The Tunnel of Oppression

     Today at school, my friend Shelly and I went to this event on campus called the Tunnel of Oppression. It focused on topics of groups of people or just people in general that feel out of place in today's society. A couple of topics I could relate/empathize with. The topics were racial stereotyping and slurs, Veteran PTSD, Cyber Bully/texting bullying, abuse, physical disabilities, and body image issues. All of these are some serious topics that I think all too often get blown off and over looked because we are so consumed in our own lives that we forget to take a step back and realize that WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

     1. Racial Slurs and Stereotyping Groups of People
               I am sure everyone is guilty of sectioning off groups of people and giving them a certain unpleasant nickname with a negative connotation attached to it. It does not always have to involve race. It can involve religion, economic class, etc. Just because it is normal for people to stereotype does not make it okay to do it.

     2. Veteran PTSD
               Thankfully I have not had to experience any mentally scarring tragedies as part of my military career, but it is a huge reality for many of the military members to have traumatic images and thoughts burned into their brains. Most of us incorporate memories with positive ideas such as smells of pleasant home-cooked meals, and sounds of laughter or the way a certain shirt made you feel when you wore it out on a date. Just little subtle memories that once made you happy. Sometimes with veterans, loud noises and violent video games can set them into a downward spiral that brings back vicious memories that can not soon be forgotten.

     3. Bullying
               In the tunnel, they used the example of a 13 year old girl that met a "boy" on myspace that said he was attracted to her and adored her, but then violently used vicious words towards her and made her feel useless. He even called her fat and made some of their conversations public. He told her she was worthless and that no one wanted her around. Sadly, because of the cruel intentions, this 13 year old committed suicide because of a cyber bully. This cyber bully happened to be her neighbor and a mother of a classmate that "wanted to know what she was saying about her daughter." This woman was never convicted of any charges. It is hard to imagine that a woman, a mother, would go to such an extent to find out some teenage gossip. Do you think it was worth that poor girl's life? Cyber bullying this day in age has become an increasing issue with the increase of the technologically-based society we have today.

     4. Abuse
               I think it is important to recognize that not only men can be abusive in a relationship and the abuse does not always have to be physical. Words can cause just as much damage and your hands can. Most of the time, words actually hurt worse. In the example in the tunnel, a woman was degrading her husband because he went to the grocery store and forgot the milk and was gone for an hour. She called him stupid and accused him of infidelity. She pushed him in his chaired and spewed mean and hateful things to him. He felt all alone, without anyone to turn to. She showed this persona around their friends as a "perfect girl," but behind closed doors she was an angry, abusive partner. He was so worried about his children being the next victims she would lash out against if he were not there. What a scary place to be. I honor his valor for wanting to protect his  children, but he does not have to suffer in silence and I think that is true for anything. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. No one should feel the need to suffer in silence and be alone. There are people out there that care to help. Even if you just need to tell a stranger on the street. Sometimes it is  comforting to talk to someone you do not  know because I feel like there is less judgement and it allows an outside perspective.

     5. Physical Disabilities
               I am sure we all know about someone with a physical disability and can "imagine" what it would be like to be in their shoes. The truth is, we will never truly know what is is like to suffer like that. We all become so numb and acclimated to what is "normal" for most people. What about the people who struggle to get in and out of bed, let alone in and out of buildings and classrooms. I think sometimes we take things for granted. For example, taking a shower for some people is a leisurely way to unwind after a long day. For someone with a physical disability could dread going to take a shower because they have to worry about making sure they are not going to fall when they get in or out. They have to make their life so planned out just for their safety. I think it is important to try to accommodate all people: disability or not. Having special rooms in apartment complexes specially fit for those in wheel chairs seems to be a major concern to some. Usually rooms that are handicap accessible are secluded and out of the way. It is important for equity, not just equality. There is a difference. I had the difference explained to be in a very peculiar way. Equality is everyone gets a pair of shoes, but equity is giving someone a pair of Jordan's and someone else a used pair from a thrift store. It does not seem fair does it. I do not believe that people should be punished because they have a disability. Their life is probably hard as it is already and there is no reason why there cannot be equity for all. Having handicap ramps just is not enough.

      6. Body Image
               This one kind of hit home. I am sure that everyone had that one thing that they do not like about themselves. It is so incredibly difficult nowadays to be okay with body image and self esteem because society has slowly broken down so many people that they are comfortable with it. Everyone seems to have this idea that you have to look like a model to be beautiful. That if you're anything over a size 2 you might was well go starve yourself and don't even think about enjoying your food because God forbid you eat a piece of pizza. Being skin and bone means nothing if you're one the verge of death and not enjoying life. Society puts the idea of fun and socializing with friends as going out to eat with friends and laughing and having a good time but if you eat anything other than a salad you might as well be prepared to exercise for the next 3 hours. Society wants you to be yourself, but the "yourself"that is socially acceptable. So this is not being yourself at all. If society did not place such a heavy burden of being "imperfect" and being "fat," or whatever other negative idealism they have placed upon us, people as a whole could be so much happier. Every where you see "beautiful" its usually associated in magazines or on T.V. as skinny girls with thigh gaps, and collar bones, and protruding bones that come out of the skin. That is just a beautiful as someone who's thighs touch when they walk and who has a little bit of excess anything. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the beholder should not be society. We are society and if we keep fueling the fire then both women and men will place their self worth on some photoshopped picture in a magazine. Thin did not always used to be in. It is more important to live a healthy lifestyle should you chose that is what you want, but make life about what you want. Life is too short to sit in front of the mirror and depict the body you were given. You cannot put a size on beauty.


These are some pretty serious topics that I feel get pushed off to the side all to often. All it takes is for people to take and stand. We are society and we can change it. Please be cognizant for the world around you and the words you speak. Words can be deadly. People are human and that is completely unchangeable. People make mistakes and do things that they regret. Some people are sensitive and take things to heart more than they should. Mistakes are made, but that does not change the fact that the good CAN outweigh the bad. It is not going to hurt you to pass a smile to a stranger on the side walk or offer a hello or talk to someone who is sitting alone. You never quite know what is going on in their heads. That conversation could potentially save their lives. That being said, be aware of the actions and words you portray to other because your words can be the reason they are contemplating life or death. All it takes is one to make a change and if we all start and try to save the world one person at a time, we can become the epidemic that saved the world.

I encourage you to comment your thoughts and opinions below. The only way to over come society is if we all start talking about it.