Staff Editorial
At this point, you’ve most likely known some of the people in your classes for over 10 years. You can recall the first time you met your best friend along with a plethora of other shared memories, but for others you only have a few conversations and a few moments that shape other peers in your mind.
Although it may be cliche, it is a new school year. A new time for you to make new memories, learn more and rethink previous assumptions. It can also be a time to realize that we are more responsible for our words and their consequences.
When one hears hurtful comments, their first instinct may be to simply attribute it to the ignorance of their peers. They may think ‘hurtful words don’t mean anything.’ or ‘that’s just high school.’ Hurtful words don’t mean anything. But it is this kind of attitude that attributes to the hurtful accusations, names, or insults continuing on.
We’ve all done it. There are people you don’t even know and yet stories or bias have set their fate in your head. But as we become more responsible and aware of how impactful something hurtful can be, we can start defending ourselves and others even against small fits of rage.
In “Not So Microscopic,” many students were on the receiving end of microaggressions. Whether it is racially charged, biased or stereotypical, those students only want to open up a conversation in which others could realize how even minor incidents can have effects that add up over time.
So next time, if someone says something insulting, then tell them it’s not okay.
