Original Publication Information:
Suedomsa the Magazine October 1997 Volume
One, Issue Three
From Suedomsa "Introduction" Issue 2
We all have the right to better our situations, I do believe, but I was
also given great training by my parents and my community on how I can
better myself. I have the preparation so I don't have to live homeless,
or without an education or without a job. What do we do with all the
people who lack the training and preparation? Ostensibly, the answer is
education. But a wise teacher told me that education is not medicine for
everything. If we don't educate them, are there other alternatives?
Plus, what kind of education is really called for here? Job training?
College degree?
Rebuttal by Andrew Vargo
Have you heard of community activism? There are things in Vegas to get
involved in, if you realize it or not. Personally, I think you kind of
have to pick a cause. What offends you more? Racial inequality, or
gender. Hate the discrimination against homosexuals? The university is a
good place to start because there are many clubs that address these
issues. Also, by talking to people on campus (profs?) you can get a
better idea of what is going on and what you can get involved in.
As far as the kind of education, I think the best education we could give
would be to teach people how to think critically. I don't think the
answer is necessarily college or job training. It could be started young,
too. With critical thinking, people could see the injustices around them
and learn how to make their own judgement calls about the crap that
Corporate America is feeding them.
I believe that critical thinking must be one of the first steps to
emancipate humanity. If we simply educate people not to be racist,
sexist, or whatever, are we really better than the system that encourages
people to be that way? I dream of a world where people CHOOSE not to be
affected by racist, et al. propaganda.
Granted, in the mean time, I'm not going to stop speaking to those I come
in contact with about "the issues", but I can hope.
A last note, an easy way to work for change, I think, is to police the
people around you. If you let someone get away with remarks that are
solely based on racism...then you are enabling them. If you question them
you are saying, "Such attitudes are not acceptable, I will not tolerate it
from you." I believe that if enough people did this, the people who made
the remarks would find that THEY are now the outcasts of society.
Fortunately for them, it wouldn't take rewriting most of the nations' laws
to have them gain acceptance and equality.
