Hate speech takes focus
.jpg "Lacee Solis")
This past weekend students and members from the Fresno community united for a similar cause, only this time they did not walk out, they stayed in. The group staged a study-in Friday at California State University, Fresno’s Henry Madden Library to extend the library’s hours, wanting more availability to services funded by increasing student tuition fees.
As with the walkout, critics were fast to denounce the movement as news of the event became the top story on local news stations. The Collegian’s Web site provided breaking news updates and photographs to provide readers with inside coverage as the overnight event progressed. And what seems to be a continuing trend with the online comments this semester, The Collegian became a bulletin board for hate speech.
Comments quickly veered away from the demonstration and any relevant issues at hand as derogatory references to particular ethnic groups became the focal point of the online discussion. Hispanics were marginalized, perhaps because the demonstrators chanted “si se puede,” a Spanish translation of Obama’s hope-filled campaign slogan “yes we can,” at the onset of the study-in.
While I thoroughly believe in the right of free speech and open public forums to uphold those rights, I do so with the expectation that individual’s taking part in the discussion will actually provide significant arguments to support their stance. When the only evidence one can gather for their position undermines a certain ethnic group for problems that have no correlation with the relevant issue, it merely demonstrates ignorance on behalf of the respondent.
When did an individual’s right to freedom of speech transform into the inherent right to have reckless disregard for basic humanity? Comments varied from urging immigrants to “go back where they came from” to completely degrading the Hispanic population. What was even more disheartening was the fact that those leaving comments claimed to be fellow Fresno State students.
Education has always been said to be the path to tolerance and understanding. The more one learns about the world around them, the more apt they are to be more accepting of other’s differences. From elementary school to college, we are taught over and over again about the atrocious examples that were a direct result of discrimination and racism throughout history as a means to prevent such behavior from repeating itself.
We learn about the missions of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez and other peaceful activists and how they worked diligently for acceptance of all based on the humane fact that people should be judged on their demonstrated character, not on their unchangeable and predetermined ethnic background.
Yet, if fellow college students are the ones instigating the hate speech then the notion that education helps alleviate prejudices is alarmingly not working. I can only hope that those spouting racist insults, secure behind the anonymity of their monitor and keyboard, are not actual Fresno State students, just fictitiously claiming to be.
While many of the hateful comments have been taken off The Collegian’s Web site, the very fact that people consciously wrote such remarks pertaining to a particular ethnic group shows that, despite the progress our society has made to rid its nation of debilitating discrimination, we still have work ahead of us until we can truly claim to be a nation of solidarity.
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Its about time someone brings up the race issue….im tired of everyone pretending like there is no racism on this campus when it is evident. The deeper issue is what can students do to hold collegian accountable in making sure the posts are restricted or otherwise, a racist poster can be identified.
Introduce message boards with necessary CSU email login, the same way the CVIP email and library does. Then you will really shut up the anonymous racists and create better discussion on here.
Its about time someone brings up the race issue….im tired of everyone pretending like there is no racism on this campus when it is evident. The deeper issue is what can students do to hold collegian accountable in making sure the posts are restricted or otherwise, a racist poster can be identified.
Introduce message boards with necessary CSU email login, the same way the CVIP email and library does. Then you will really shut up the anonymous racists and create better discussion on here.
Ok…..then where why were the chants of ‘si se puede’ necessary if the protesters were out to back the desires, wants, and needs of ALL students?
The protest seems to have brought race into the issue on its own.
Ok…..then where why were the chants of ‘si se puede’ necessary if the protesters were out to back the desires, wants, and needs of ALL students?
The protest seems to have brought race into the issue on its own.
Hispanics were marginalized? Do you know have the numbers and evidence to support that claim, little lady? Do you realize how OVERrepresented Hispanic students are on the CSU Fresno campus? Do you realize the number of Hispanic students who are full or partial fee-paying students is substantially lower than the number of non-Latino students? Why do those who fail to pay into the system (and are thereby directly result in the CSU being unable to maintain service levels) march in to the library, let their demands be known, and chant something as outrageous as ‘si se puede.’
