Have you ever wanted to speak up about something important but did not? What was it about? Why didn’t you feel free to voice you thoughts?
Some of my favorite experiences from my undergrad education were open debates like creationism v. evolution, leader v. follower, capitalist v. communist. These memories would fade as failed lessons plans if people did not speak out. Fear of judgment keeps people quiet. But when you reach out, when you PERSONALIZE diversity, you find the conversation changes from us v. them to you and me. Imagine…-C. Dilg Yes, I always wanted to speak something which I couldn’t speak till now. I think it’s stupid that the U.S. is in Iraq. There’s no weapons, so we should be outta there! –Jason A. I wanted to speak up about the siege on Gaza, put I was afraid people would label me Anti-Semitic even though I am far from it. Freedom to day what ever you want to say –Ramesh Yes, I have wanted to speak up many times, However I have “kept my mouth shut” because I have found that the times I have been angered by others it is because of their ignorance and it is hard to argue with a fool.—Margo Kincaid Sometimes it is best to keep your mouth shut. On the issue of equality in the U.S. I’m often discouraged with comments such as, “African Americans need to get over what happened to them 200 years ago.” This points to the core problem of misunderstanding the repercussions of the past. Yes, slavery was abolished 200 years ago, but segregation continued legally until the 60”s. This segregation created a separate subculture for the black community. The differences that remain in the 2 communities are key to understanding how to fix the problem. Europe just recently overcame the final repercussions of the plague from the 14th & 15th centuries, so to believe that the distant past does not directly affect the present is ignorance…or neglect. Creation vs. evolution is important and should be explored but I’m told that I would be forcing my beliefs on others if I speak up. Yes, it was about affirmative action and it should be allowed for white. I didn’t speak on it because I didn’t experience it when U of M had it. But I felt it was unfair to single out a group.—Michelle Fischer I feel this way a lot, actually. I’m totally IN LOVE with God, and I sometimes feel I can’t necessarily share it with other people. If you bring religious views into discussions, people get upset, ad, offended, put-off, etc. I’m not going to judge people if they believe differently then I do, and I feel like having a spiritual relationship with God qualifies me automatically as closed minded or a Bible-thumper. I’m neither of those things, and all I want to do is share the greatest love of/in my life. Currently, I’m seeking support from many parts of UM-Flint in order to make a difference locally. I’m biding my time—when I do speak out, I hope it will make a difference! Not really, we didn’t like the policy of reservation based on caste so we oppose it hands down. Yes, I wanted to speak about the injustice that was occurring in Iraq. The reason I didn’t was because I felt I didn’t have enough knowledge to do so and no support from UM-Flint. Yes, often I wish to speak out about my religion but don’t because it is not a majority religion. I hold back so not to cause undo tension or verbal violence. No, as long as I can remember I’ve always spoken out—whether it was good or not. I wish more people would especially about minority culture. The only way the majority can learn anything new/different is if they are given more information. Sadly, minorities feel uncomfortable because we’ve made it uncool to be different from the majority. Yes. I wanted to ask about test questions, but I couldn’t ask in front of everyone. I was scared if others think I am a fool! Yes, I was at a friends church, they were talking about my religion, I didn’t speak up because 25-1 isn’t a very good argument! Yes, People are always trying to groups all of us HUMAN BEINGS into different groups based on religious, political, and moral beliefs. We are all humans despite the above mentioned differences and we need to learn to come together as a species if we want to advance. Yes, a friend of mine was raped. She asked me not to say anything so I didn’t. Yes, but refrain myself. It could endanger my present progress I bite my lip, they were in higher power than my self involved. (they had a way with words). I never realized affirmative action made such a difference. Since its removal its like people you knew and thought you could trust—turned on you—showed you a different side. It was very negative! Affirmative Action was a gift that should have never been taken away! There should never be a difference with any of us since there is…Bring it back…Some people really need to be governed by laws! Yes, It seems as though our classes and professors have their views on different opinions and if we don’t agree with how they feel than we are made to feel misplaced. If we have a gay professor, we still should be able to disagree without being penalized because I believe in the Bible. LOVE the person, hate the Sin! Yes, the racial tensions within our community are what keeps us ‘stuck’ in the position we are. The division is here at eh U of M also and there should be more discussion to bring us together. Yes, I have disagreed with someone that said something that was offensive to myself & others. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to be offensive too. I was very regretful & since have tried to be more supportive. Yes, I have. A little kid on y street was getting beat up but I didn’t say anything to stop it, I felt really bad.—Delrick Norris I feel that spring break should be at a later time with all the other institutions. When I was a little kid, I remember seeing that some big kids were being mean and beating up on a little nerdy kid. I felt that I should tell them to stop it, but I was too afraid. They were bigger, and would’ve been mean to me too. (I was something of a wimp.) (But no longer!)—Laura Friesen-Lynn Yes, there are many times when I actually speak this matter but there was some kind of trouble all the time. I never wanted to hurt anyone!—HP Yes, I wanted to talk about how the student groups don’t work together. I didn’t feel free to talk about it because I thought that I would look like a problem starter J–Ta’nesa Blakely Intimidation & condescending attitudes create very quiet timid people. Yes, today the University Bookstore treated me like dirt. However I could not do anything about it because we were bothe doing wrong. Yes, because I believe that we should respect our elders and causing them too much grief is disrespectful. Si, me paso la otra vezcuondo estaba en clase y uno de los conpaneros del salon empezo hacer biomas y shistes con conotaciones racioles pero en luger de constdle con educacion le conteste con grocenos y no cree spe ni el ni yo hicimos bien. Yes, it happens everyday at work. Being a hard and consistent worker always doesn’t pay off like people say. People take advantage of the good worker when someone less qualified or of a different skin color does the same job for the same pay—JF No, I am one that always speaks my mind & expressed my opinion. Unless I’m offending somebody or infringing on their right.—Rana Yes, this is something that happens in everyone’s lives whether it be at school, work, or our personal lives. Yes, it seems like whenever I want to say something I feel that people are watching me are not going to be taking my message seriously. Because of the different looks I possess. Yes, it happens probably everyday. Either at work, school, and every day activities. In school, about taking religion out of school and I guess I am afraid to speak due to humiliation or get ridiculed by society for stickling up in what I believe in. I have always had strong opinions & support women’s rights. It is difficult to sit back & not say anything or stand up for what you believe in I was around a group of guys taking about sports & how guys are superior. I have it was another discourse on freedom of speech and how offensive it can some time s be. I had been attacked racially, and although I felt terrible, I said nothing—mostly because I was intimidated quite easily, and others were speaking up better than I could.
