As a 20-year-old woman, I would have never expected myself to identify with a man suffering from prostate cancer. Yet, it is not difficult to draw a strong parallel between these two roles.
One common approach to managing prostate cancer is called "watchful waiting." The premise is that since prostate cancer develops slowly, monitoring its progression without action allows the patient time to consider different treatments. Older patients can even die of non-cancer-related causes during this period of time. Yet, imagine how unsettling it must be for these patients to sedentarily contemplate their options while cancer spreads throughout their bodies.
Now take the word "cancer" out and put the word "hatred" in.
Welcome to Ball State University.
I continuously sit, day after day, watching our campus become an apathetic cesspool of untapped knowledge and talent. We watch hatred and discrimination grow from our personal biases and spill out unto others in the form of rude and violent actions. Still, we sit in a state of "watchful waiting," in fear of criticism.
Actions aimed to stop discrimination - such as the Stop Hate Campaign and awareness rallies held at the Scramble Light - have received little or negative reception, rather than recognition for the students' attempts, however feeble they might be.
Rather than motivating others to step up with their ideas for promoting equality, the judgment placed on these efforts has discouraged students from truly taking action.
The problem lies in the ideas of people like Ryan Stemen in his Web Feedback printed in the April 11 issue of the Daily News. Like many others, Stemen is awaiting a tragedy in order to stand up and shake his fist at injustice. But what if it was you who was the victim of a hate crime? Should I wait to stand up for your rights, my rights and everyone's rights until you are harmed? I have a hard time believing you would criticize anti-hatred efforts in this context.
We are a cancer-ridden campus: This cancer-like apathy creeps through the streets in the form of racist jokes, sexist comments and ethnocentric beliefs. All people have the right to equal treatment, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity. I challenge this campus to not only change its overt actions in order to embrace diversity but also to look deep within and combat unfounded prejudices we have bought into all our lives.
Push further. Take action. Risk criticism from the majority in order to change one person's life for the better.
Stop sitting in a state of "watchful waiting." It's time to pick a treatment.
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