By Ivy Wright, Guest Columnist
As a freshman minority student, I have never felt more isolated in Berry’s “family-like community.”
I believe that all students should have the opportunity to exercise their free speech. However, when free speech crosses the line into hate speech, it should not be tolerated. I am very upset and discouraged by the action (or lack of) taken by the administration. I am deeply disturbed by the arrogant and boastful attitudes of my peers.
This week in particular, I see people like me voicing their opinions but getting drowned out by the white majority. If the majority’s attitude is racist and homophobic, does it make it okay? I don’t think so. I applaud Marcus Ghee for voicing his opinion, which reflected my own.
After this election, I’ve seen the nonchalant attitude of many of my white peers and the devastation and fear of all of my minority friends and family. When I talk to my friends who support Trump, they claim they would rather have him as the president than “crooked” Hillary (who has been cleared by the FBI twice).
Those friends have said that they would rather have a racist and sexist man as the leader of our country than Hillary Clinton. The only way I can see this being an option for those supporters of Trump is because they have never been the victims of racism. They haven’t been discriminated against. They have never been the minority anywhere. Their opinion has always been held with weight. In contrast, all of my friends of color know discrimination and cannot imagine being subject to a compounded wave of racism, homophobia, Islamophobia and sexism.
I still cannot understand why women would vote for a man who has had multiple accusations against him for sexual assault and was accused of child rape, although that civil case is no longer being pursued. I’ve asked a few of those friends, and they haven’t given me any answer other than “He’s better than Clinton.”
What has the world become that a man whose message is of blatant hatred and ignorance is a better leader than an experienced woman who has been cleared of any wrongdoing?
Of course, not all white people feel this way, and I’ve found comfort in the fact that some of the people I know are just as heartbroken by the election of hate as I am.
So, to everyone who’s scared: you’re not alone. It may feel helpless and honestly, I have no idea what’s going to happen to much of our community. However, I found comfort in knowing that I wasn’t the only one who felt this way and hopefully you can find some solace in that as well.