How Often Do You Choose to Look the Other Way?
The older I get and the more I think about racism, sexism, agism, social injustice, poverty, the environment, and other issues we all face on a day-to-day basis, the more I believe that those who choose to tune out those problems are the biggest part of the problem. It’s the millions of nice people who simply choose to look the other way because it’s easier or more convenient that bother me the most.
It’s like people who find politics so distasteful that they don’t vote, then complain about politicians, laws, and social injustice and other problems in society. If you don’t vote, then no, you don’t live in a democracy — and you are the reason. Every time we are selfish, lazy, or simply look the other way, we become part of the problem (and I include myself in this).
Same goes for diversity — in the workplace and everywhere else. If you are not making an effort to engage with people from all walks of life, people with a different skin color, people with different religious backgrounds, people who are from different countries, people who are much older or younger, then you are part of the problem. I don’t care what color you are, how old you are, or what religion you are: racism, sexism, agism is a two-way street. We all need to make a conscious effort to avoid stereotypes, stop judging, and give our fellow humans the benefit of the doubt.
And when it comes to diversity in the workplace, the phrase "culture fit" is just a hipster euphemism for discrimination. For any company to suggest that someone might not be a good "culture fit" is blatant discrimination. That's basically a company's way of saying, "we don't believe in diversity" and getting away with it. It wasn’t that long ago that when someone was hired, they were simply hired to do a job, not to “fit in” culturally. There are other words and phrases that hint towards discrimination as well, in my opinion, words like “rock star,” “recent college grad” (pure age discrimination), “high-energy” (moms and anyone over the age of 40 need not apply), “tech savvy,” “digital native,” and the list goes on.
When it comes to the destruction of our planet, its oceans, forests and wildlife, it’s not just up to a few “tree huggers” to save the entire planet — that’s not even possible! Every single one of us has to make changes, right now, in whatever way we can. If you’re not making an effort to help in some way, then you, my dear, are part of the problem. We all scar the earth by our mere existence, therefore we all need to try to counter-act our carbon footprint, whether it’s by consuming less, not eating beef, recycling, driving electric cars, composting, using our yards to grow vegetables, or using solar power and other renewable resources. We have to change our ways and evolve, right now — all of us — no excuses!
All humans who don’t make any effort to curb their destructive ways, are indeed part the problem — there are more of us than the earth can continue to sustain. In that sense, if you’re not an environmentalist then you’re a huge part of the problem. Or as I see it: you’re either an environmentalist or a selfish, lazy jackass (please excuse my foul language, gentle readers.)
I realize I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, and most young people are far more politically and environmentally-minded than my generation was, thank goodness! I give you all credit for being vegans, recycling, not owning cars, being activists, protesting, volunteering, embracing diversity, being woke and drinking craft beer! There are so many things I see young people doing today that my generation didn’t bother with. Young people give me hope! I do believe that most young people are on the right track.
However, if you are so focused on yourself, your bank account, your job, your sex life, and you think that every serious problem in the world is someone else’s responsibility or someone else’s fault, or someone else’s problem, then you truly are self-absorbed, spineless, ignorant, and lazy! Sorry darling, but it’s self-absorbed to only care about yourself, it’s spineless to never take a stand, it’s ignorant to ignore what’s going on in the world, and it’s lazy not to take action.
Perhaps that sounds a bit harsh, but we all have to stand up for what’s right, we have to act, we have to speak for those who have no voice, we have to take responsibility for our own actions and more importantly, for our inaction, when it comes to important matters. My darlings, you must care about something other than your own reflection, and your own small problems. We must all look outside ourselves, we must look at the bigger picture, of how our actions or inaction, affects our community, our society, and our planet.
#diversity #climatechange #racism #environment #globalwarming
Rebecca Pavlik is the author of Time to Break Some Rules, Sweetie! a humorous advice book for young women. For more details and to view on Amazon click here.