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 Discrimination by Paisley Blue Sometimes I think we hear certain words and our brains turn off. Discrimination is one of those words. We have been overwhelmed by the topic to the point that I believe many people turn a blind eye to it. Until it affects you directly, that is... |
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Some people think "Discrimination" has been solved.
I approach this from the perspective of an American citizen living in the United States. This is one of those subjects that I believe people don't like to think or talk about. That doesn't mean that no one is thinking or talking about it, but from my experience, on a whole people think this has been solved. Didn't we desegregate schools? Didn't we try different solutions like affirmative action? Colin Powell and many others have reached high levels of authority and power in our country so racial discrimination isn't a problem anymore, right? Discrimination is not just a racial issue. Human rights is a phrase that gets a lot of air time right now, especially as we face the prospect of international discord and war. Will prisoners be treated humanely? Will soldiers be put into harm's way for a reason that makes sense? Are we fighting a war that the majority of people do not want? Are the personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights going to be slowly whittled away in the name of safety and security? People are being discriminated against without even realizing it. Without a doubt our personal freedoms and the rights we have grown accustomed to are in peril. That is a reasonable conclusion based on information freely available in the media. Large numbers of people are demonstrating in a number of ways to show their feelings and opinions, although I believe this is quite under-represented in the media. Some people have gone so far as to accuse the media of ignoring the widespread demonstrations because it might offend the government. Is this a type of discrimination? I also wonder about just what our men and women in uniform are being exposed to especially as they serve on foreign soil. Did you know that a soldier who questions exposure to hazardous conditions or chemicals cannot protest without repercussions? Many reports and articles talk of the techniques used to question detainees who may have 'key' information. Many individuals have been pulled in for questioning just because of their ethnicity or who their friends happen to be. Discrimination is probably going on in your own backyard. There are people here in our own country who face overt and silent discrimination everyday. It's true that in some areas of the country, racial issues are front page news and generate popular, legal, and legislative discussion frequently. Sexual discrimination has prompted similar reactions, especially as we talk about how women are treated in the work place. How many working people have had to attend some kind of anti-discrimination lectures or workshops? Discrimination against minorities is still here, though. Sadly, it seems to be condoned even by those in positions of authority. Just ask someone you know who falls into a "minority" category if they ever experience discrimination. I grew up hearing about the melting pot of America and how wonderful it was that so many diverse cultures and lifestyles could peacefully coexist in this great nation. Are there people being treated like second-class citizens? Now I am wondering, though, where the melting pot went. I have seen first-hand the discrimination against so many people. The world of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals can be dangerous. In the last two years I have met numerous individuals who have personally experienced discrimination by police. In trying to file a police report or press charges, the officer's manner and words have dramatically changed after learning the person was gay. I have seen people who were beaten and they do not get police protection. Sometimes the police participate in this violence. This is not rumor or speculation - this is fact. At times I feel like I lived the first thirty years of my life in ignorance because I did not know this happened. People who work in social service jobs that serve the gay community have told me that they hear about this on such a regular basis that it has sadly become the norm rather than the exception. It is well-known that in many areas of this country, equal benefits and privileges - such as coverage for partners or even marriage - are not extended to this segment of our population. I have to question why. I have to wonder why this type of discrimination is still being practiced in the 21st century. It doesn't affect me - right? These concerns are not for "someone else" to worry about - they are for me to worry about. When one person's rights and freedoms are taken away or never even acknowledged, I have to ask myself if I am next. It seems unreasonable to me that my gay friends cannot have the benefits and comfort of being legally married to their partner because of their sexual orientation. Will divorced people be next? Discrimination against divorced individuals. Picture this - I have found a wonderful man whom I love and who loves me. We have decided that getting married is something we want to do, for whatever reasons that are our own. We go to the appropriate government office to obtain a marriage license. After filling out the forms and submitting our identification, the clerk returns and says, "I am sorry, miss, but it appears that you have reached the legal limit of marriages in this country. Because you have been divorced four times already, you may not get married again." Think it couldn't happen? I can tell you right now that in the state of Arkansas, I can never get married again. They do have such a limit. My personal knowledge of this exists because at the time I filed for my last marriage license, the clerk made sure I was aware of this law. Why? Why does Arkansas have this law on their books? Does it seem right that because I found myself in a legal merger where I was either abused or the other partner decided to end the contract, I am now prohibited from exercising my option and right to pursue happiness? Yet when I relate this information to people, most do not seem to think it merits much concern. A common response is "Why not just live together?" My answer to that is "Why does someone else get to make that decision for me?" I have read of different states that are trying to legislate who can get divorced, especially when there are children involved. I have no argument with offering assistance to help people heal their relationships. But discrimination in the divorce court? Do we really need to have someone else tell us when we can or cannot end a marriage? Who is next? Imagine this scenario a little differently - I have found a wonderful man whom I love and who loves me. We have decided that getting married is something we want to do, for whatever reasons that are our own. We go to the appropriate government office to obtain a marriage license. After filling out the forms and submitting our identification, the clerk returns and says, "I am sorry, miss, but the National Security File shows that you are a practicing witch and it is an unapproved religious affiliation. Until such time that you change your religious beliefs, you cannot get married." Religious discrimination in the land of religious freedom? Think it can't happen? This does not even touch the fact that I am not affiliated with any organized 'religion.' I am a witch but that does not mean I belong to any church or organization. Recently on the news it was reported that nearly half of all American citizens consider themselves to be conservative Christians. I know firsthand the discrimination that Christians can show to pagans. No, that does not mean that all Christians behave that way but never in this article did I say that the entirety of any population group discriminated against another group. I'm just saying that this was a common experience where I have lived. Consider this. The leader of our country often shares his beliefs while conducting the business of the nation. He invokes his religious beliefs to justify his decisions and in everyday conversations. If a trickle-down theory exists, since he is the leader of our country, how many people will feel emboldened to echo his opinions and statements... and how many extremists will feel justified in discriminating against anyone who does not share that belief system? Could it be possible that this will somehow translate into an official state position? What do you think now? Right now that seems to be a far-fetched idea. But how far-fetched would it have sounded if, before reading this article, someone told you that in some areas of this country you could be discriminated against if you were divorced? How far-fetched would it have sounded if, before reading this article, you heard that the media discriminates against large groups of people? Does it sound far-fetched to you that police officers display discrimination against gay people? If discrimination happened to someone you know, would you turn a blind eye to it? My hope for the future. I am hoping that people everywhere have that seed of love for humanity in their hearts that would become outraged at the continuing discrimination that is happening still. The color of your skin, the spiritual path you follow, your sexual orientation, your marital status or other such differences are not valid grounds for discrimination. What can I do? I have long believed that if I want to see change in the world, it has to begin with me. This is true on a family basis, community basis or society basis. Like an avalanche, it all starts with one little rock. If we are going to discriminate, let's use such measures as honesty and loyalty. I try hard to make my decisions based on things that really matter. Those other things are just accessories that help make us different and diverse, like a melting pot of humanity.
What do you think?
Site Map Web Rings Paisley Magick - Article - On Being Blind: Discrimination http://paisleyblue.bravepages.com/blind.html Created and copyright March 8, 2003 by Paisley Blue Last update: April 16, 2003 "See No Evil" created by Meilin Wong Freondream. |
