At school, I'm sitting in my counselor's office just being my usual self. Suddenly, my friend Johnny Trans* comes in to talk about how the previous night had gone for him. Johnny and I have a lot in common; sense of humor, sense of fashion, and most importantly, lack of patience for ignorance. I know you're probably wondering why I'm even emphasizing our mutual lack of patience. Just sit back and read this story to find out.
The night before my encounter with Johnny at the office, he and his mother are listening to the radio, in which the host makes a statement about how all immigrants that did not come from Europe should be deported back to their native country. He proceeded to ridicule undocumented immigrants, primarily those who are Latinx, and expressed how he believed that such immigrants are nothing but clutter to this nation.
Another thing that Johnny and I have in common is that we don't stay quiet. In this case, his mother decided to pick up the phone and call the radio station, using a pseudonym. Basically called him a jackass on live radio and told him that European immigrants are no different from others and that if it weren't for the immigrants that inhibit America, it would not be the nation that it is. The two proceeded to go back and forth until the show host hung up on Johnny's mom and played it off as if she hung up.
Of course Johnny's family heard what was going on air and they were not going to let that settle the dispute. His aunt called back and told him off for hanging up on Johnny's mom in the middle of the call. He kept saying that he did not hang up on her and kept trying to shut her down, thus hanging up on her yet again. While others called to back up Johnny's mom, the show host proceeded with his ignorance and ridicule the matter.
Later on, he changed the subject to a man admitting that he had been raped and, making matters worse, laughed at the story. He said that men do not get raped because "all men are supposed to enjoy sex." If you though that I was pissed at the immigration session, you wouldn't want to know my initial reaction about the rape story.
To make my point, I'm all one for freedom of speech as long as the speaker is not a complete jerk to the minority, the victims, or anyone in general. To say that immigrants are clutter and rape victims being men is absolutely the most cruel and insensitive remarks anyone could say, especially with everything that is going on in America today.
As of 2017, according to the U.S. census report, there are about 327 million people in the country while there are about 43.3 million undocumented immigrants(via Center of American Progress). Those 43.3 million individuals who have left their homes came to America in search of a better life. In a land where we claim to welcome everyone from all over the globe, this radio personnel is one of many who support the Trump administration as well as initiate hate and anger over the media.
While there is an average of 321,500 victims of rape and sexual assault in the U.S., 33% of those victims are men(via RAINN). The definition of rape is the force of sexual intercourse or any form of sexual penetration on one who does not give consent. In other words, no means NO. Whether you are a male, female, human, animal, or any living organism, no still means no. Sadly the response isn't always taken into consideration.
For years, America has had the issue of hate throughout the nation and people being harmed, but for some reason we fall into a cycle where history repeats itself. If you thought that hate ended when racial inequality was "abolished," you haven't been paying close attention to the news. As for the ignorance of the man who doesn't deserve an occupation as a radio personnel, this country still faces hate crimes, remarks, and even more ignorance because citizens can't learn how to live with each other without calling them clutter or ridiculing them for being harassed.
If we as a nation want to see change, we cannot allow such behavior take over the media where our children have access to it and lend a hand to those who have been victimized by the social trolls we encounter all over. Don't discriminate against those who wish to lead a better life. And don't embarrass those who have been hurt because of their gender. America, stop the nonsense!
If your are a loved one has fallen a victim of rape or sexual assault, contact 1-800-656-HOPE(4673
*: Nessiboo changes the names of those who do not wish to share their true identity or do not share the identity at all.