Indifference to Oppression is the Same as Compliance

I have a feeling that if anyone from my program reads this, it’s going to make me very unpopular. But, honestly it doesn’t even matter. I am tired of keeping quiet to keep the peace. Sometimes you have to stand up and challenge the society we’re in to make any real change.

We live in a fucked up world and the problems that exist continue due to indifference and selfishness. People like to say that the younger generation is better and more openminded than the past, but I think this is far from the truth.

The reason that horrible atrocities such as slavery exist, and continue to do so to this very day, are because people are so concerned with their own lives that they refuse to even consider how their actions may impact others.

I am in Cape Town, South Africa for six weeks because I truly think it’s important to learn about the history of slavery and Apartheid that were only given a few pages in our textbooks during 12 years of a formal education system. I am here to learn about the people whose very histories, cultures, and voices were stolen from them. The people who had to change their names and neglect important parts of their identity to stay alive.

Yet, it seems as though a cute bikini picture on the beach is the priority for many people on this program. Nice weather and surfing are more important than educating one’s self on the dehumanization of people of color that has existed for centuries.

Where do we go from here? Why do people not care? Do people only care about issues that impact them directly?

There is no way the world is going to be different from the past if we only bask in our own privilege and callousness. There is no way that equality will ever exist if people continue to be compliant in the very systems that perpetuate inequality.

It doesn’t matter if you find history boring. That doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s important to learn. The reason that the problems that have existed for hundreds of years are still around is because people don’t value their importance.

I love to take a nice instragram picture as much as the next person, but there’s a time and a place for that. Traveling to a new place is more than just going on fun excursions and looking cute. It’s about understanding the culture you’re in. It’s about understanding your place in the world. It’s about talking to locals and learning their stories. Fine, yeah, go out and party. Have fun. But, if the only reason you’re here is to do that, then you could have just stayed at home.