Hispanics were marginalized? Do you know have the numbers and evidence to support that claim, little lady? Do you realize how OVERrepresented Hispanic students are on the CSU Fresno campus? Do you realize the number of Hispanic students who are full or partial fee-paying students is substantially lower than the number of non-Latino students? Why do those who fail to pay into the system (and are thereby directly result in the CSU being unable to maintain service levels) march in to the library, let their demands be known, and chant something as outrageous as ‘si se puede.’
To Yukmouth: “Si se puede” just means “yes we can.” It has no other connotation.
To Yukmouth: “Si se puede” just means “yes we can.” It has no other connotation.
At Lacee: your editorial is nonsense – claims of ‘hate speech’ and ‘racism’ are easy to make. Truth is that they are used here to divert attention from the facts that protesters themselves infused matters of race into an inherently non-racial matter. What does the plight of the farmworker have to do with extended library hours?
At Lacee: your editorial is nonsense – claims of ‘hate speech’ and ‘racism’ are easy to make. Truth is that they are used here to divert attention from the facts that protesters themselves infused matters of race into an inherently non-racial matter. What does the plight of the farmworker have to do with extended library hours?
YUKMOUTH:
YOU brought race into the whole issue based on your comment……just because someone says something in a specific language, doesnt mean anything in its relation to a movement which you assume is based on one specific ethnicity. Your prejudice and bias clearly shows. You assume that a movement must be in “English” in order for it to be a movement that speaks for all students. You seperate yourself from the “ALL” because you want it to be in the langauge you deem necessary to fit yourself only. By the way, where the heck do you gt the idea they were chanting “si se puede”
YUKMOUTH:
YOU brought race into the whole issue based on your comment……just because someone says something in a specific language, doesnt mean anything in its relation to a movement which you assume is based on one specific ethnicity. Your prejudice and bias clearly shows. You assume that a movement must be in “English” in order for it to be a movement that speaks for all students. You seperate yourself from the “ALL” because you want it to be in the langauge you deem necessary to fit yourself only. By the way, where the heck do you gt the idea they were chanting “si se puede”
Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think she meant that the protest was were the “hate speech” and “racism” occurred but on the comments sections of The Collegian (which as she said, a lot it has been removed from the site since then) in response to the articles covering this.
I agree that you should be required to log-in with your Fresno State account before posting.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think she meant that the protest was were the “hate speech” and “racism” occurred but on the comments sections of The Collegian (which as she said, a lot it has been removed from the site since then) in response to the articles covering this.
I agree that you should be required to log-in with your Fresno State account before posting.
WEll David DM, you are right, it is all about the hate speech comments that were posted….somehow YUKMOUTH has taken it to the library study-in with the “si se puede” comments. Totally two different things.
WEll David DM, you are right, it is all about the hate speech comments that were posted….somehow YUKMOUTH has taken it to the library study-in with the “si se puede” comments. Totally two different things.
Those who speak a foreign language, or roll their R’s, when they don’t have to, tell me they don’t think too highly of the USofA, or others here. I take offence, and they should understand that and then be more respectful to this country and it’s citizenship.
Those who speak a foreign language, or roll their R’s, when they don’t have to, tell me they don’t think too highly of the USofA, or others here. I take offence, and they should understand that and then be more respectful to this country and it’s citizenship.
”uh-uh……….:”
Focus on the topic—-what did yukmouth say that was racist?
”uh-uh……….:”
Focus on the topic—-what did yukmouth say that was racist?
AND they WERE chanting ‘si se puede’ at the protest—–which has no relationship to library hours whatsoever
AND they WERE chanting ‘si se puede’ at the protest—–which has no relationship to library hours whatsoever
At the editorial columnist, Lacee Solis—–Don’t even try to equate King and Ghandi to this overnight sit-in or schools services. Civil rights and the hours libraries are incomparable.
