
across New America, their concerns about whether they will be able to turn in a
quality term paper by the due date must now give way to present and tangible
fears that their parents will be deported, their scholarships will be revoked, they
will be sexually assaulted with impunity or they will be physically beaten
because of who they are.
College educators across New America have begun to make conspicuous
pronouncements that the values of diversity and inclusiveness will not be compromised
in their domains. Hopefully, college and
university administrators will soon follow suit. But each of us must not
hesitate to act individually to maintain a culture of safety and inclusion for
the emotional and educational well-being of the young people who look to us for
guidance.
The Brexit vote in Great Britain created similar dangers for
immigrants in the UK. To send a message of support for those who had been
suddenly further marginalized, some Britons took to wearing safety pins to
express their support. The pin says to those
who now must fear attack from all quarters, “You are safe with me. I will support you.” The movement has begun here as well.
Wearing the pin is not about making ourselves feel better. It is integral to the fulfillment of our obligation as educators and nurturers. We must allay the anxieties of our students who are fearful and threatened and wondering if they will ever again be safe.
Wearing a pin is no substitute for the advocacy, vigilance,
awareness, agitation, and determination that must support any social movement. It is a gesture of trifling effort providing potentially
life-saving comfort to those whose lives have been thrust into turmoil. Wear
your pin with commitment to the values of equality and inclusion that were among Old America’s
greatest aspirations . . . and share this with a friend.
Mark DeAngelis
UConn
Asst. Prof. in Residence, BLAW
Immigrant's Son
Add a Star Wars Rebel Alliance logo to your pin for additional symbolism:
Click here for source of image.
And it begins: Click here to see confederate flags at a California Veteran's day parade. And here to read about the overt incidents of hate, racism and intolerance spreading across the nation like blood draining from its veins.
And it begins: Click here to see confederate flags at a California Veteran's day parade. And here to read about the overt incidents of hate, racism and intolerance spreading across the nation like blood draining from its veins.
