The Minaret is dedicated to its role as a facilitator for discussion around campus. Recently, we have been made aware that several members of the campus community felt offended by a recent commentary addressing racial stereotypes. Though the article’s subject matter is of crucial importance in today’s society, the author chose to address these matters in a satirical way. This may have led to some degree of misunderstanding. However, The Minaret stands behind Alex Davis’ original intention to confront and deconstruct stereotypes.
Throughout history, many revolutionary ideas have provoked popular sentiment and caused offense. When thinkers first began to suggest that the world was round rather than flat, many people were offended. Those who are passionate about civil rights have often offended those who were comfortable with the status quo or merely naive about the gravity of the situation. However, after a long period of discussion, many challenges and a long series of hard won victories, offensive ideas are often the most revolutionary. Where equal rights and women’s suffrage were once unthinkable, we now cannot imagine life without them.
In today’s society, when we encounter something offensive, we should be prepared to discuss it rationally and reasonably. It is important to foster understanding and debate among concerned people with diverse viewpoints. If those who are offended remain silent or assume that their understanding of the issue is complete without engaging with those with differing opinions, no progress can be made. This is not an endorsement of radicalism but a call to reason.
Before this article was published, the discussion of race at the University of Tampa, which purports to be a diverse and inclusive environment, had become stagnant in many ways. It is up to the student body to decide whether this will be used an opportunity to draw the issue out of the shadows and into the light of debate. The other option is for anger and misunderstandings to continue to simmer beneath the surface. The Minaret encourages all members of the campus community to join in discussion; we offer the opportunity for everyone to have a voice, with letters to the editor, guest editorials and comments on our online forum.
When investigating the concentration camp at Buchenwald, the famous reporter Edward R. Murrow was confronted with an audience who did not understand, did not believe that Nazi concentration camps were a fact, responsible for countless deaths. “I pray you to believe what I have said about Buchenwald,” he said after a tour there. “I reported what I saw and heard, but only part of it. For most of it, I have no words. If I have offended you by this rather mild account of Buchenwald,” he finished, “I am not in the least bit sorry.”
The Minaret empathizes with the plight of our campus community in confronting the important issues of our day. However, in facing these issues frankly and squarely, we are not in the least bit sorry. It is up to each of us to choose our path and take the next step. The spirit of understanding can join us together, or raw anger and misunderstanding can tear us apart.