Elosie Moore: Stand up for people to prevent othering, recommit to treating people with respect

To The Daily Sun, 

Around International National Holocaust Remembrance Day (Jan. 27), it is important as a society to address how we are preventing othering, which can lead to genocide. For those who may not know, othering is the process of categorizing people based on perceived differences and setting that group apart. During the Holocaust people of Jewish ancestry were forced to wear yellow stars; this is an example of othering. In 2024 there are still millions of cases of othering; in Gaza the trapped Palestinians are being marked, separating them from the rest of the population. Here in Laconia there have been swastikas painted on buildings in recent months. Among government officials in Concord the idea of banning talk of the term “systemic racism” has been brought up. This suggests that conflict surrounding racial differences should be swept under the rug and normalized. So how can we prevent othering and hate? Stand up for people, those who are being othered are not always comfortable standing up for themselves. We can use our voice for those who can’t use their own. In addition, acknowledging our biases will help prevent us from othering people. As an individual it is important to educate ourselves about people's cultures and backgrounds so we are aware of the scope of their experience. Being educated stops us from saying ignorant comments. Meeting new people is a great way to learn about different cultures and backgrounds and learn what is acceptable to do and not do. Steps taken to avoid othering people don’t need to be huge, for instance I make sure to learn about people's background to avoid assuming any information about their identity. Around Jan. 27, I would like you to join me in bettering society by recommitting ourselves to treating each other with respect.

Elosie Moore

Meredith