Have you ever heard of internet trolls? Very plausible that Latino students are trying to get fellow Latinos riled up by posting ‘go back to Mexico’ comments on their own—-but the Collegian’s legitimacy drops when it tries to mediate the discourse by deleting those supposed comments.
At the editorial columnist, Lacee Solis—–Don’t even try to equate King and Ghandi to this overnight sit-in or schools services. Civil rights and the hours libraries are incomparable.
Have you ever heard of internet trolls? Very plausible that Latino students are trying to get fellow Latinos riled up by posting ‘go back to Mexico’ comments on their own—-but the Collegian’s legitimacy drops when it tries to mediate the discourse by deleting those supposed comments.
It is not only “Latino” students that are “getting riled up” if that is their goal. Whoever it is, regardless of their goals etcetera, needs to stop. Hate speech, racism and prejudice is not acceptable in any way, shape or form for any reason.
It is not only “Latino” students that are “getting riled up” if that is their goal. Whoever it is, regardless of their goals etcetera, needs to stop. Hate speech, racism and prejudice is not acceptable in any way, shape or form for any reason.
At Bulldog lifer:
Dont you mean to say “library’s hours” not “hours libraries” and also dont you mean “library’s” as in the Henry Madden Library, not “libraries” as in multiple libraries?
You seriously need the Library,
First you got the words backwards, then second you fouled up using the word libraries……..oh my gosh im glad these students are asking for more hours at the library cause you certainly aren’t spending enough time in there.
At Bulldog lifer:
Dont you mean to say “library’s hours” not “hours libraries” and also dont you mean “library’s” as in the Henry Madden Library, not “libraries” as in multiple libraries?
You seriously need the Library,
First you got the words backwards, then second you fouled up using the word libraries……..oh my gosh im glad these students are asking for more hours at the library cause you certainly aren’t spending enough time in there.
I think many of us who are commenting are missing the bigger picture. I was not present at the sit in but from what I understand is that some people were being hurtful towards the way a group of concerned students were protesting.
I think we should just flat out support those students because they are fighting for a positive change that will help ALL OF US!
Would any one make a foul comment if those students were all white and chanting in German, or any other language?
In the end, these students are fighting for us all. Why would any one put them down? Why is it such a big deal to some that they chanted in Spanish? This whole issue was very unnecessary.
I think many of us who are commenting are missing the bigger picture. I was not present at the sit in but from what I understand is that some people were being hurtful towards the way a group of concerned students were protesting.
I think we should just flat out support those students because they are fighting for a positive change that will help ALL OF US!
Would any one make a foul comment if those students were all white and chanting in German, or any other language?
In the end, these students are fighting for us all. Why would any one put them down? Why is it such a big deal to some that they chanted in Spanish? This whole issue was very unnecessary.
I can’t imagine why a group of Germans, or for that matter most any other immigrant group, would rather chant in their German in an english speaking country – when they know how to speak English. It’s a choice they made.
Can anyone give me a good answer why these folks were speaking in spanish instead of english? I don’t get it.
I can’t imagine why a group of Germans, or for that matter most any other immigrant group, would rather chant in their German in an english speaking country – when they know how to speak English. It’s a choice they made.
Can anyone give me a good answer why these folks were speaking in spanish instead of english? I don’t get it.
”uh-uh……….:”———you’re avoiding the question that was posed to you earlier—-
”uh-uh……….:‗——you’re avoiding the question that was posed to you earlier—-
BIG PICTURE! It’s the group that initiates such protest—–their affiliation is of concern to many mainstream students—-many in question are members from the very racist and extreme left-wing MeChA org. They promote Aztlan and reconquista as a policy mindset —- many hope to reclaim California, force the US to adopt a policy of amnesty and then open her borders, and finally, through a total takeover of US governance, expel whites to other states—-research it!!!!
