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I Want My Kids to Know That Fear Is No Excuse for Racism
Recently, a troubling incident occurred on a flight bound for Chicago. A woman, alarmed by a fellow passenger of Middle Eastern descent watching a news report on his phone, panicked and rushed to inform the crew about what she considered “suspicious behavior.” This led to the plane returning to the gate, and several passengers, including the man in question, were escorted off the flight without any charges being filed.
Sgt. Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for the local transportation authority, explained that no criminal activity was found, and the decision to return was made out of an abundance of caution. The original witness commented on social media that she understood the woman’s fear, given the current global climate surrounding terrorism. However, her assertion that the same protocol would have been enacted regardless of the man’s ethnicity is fundamentally flawed.
Let’s be real: the woman’s actions, driven by fear of the Middle Eastern man, caused significant disruption. It raises the question—why do we allow fear to dictate our actions, especially when it leads to unjust treatment of others?
The eyewitness concluded her post by stating she preferred living in a society that is overprotective, even at the cost of profiling certain individuals. But those aren’t the only options we have. Racial profiling doesn’t enhance our safety. If it did, we would be living in fear of white men, who statistically commit more mass shootings than any other group. Yet we don’t see that same level of anxiety directed toward them. This fear of those who are different is not only irrational; it’s dangerous.
While it’s natural to feel anxious in a world filled with news of violence and terror, I refuse to instill that fear in my children. I want them to understand that judging others based on the color of their skin, the language they speak, or their cultural background is not justifiable. It leads to ignorance and division.
We are now witnessing a troubling trend of closing our borders to refugees—many of whom are vulnerable women and children—while racism is being normalized in online discussions. This echoes past injustices, like the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, which stemmed from unfounded fears rather than actual threats.
I want my children to learn that fear cannot excuse racism. When they are old enough to grasp this lesson, I’ll show them various social media posts that reflect misguided fears and explain why such thoughts are wrong.
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Summary
Fear should not dictate our perceptions of others, nor should it justify racism. It’s essential to teach our children the importance of looking beyond appearances and understanding that fear can lead to harmful stereotypes and actions. Let’s encourage a society where we embrace differences rather than fear them.