What we have in common

When I was much younger, I thought Catholic university students were all alike. I stereotyped them as young, white, Catholic, middle-class or wealthy, straight, and backed by generations of college graduates.

As we see at Madonna, that stereotype doesn't hold. We're young, old, white, black, Asian, South American, European, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, or Agnostic. We come from all socioeconomic levels, and some of us are members of the LGBTQ community. This presidential election, we didn't all vote for the same candidate.

We're such an unlikely mix here, so what pulls us together? I hope it's our humanistic, Franciscan values, values that extend far beyond whichever theology one subscribes to (or doesn't). They include 1) respect for the dignity of each person, 2) peace and justice, 3) reverence for creation, and 4) education for truth and service. I'd like to focus on the first value listed.

It's essential to focus on the dignity of each person, especially now. As of November 18, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported 867 hate incidents since the presidential election (Miller & Werner Winslow, 2016). These attacks have targeted Muslims, Hispanics, Jews, blacks, Asians, individuals with disabilities, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community. Racists and xenophobes are slithering out from under their rocks, erroneously believing that anyone who isn't exactly like them isn't a "real American." White nationalist groups like the Ku Klux Klan are emboldened, trying to revive myths of racial superiority.

As a values-driven community, we need to stand up to the bullies. When we hear racial/ethnic/religious slurs, we need to stop them without hesitation. If we see someone being harassed, we need to intervene or call someone who will (the number for Public Safety is 734-432-5442). 

And yes, this is our business. Irish political philosopher Edmund Burke wrote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men [and women] to do nothing.” If we live our values, "doing nothing" in these circumstances is not an option.

For all our differences--and they are many--surely we can agree that fear and intimidation are not humanistic values. Let's keep the poisons of racism, xenophobia, harassment and debasement out of our discourse and out of our Madonna community. 

If we stand for anything, let's stand for each other.

To report a hate incident to the Southern Poverty Law Center, fill out this form: https://www.splcenter.org/reporthate

-- Frances E. FitzGerald, Editor


Reference

Miller, C., & Werner-Winslow, A. (2016). Ten days after: Harassment and intimidation 10 days after the election. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved from https://www.splcenter.org/20161129/ten-days-after-harassment-and-intimidation-aftermath-election