SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT


Jason Trask

Photo of Jason Trask


Jason Trask is an award-winning staff writer for the SMP.
He spent last year traveling throughout Russia. He currently
is full-time geology major at GHC, who enjoys romantic dinners
and long walks on the beach.




The other day I was at one of the establishments on Broad Street. As I sat there enjoying the local culture and depth of all things Rome, I realized that though there is a unique and flavorful cultural aspect to Rome there is also a certain ignorant shallowness� a certain set of beliefs that have seemingly been perpetuated through the generations.

This is perhaps the remnant of the Southern colonial paradigm, or perhaps such ignorance is not bred from time, but from just plain ignorant prejudice.

Let me clarify. As I sat there I became aware of a conversation being held within earshot. The basic premise of this conversation was that if people are going to come to this country they should speak English upon arrival. There should be a second sentence here with further details of this person�s point of view, but sadly this person apparently has never thought out this retarded line of thought beyond this point.

I have traveled overseas extensively, and everywhere I have gone the one nationality of people the most incapable of making themselves welcome in any given country is American. How asinine that, back home, this same group of people is at times prejudiced towards foreigners.

We share our community with people of many different and unique nationalities who come from some of the most beautiful and vibrant cultures in the world. Their reasons for coming here vary widely, but most come to seek a better quality of life than the one they were born to.

Whatever happened to Southern hospitality? Have some of us forgotten that this country was founded on the belief that all men are created equal?

Perhaps the next time you begin to spout off some ignorant racist prejudiced crap, you will instead step back and remember that your ancestors too were once very likely new arrivals.