I both agree and disagree with Prager’s ideas for this high school. Sure, it seems racist and otherwise prejudice, but in a way it does make some sense. Don’t get me wrong, I am an open-minded and accepting person regardless of race, religious beliefs, etc. I’m not some propaganda eating ‘patriot’ of America, but we are Americans in this country and in these schools. Prager suggests abolishing clubs and other extra-curriculars which focus on race and religion, which might be pushing it but could be tweaked to make actual sense and reduce prejudice and racism. He does push some of his ideas to extremes, but he also makes a point regarding the idea of everyone accepting each other based on merit and character rather than ethnicity and beliefs.
If everyone in a school, or even the country, regarded themselves as American, would that not reduce the amount of prejudice and racism present? When one calls themselves an African-American, does it not immediately divide them from other Americans? If it was possible to break away from these terms which ultimately divide each other into categorical groups, there would be nothing to hold against each other. It is no doubt that the United States has had a long and violent history regarding racism and prejudice, especially when compared with other countries. I have never heard of an African-Englishman, or a Chinese-Frenchman, which gives the idea that the sense of unity and tolerance in other countries highly outweighs the same values in our own country. If we could break down these hypothetical barriers and unify as Americans rather than Chinese-Americans, German-Americans, African-Americans, etc, etc, it would no doubt bring us together in a way never seen before in this country.
I’m not saying we could totally disregard each other’s heritage and traditions, but instead let them be a personal affair. I know people will join together with a common cause or characteristic, and that’s perfectly fine. But yet you must still take into consideration the country in which you live, ITS rich heritage and tradition, and make them also a personal affair and integral part of your life too. You need not throw away your individuality, but instead combine it with other’s individuality and use it to create a stronger sense of nationalism and pride in the United States, but also in schools.
Can’t we forget all about what divides here at this school and become Laney Bucs, proud and loud, making us a stronger and more unified school?
I thought you made some very valid points i liked how you thought we should respect peoples heritage but also that of america, i also believe that not profiling people by where they come from would help. I also believe that people that share a similar culture deserve to share those ideas with the people that come from a similar background. Also uniting as laney bucs and putting these differences will only make our school a better place
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your comment i have a different outlook on the speech. If prager would have worded his speech like your comment then their probably wouldn't be much controversy. Could we not also be unified at times but when necessary express ones individualism? But Prager fails to realize that by ending activities that commemorate different ethnicities he is actually depriving the students of their chance to come together as americans. Before people recognize them selves am americans they have to acknowledge their background so they can get a sense of who they are and prager isn't providing them a oppotunity to do that. But in all, i completely agree with you!
ReplyDeleteGood job Sexy!
I agree with what you are saying. I completely agree that others heritage and traditions should not be completely eliminated. And that it should be optional whether or not people learn about other cultures. I also agree with what you said about how there are different "types" of Americans. If everyone was just American then there would not be as much division throughout.
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