Dear College Conservatives: I Don't Care About Your Tears | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Dear College Conservatives: I Don't Care About Your Tears

You are not oppressed.

153
Dear College Conservatives: I Don't Care About Your Tears
Cristian Newman / Unsplash

The idea that college conservatives are somehow the real oppressed group in the United States has been around for forever. But recently, college conservatives have collectively thrown a huge fit because they are being called racists for supporting a white supremacist (the horror!).

So I have a message for y'all: I could not care less about your tears. You are not oppressed and you are not put in danger by the current political climate. You are rightfully being called out for your opinions. But it's not at all analogous to the physical oppression marginalized people face right now because of your actions.

Because of what you've done, actual people are in danger. White supremacists and neo-Nazis are now crafting federal policy. ICE raids are breaking up families. Children are skipping school because they are terrified of deportation. Hate crimes against Muslims are on the rise. LGBTQ+ community centers are being threatened with violence. None of this is at all comparable with your fear of being called a racist.

And none of what's happening now should come as a surprise to you. You watched your candidate call Mexicans rapists and murderers, consistently call for a ban on Muslims because of their religion, claim that a federal judge was biased against him because of his Mexican heritage and brag about using his power to sexually assault women. None of this stopped you from supporting him. Even if you were cautious about him, you still determined that racism and misogyny were permissible enough.

Statistically, you are probably white, male, straight and cisgender (I know how much you hate that term so I made sure to use it). But maybe I'm wrong about that. Maybe you're one of the 52 percent of white women who voted for Trump because you care more about your white privilege than your gender. Or maybe you're one of those "Gays For Trump" white men who has internalized homophobia. In any case, though, you have privilege, quite a lot of it. And during this election, you refused to look past it.

But let's talk about your fear for a moment. You're afraid that because of who you are, people will judge you for it. Well, welcome to what marginalized people in this country have felt since the beginning.

In fact, I would say that it's good that you're afraid. I'm personally very happy that you feel ostracized, judged and unsafe. Because now, maybe you understand what you put people like us through every single day.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

653
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

414
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199409
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20395
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments