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in interviews Andy Murray has to correct ignorance. “The first person ever to win two Olympic tennis gold medals”, the interviewer foolishly stated. Murray corrected, pointing out that Serena and Venus Williams had both achieved the feat before him, “I think Venus and Serena have won about four each,” he said. Of course, Murray was hailed as a hero. He’s not. He pointed out a fact. Even on that level, even when talking about the greatest, she is blatantly disregarded. This was 2016 by the way. So not ‘acceptable at the time’. Not acceptable at all. I get scared to call out racism. It makes me feel uncomfortable saying it. I do always know when it’s about race. I don’t always mention it, because it’s another stereotype. Calling out racists ‘all the time, you never want to be the ‘boy who cried wolf’. You also never want to be taken advantage of. Racists will take advantage of your silence. Your tolerance. The worst thing is when it’s ‘indirect discrimination’. That’s when you are most uncomfortable. When it’s direct and blatant you know what you are dealing with. However, the subtle and secretive will really drag you down. The scariest thing is it has become inevitable. Inevitable in our world today. Prince Philip was a prolific racist. He got away with it because of the institution he represents, and that’s a conversation for another day. For now, why should we mourn someone whose rhetoric meant that I was less than? Meant that we aren’t all good enough. We don’t all belong. That black and brown people alike were the butt of some sick joke. If your humour means that a whole race of people are being dehumanised and attacked. Well, you might want to evaluate your twisted psyche. Look at it this way, the world is set up for the majority of right-handed people to find their way around easily. Nobody really puts into account how left-handed people have to adjust to even something as simple as a door handle. Right-handed people would not understand and will never understand, and that is their privilege. There is no such thing as unconscious bias. Once again, more excuses. It’s not our conscious mind that’s racist, so technically we can’t be blamed. The bias is always there. It has simply become such a habit that you do it instinctively. Let’s call it how it is. It’s not unconscious. It’s just become second nature, to immediately judge with ignorance. It is an afterthought. Like breathing. Unless we only breathe unconsciously now too. Reversed racism is another myth. You can’t be anti-semitic to a Christian. If a group has never been oppressed or discriminated against in history, prejudice and unkindness doesn’t carry the same weight and trauma.
If you are feeling attacked or defensive after reading this. I have news for you. You might be racist – my professional diagnosis. All I can do for you is tell you now and forever it is not acceptable anymore. We won’t accept it anymore.
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g n i d Fin e n i l e h t ard
Hannah Shepp
kins
er Sixth, Haw
novan - Low and Louise Do
W HE N I S CULTUR A L SI G NI F I C A NCE N O L O N G E R SUF F I CI E NT J UST I F I C AT I O N RE G A R D I NG WO M E N ’ S HUMA N RI G H T S I NF R I NG E ME NTS? A RE CULTURE A N D HUMA N RI G H T S LAW F UNDA ME NTA L LY I N O PPO SI T I O N? The argument of cultural relativism (not judging another culture by the standards of one’s own) is frequently used to justify the non-application of Human Rights in certain countries. To what extent, however, is this argument being used as an excuse by societies who continuously abuse the rights of their people? On the flip side, is the global implementation of internationally agreed upon Human Rights laws to blame for cultural marginalisation, suppression or even eradication? We in this article are addressing these questions, using examples from across the globe to try and weigh up the balance between cultural relativism and human rights infringement.
