What a thought was going to be a dicussion on the EM front page turned out to become something else. When I decided to throw fuel into the fire, it ended up spiraling a bit out of control. So here I am writting this to outline my opinion and make some ammends.

So let's begin with some misconceptions and a little backstory...

Me & Racism

So I understand if you think I'm this white skinny nerd who's never dealt with racism before based on my opinion (if you've seen it.). However that's furthest from the truth. I'm hispanic, and have dealt with racism throughout my entire life, from a variety of races. When I was in school I would have the white kids push me around and ask me when I was going to "bomb the school" alluding my skin color to that of a terrorist. Black kids would ask me where my suicide bomb vest is, and Asian kids would play terrorist-like music around me.

Just a side note for this portion as well, I'm adopted, and one thing that stands out in my mind is an adult who asked my mother (a white woman): "Why the hell would you adopt a kid like that?". I've been attacked racially from people of all sexes, ages, and races.

How I dealt with it

Now you may be wondering why my opinion is like it is if I've experience this first hand. It's because I realized that those who would make these comments thrived on my reactions to them. When I began ignoring others, or even laughing at their face when they made those kinds of comments, I found that they slowly began doing it less and less. I was no longer giving them power over me and my reactions, and when they realized I wouldn't give them their reactions, they quit, and overtime I found that I was beginning to no longer find any offense in those actions by others.

This is why my opinion on how to give these words less power is to stand up to it. Don't give those who use derogatory words power over you by giving them the reaction they want. Let them know that those words hold no strength over you by calling them pathetic, shaking your head, and walking away.

Derogatory Words: Is it ever okay?

However, this opinion of mine does mean I am defending those who use racist / sexist / homophobic words. Anyone who does use these kinds of words is a pathetic person, and a pathetic person does not deserve the reactions from people that they desire from using these words and terms.

I remember seeing an image a couple years back of a man who did something sexist at a feminist ralley, and was swarmed and attacked by those attending at the time. He held the smuggest look on his face as he was able to obtain the reaction he wanted.

Those who do such things care only about your reaction and nothing else. Do not give them what they want.

Apologies

I understand that heated discussion on the front page made a few people angry. I truly apologize to any who were offended or upset by my words and later actions in continuing to throwing fuel into the fire. It was not my intent to anger anyone originally, but I got out of hand with it and ended up making posts which were distasteful.

Last Words

If anyone truly does wish to discuss Racism / Sexism / Homophobia / Bigotry / etc in depth with me, I will gladly do so with you in a more dialect oriented way. I do not wish to mute others opinions on the matter of fact, and feel as though if I learn what others think in a non-heated discussion, it may help me to understand the struggles others have gone through and how they have coped.

Thank you. ~Songin