BIG PICTURE! It’s the group that initiates such protest—–their affiliation is of concern to many mainstream students—-many in question are members from the very racist and extreme left-wing MeChA org. They promote Aztlan and reconquista as a policy mindset —- many hope to reclaim California, force the US to adopt a policy of amnesty and then open her borders, and finally, through a total takeover of US governance, expel whites to other states—-research it!!!!
In America you can speak any language you want to speak. English is not the official language. Just because you are too lazy or stubborn to learn another language does not mean that people who speak more than one have to dumb themselves down for you or speak English any time they speak. Damn, if this is what college educated people think and believe about this issue then this country is in for a sad future.
In America you can speak any language you want to speak. English is not the official language. Just because you are too lazy or stubborn to learn another language does not mean that people who speak more than one have to dumb themselves down for you or speak English any time they speak. Damn, if this is what college educated people think and believe about this issue then this country is in for a sad future.
Hey Again–that wouldn’t bother me at all. We’d be rid of the redneck trash that populates most of the racist/hate comments on this website!
Hey Again–that wouldn’t bother me at all. We’d be rid of the redneck trash that populates most of the racist/hate comments on this website!
AGAIN: You also need the Library you should read the threads as they begin…the posts were removed by Collegian staff……and on your second post …where do you get the notion that US is a “her?” if this country was based on matriarchy, we wouldnt be in the economic crisis we are in nor would “her” kids be miseducated, taken advantage of, starved, or would she tell other people of other lands to go home where they came from. If US was a “her’ she would open her home and share her resources the way any mother would to any other. dang you keep losing points.
AGAIN: You also need the Library you should read the threads as they begin…the posts were removed by Collegian staff……and on your second post …where do you get the notion that US is a “her?” if this country was based on matriarchy, we wouldnt be in the economic crisis we are in nor would “her” kids be miseducated, taken advantage of, starved, or would she tell other people of other lands to go home where they came from. If US was a “her’ she would open her home and share her resources the way any mother would to any other. dang you keep losing points.
A Real Alumnus, you sound pretty racist/prejudiced yourself.
A Real Alumnus, you sound pretty racist/prejudiced yourself.
dear stupid people: I asked WHY THEY CHOOSE spanish over english? I did not ask why or how they have the legal right. I also do no make a demand that everyone speaks english, nor expect it. Didn’t anyone chanting in spanish ask themselfs “why are we chanting in spanish instead of english?” Seams resonable.
I’ve never heard of anyone saying that they had to “dumb it down” to speak english to someone who dosn’t know the language, except in France where some of the French refuse to speak english because of their dislike of Americans. Maybe there is a dislike of Ameicans by those who choose to speak spanish over english?
dear stupid people: I asked WHY THEY CHOOSE spanish over english? I did not ask why or how they have the legal right. I also do no make a demand that everyone speaks english, nor expect it. Didn’t anyone chanting in spanish ask themselfs “why are we chanting in spanish instead of english?” Seams resonable.
I’ve never heard of anyone saying that they had to “dumb it down” to speak english to someone who dosn’t know the language, except in France where some of the French refuse to speak english because of their dislike of Americans. Maybe there is a dislike of Ameicans by those who choose to speak spanish over english?
‘uh-uh……….: yes, she would simply open her home and let all of those from a third world nation just move in. soon she would not be able to feed or clothe her own—–very apt comparison to the mother.
‘uh-uh……….: yes, she would simply open her home and let all of those from a third world nation just move in. soon she would not be able to feed or clothe her own—–very apt comparison to the mother.
a real alumnass—–you don’t get credit for attacking racism when your yourself make racist comments—-and for the record, minorities CAN themselves say racist things.
a real alumnass—–you don’t get credit for attacking racism when your yourself make racist comments—-and for the record, minorities CAN themselves say racist things.