What should we do when we encounter hateful speech and actions like this? Is it permissible for us to not react when it "wasn't meant that way?" Or is any action like this one worthy of a reaction because it perpetuates a mentality of hate and intolerance even if it is not "meant that way" by the authors? I believe in the latter, that we should react and fight against hateful speech regardless of how "small" it may seem, because taking it as a joke legitimizes this ignorant comment as funny. It is not funny and should not be tolerated whether or not it was meant as an act of hostility towards the gay community. It is hurtful and not welcome on Duke's campus, and so we must react and we have reacted.We Don't Tolerate Hate, Homophobia, Bigotry, Ignorance, Oppression... These words only serve to call us to action against the people who perpetrate these crimes of intolerance.
"michael"
Doesn't a word only have as much power as you give it? Can't we choose to not be "hurt" by it?
ReplyDeleteI'll pick and choose my battles. I think it's smarter to distinguish an idiot choosing to spray paint "FA" on a bench because dick, ass, shit, etc. don't end in G, from http://www.godhatesfags.com/.
Shirley Phelps-Roper said this when the Westboro Baptist Church (the link above) protested at Duke's Campus a few years ago:
ReplyDelete“They are not gay. So we’re not going to call them gay. Fag is really kind of eloquent Bible metaphor,” she said. “Natural wood faggots fuel nature’s fire, just like these Sodomites, or fags, fuel the wrath of God—they fuel the fires of Hell.”
I am fighting Phelps by telling Duke students that this word is not acceptable to use, even in jest. That way, when they do hear it used in a purposefully offensive (rather than "idiotic") context, they will know it is not appropriate.
I can only do so much from Duke University. I don't have the time or money to fight the Westboro Baptist Church where they live, but I can fight them when they come here and when the hate they incite is made present on our campus. Let us make Duke a safe and welcoming place for all students by showing that we don't tolerate even the ignorant use of hate language.
"michael"
I was very, very mad when I saw Janie's email in class today. I really shouldn't have read it because I couldn't even concentrate after that. I don't agree with picking and choosing what to be offended at. If you let this "funny kid" get away with it now, how do we know he won't be on his way to support the Westboro Baptist Church? How do we know this is a silly little joke?
ReplyDeleteThey took the time and effort to get that spray can and think of Fag-Spot. Do you think of fag every time you see the letter g? Is it a part of our daily lives to say "G-spot? More like fag-spot!" No. Is this going to be the new fad after "so gay" and "no homo" and "tranny mess" then? Don't we have enough derogatory language around us? We need to react and let Duke know that this is not tolerable.
But hey if we're going to tolerate this, I'll start by designating my room as a fag-spot.
"Let us make Duke a safe and welcoming place for all students by showing that we don't tolerate even the ignorant use of hate language"
ReplyDeleteIs a really good point, you're right.
But I want to make it clear that I'm not suggesting that this kid is "funny", or that he should get away with it. I'm saying that contextually, I take much much more offense to other uses of the word. I won't let a kid with a spray can have that kind of power over me.
I think someone else pointed this out in another blog post, but look at it this way: if let's say there was the letter "r" there instead of "g", do you think someone would have spray painted "nigger"? I'm neither American nor a native English speaker, and even I hesitated before typing out the word. Do you see anyone hesitating over fag? Do you hear anyone calling it "the f word"? I think the important point here is the fact that LGBTQ issues are not seen as significant as let's say race issues, and it's considered not "that bad" to joke about them and use derogatory words relating to the LGBTQ. You don't have to get upset over a kid with a spray can, you just need to recognize the larger issue at hand. At least that's how I see it, I don't know if you or others will necessarily agree.
ReplyDeleteI hope I'm not coming off hostile, it can be difficult to arrange the tone online :)