Discouraging Discrimination Students From Seven North Idaho High Schools Discuss Their Experiences With Discrimination In Their Schools And Their Communities And How They Can Make A Difference In Stopping It.

Adults too often chuckle at the naivete of youthful idealism. It can be inspiring to listen to the strong, hopeful words of tomorrow’s leaders.

Students from seven North Idaho high schools gathered May 12 at North Idaho College to talk about discrimination in their communities and schools. As part of the three-hour session, students wrote about discrimination that they’ve been exposed to, and what they can do to make a difference.

A typical response came from Sarena Munroe, a junior at Timberlake High School in Spirit Lake, and president of the school’s Tigers for Tolerance human rights club. She wrote: “I believe that my life and the way I live it has the power to change others’ lives. I am willing to live my life in a way that upholds my beliefs so that I truly `walk the walk’ and give others an example to follow.”

There is much work to be done in this area on behalf of human rights, according to B.J. Johnson, president of the Human Equality Club at NIC. Johnson and former NIC club president Josh Buehner spent more than an hour talking with the high school students about racism, sexism and homophobia.

When asked to describe their own experiences with discrimination, here’s what some of the students wrote:

* There was a big problem at our school with people calling other people “Jew” and “nigger.”

* Certain people call me “beaner.” It’s happened ever since I first met them. I have learned to deal with it.

* The Aryan Nations exists on 40 acres behind my house. Their rallies can always be heard and the fliers are always put in our mail. In our school, racism and sexism don’t seem like problems, but many guys are very homophobic.

* There was a fight between two kids at school because one called the other the big “N” word.

* One of my friends was at a gathering with some friends and just because of his skin color he was told he was worthless and someone even had the nerve to spit on him. I admire his courage and strength for speaking up against them and being able to erase the hate those people gave him.

* My community does not have a high percentage of minorities, so the discrimination that I encounter is not really directed at certain people. I often hear ignorant comments — generally from insecure freshmen — who repeat comments or jokes they think are funny.

* The attitudes and comments that parents express around their children create an internal racism and hate towards others.

* I have been blessed to have encountered only a few racist residents, but I have been exposed to prejudices against religion and disabilities. My religion is a definite minority and the views people have about my religion are way off.

* The fact that I am a minority and I excel in school means I have a hard time dealing with certain comments or jokes.

* Last year, while I was on the bus, a black man was waiting at the end of his driveway, presumably for his children to get off the bus. As our bus drove past, some seventh- and eighth-grade boys yelled out the window and flipped him off. I felt terrible to be on the same bus.

* I think people discriminate against others in my school by putting stereotypes on them and dividing them into groups like “populars” and “non-populars.”

* The only black kid in the school was in my math class. A lot of the people in there like to act like they are racist so they want to make fun of him, but they don’t have the guts to say really mean stuff to his face so they call him pet names that they made up.

* We had a homosexual guy attend out school, and everyone who has talked to me about him has “dissed” on him, when they didn’t even get a chance to know him.

* I hear my father and my grandpa calling black dudes “niggers.”

* In our school there isn’t really a lot of discrimination. There are a lot of jokes, but really, no one intends to offend anyone.

* I am constantly bombarded with racial jokes and insults projected toward minorities. Blacks, Jews and Hispanic people are the main focus of jokes and I feel like I have no support in standing up for myself.

The students then were asked what they would be willing to do, as individuals, to make a difference. Here are a few of their responses:

* I get chills down my back when I hear that people in my area actually discriminate against others only on skin color or beliefs. I am now planning to get a human rights group started at my school. I think it is my responsibility as a believer in human rights to stand up for minorities who can’t defend themselves. Even when there is no support, even when others shoot me down.

* I feel that I need to speak up and say something. And if no one wants to stand up with me, then I will do it alone.

* As an individual, I am willing to reach out to minorities and become their friend and support system. Once individuals see that being with someone who is “different” is not bad and they are “normal,” maybe they will come around.

* I feel that I should speak up for someone not only as a human being but to shout my beliefs and let the right and brave thing be heard.

* I have always made a point of telling my friends how inappropriate racist jokes are, even if it offends them. It is unacceptable to tell them around me, and I am never afraid to voice my views, regardless of how they think of me.

* I feel now — especially after this conference — that I should tell others to not discriminate.

* I am willing to help in starting a group in my own school. Also, if I were given the chance to speak out against discrimination, I hope I would have the knowledge to support my ideas.

* Get involved and talk with others. Even though they may not agree with me, maybe they can at least know where I stand.

* I am willing to stand up for what I believe in, and go out into the community and share my beliefs.

* I am willing to risk my friendship with others and my popularity to stand up for human rights. What good is awareness if it is never used to push action? I feel so strongly to stand up for our generation and keep all of the ignorant people in this world from defining who we are.

* I believe it’s my personal responsibility to respond to discrimination that I see at school or in my community. If I don’t try to stop it, who will?