SSC Corner: Human Rights
By Judith Wickelgren
The rights of humans are something usually never contemplated unless there has been a life-challenging violation of those rights. Taking the time to consider how one would like to be treated by others is an intelligent way to approach life.
The first step in deciding how we would like to be treated should be to consider how we would like to interact with others. When we decide on the approach we want to take with others, it’s an easy guess to see how we would like to be treated in kind; give as if to receive. Should these steps be taken by everyone, it could create a tolerant existence for all across the planet.
Until everyone can take this thoughtful approach to life, discrimination will continue to flourish in all corners of the world. As discrimination flourishes there are a few things each of us can do to limit the damaging effects it creates. The most important is to be someone that sets an example of tolerance. For someone that has experienced discrimination in its worst form, it is a great comfort to the victim to know that there are others who tolerate differences in people.
Another important choice we can make is to challenge discrimination every time we witness it happening. This can be done by learning what our legal rights are and verbalizing them to whomever is in violation. The Minnesota Human Rights Act can be found in its full form on the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Web site: www.humanrights.state.mn.us
There are some cases of discrimination that can be difficult to identify as it can be hidden by the discriminator(s). In any situation where discrimination is possibly occurring, stepping back and looking at the bigger picture is beneficial. It may be one isolated incident, a reoccurring incident directed at one certain person or something occurring to many people on a larger scale that has not yet been identified by anyone. At the first sign of discrimination, it is important to document dates, times and the names of people involved for future reference. When possible, look at past incidents that occurred to see if a pattern is forming or has formed. There are some that may try to hide it but discrimination is much bigger than any one person or group and can be easily seen if looked at with a critical eye.
Discrimination creates a negative environment, one in which everything and everyone suffers. For those that have experienced or are currently experiencing discrimination, there are many ways to reach out for assistance. Some of the agencies that can assist are: The Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR); the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); and the state Attorney General’s Office. Each of these agencies have easy-to-find Web sites with great information guidelines regarding discrimination. Seeking legal counsel through an attorney may also be beneficial for a victim and most will consult with a client free of charge to determine if they have a case to file. Please seek assistance if you feel you are a victim of discrimination.
SSC will be holding its annual Elections Meeting on Friday, April 17 in the St. Paul Room in the New Main building. This will be a pivotal meeting for the group, as the current leadership of SSC is graduating this spring, and it is critical that newer members take the reins from us if the group is to continue. If you have any questions about SSC, feel free to e-mail at rubinda@go.metrostate.edu.