SOURCE: The Daily Tar Heel
POSTED BY: Emily Simmons on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013
-Esther Lederman, a Holocaust survivor that spoke at UNC, on the discrimination she has witnessed throughout her life (11/20/13).
SOURCE: The Daily Tar Heel POSTED BY: Emily Simmons on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013
15 Comments
Meghan C
11/24/2013 01:27:11 pm
It's tough to hear a comment such as this. In today's age you want to think that everyone treats each other equally, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or beliefs. Everyone walks a different path through life and along the way each person experiences different trials of discrimination. Whether on the street, at the job, or within the community, everyone has seen or felt discrimination. The problem is evident. These things mean nothing in regards to the morals and integrity of these people. As Esther Lederman stated "What's the big fuss?"
Kayce Stutzman
11/25/2013 12:12:27 am
UNC has really opened my eyes to discrimination, stereotypes and racism. I came from a little town in the middle of cornfields, predominantly white, mostly farmers and overall the most racist place you will find up north. Almost anyone who is not white was not accepted. So naturally I had an idea of who everyone would be moving here based on their race, or their culture. Now that I'm here I've realized everything I thought I knew was wrong, my best friends here are of all different races. I think this shows that sometimes one of the biggest components of racism is just inexperience with other races and lack of education. Everyone does bleed red, America is a huge melting pot of diversity and culture but we’re all here because we want to be, some of us even share the same goals and Ideas. Once the new generation embraces this concept we can use this diversity to our greatest advantages.
Annie Nowell
12/3/2013 02:20:28 am
I love this quote. What a simple concept but yet the topic of discrimination is still so relevant in our time. It would be nice if everyone could think in these simple terms. Esther Lederman was truly a motivational speaker. I can't imagine going through so much and still holding my head so high. Everyone's blood is red, but it's a shame people insist on killing one another to prove it.
Sylvia Estrada
2/18/2014 12:12:59 pm
Everybody was created equal. We all deserve to have the same rights.No one should be discriminated because of their skin color, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
Carleigh Barnett
2/23/2014 10:20:27 am
As someone who has been brought up as not only Jewish, but who has relatives who survived the Holocaust, whenever I hear quotes about equality I always think about the lack of rights that so many people faced during the time of the Holocaust, black history, and today. It is so easy to say that we should all be treated equally, but why does it always seem so hard for that desire to come true? UNC prides itself on being a university that brings about change and diversity from the highest in authority to the bottom, yet at the same time, just by walking around campus you hear comments that make your head turn. It is people like Esther who will make a change for this nation, and people who follow quotes like these that will bring a brighter future to all.
Emily Rojas
2/23/2014 09:21:35 pm
Esther's statement is something that everyone needs to know and it reminded me of something that I've become more and more aware of—that discrimination is not always as evident as it was during the Holocaust or the Civil Rights Movement. Especially on the school and university level, we might avoid talking to someone based on their character traits, on whether someone seems annoying or seems like they don't care about school (or maybe even care too much). Their blood is red too, and they deserve your friendship and kindness as much as your best friend does.
Carly Davis
2/24/2014 07:25:51 am
What an amazing quote by Esther Lederman! I was present at her speech and it was so inspiring. Such a simple, yet inspiring concept. Racism is still evident and still a problem we can see in our everyday lives. It's sad that more people aren't on the same page as Esther, because really what is the big fuss? Its true! Everyone's blood is red. She was such a great speaker!
Rakela Miller
2/24/2014 09:50:42 am
I think this quote is relevant, because unfortunately, we still live in a world full of prejudice, but at the end of the day, we're all still humans. Sometimes I wonder what it is that makes people make such a big deal about ethnicity and skin color. Everyone deserves to be treated equally by other humans, so what IS the big fuss that makes people think that they are superior for their exteriors?
Jordan Mathews
2/24/2014 12:45:23 pm
I love this quote because it really does send the message that we are all people living on the same planet. Our society places such a strong emphasis on race even when we try to avoid racism. It raises the question of why does it all matter? People are now looking to diversify their schools and their work places which is still judging people by the color of their skin.
Julianna Hill
2/25/2014 03:46:44 am
One of the main reasons I wanted to come to UNC was because of its dedication to diversity. My cousin Anthony started coming here when I was still a sophomore in high school. I would visit him and walk around the campus and I noticed much more diversity among the students than I did at other universities I had visited. The element of diversity is crucial when attending college because it opens you up to seeing different viewpoints and makes you an overall more well-rounded person when you enter the work force later on. If we only surround ourselves with people just like us then we will never reach our full potential. Learning to interact with people who hold different views and beliefs than you will make you more open minded and willing to embrace new ideas.
Blaine Milton
2/25/2014 10:11:59 am
Esther Lederman's comment upholds a strong point. Diversity is important. UNC-CH has a diverse student population with unique and brilliant young minds. I'm from Miami, Fl and have never seen color, race, gender, or sexuality. Miami represents a melting pot just like America. Every human is unique but ultimately we as people are all the same. We love, cry, feel, hurt, and also know discrimination. Lederman personally experienced hardship due to her religion just like other groups in history have as well. I'm proud to be at school where I can meet people from all backgrounds and places. Nothing to me is more beautiful then seeing everyone respect each other regardless of what situation one comes from.
Samantha South
2/25/2014 02:38:24 pm
I love this quote because it states something that seems to be so obvious that it shouldn't have to be quoted. At the end of the day whether you are white or black or middle eastern or native american, all of our blood is the same. People find so many ways to stereotype others or judge them based on what they see exteriorly but they forget that at the end of the day we are all the same. So why do we belittle other people or try to condemn them for being born into a certain category? Because we forget the very basic fact that all of us are born with red blood and that fundamentally we are all extremely the same.
Sanjana Murthy
2/25/2014 03:40:16 pm
This is a beautiful quote, because it is such a simplistic way of arguing an important issue. Although the issue of discrimination may never be fully be resolved, we should never stop trying to fight it . It is especially inspiring to hear these words come from someone who endured one of the largest world tragedies that was based on discrimination. The fact that it was stated at a university makes the quote even more empowering, because it reminds us that our generation has the power to make a difference. Lederman's quote allows us to think about the importance of diversity in society, and how it has a huge impact on our development. The acceptance of diversity allows us to carve a path for a future in which various communities can come together to resolve global issues.
Kathryn Walker
2/25/2014 11:35:14 pm
Esther Lederman brings to the surface the idea that we are equal. In a world as modern as ours and changing everyday it is astounding that discrimination still exists. Gender, ethnicity, religion, all seem to still seem to factor into how people are viewed by society and how they will be treated. Where you identify within these genres determines where you might sit on the societal hierarchy. However, once you realize that "everyone's blood is red," that everyone is a human being, that everyone is deserving of the same respect without regards to skin color, they way they dress, or their beliefs, you can overcome discrimination and hate. It is from hate and discrimination from which the most atrocious acts like the Holocaust begin and it is from love and acceptance that we can ensure these acts have seen their final days.
Kate Soliman
4/15/2014 12:19:45 am
This quote shows the underlying connection between all humans. Stripped down of everything, we are all made up of the same contents. We share a similarity that connects all of us, yet society still faces discrimination. Nowadays, there is a big emphasis placed on trying to be different and standing out. Granted, being original is not a negative characteristic, but neither is being the same. By sharing a similarity, we form natural connections with others that allow us to empathize and sympathize regardless of how close we are with one another. Society has formed our current perceptions of race, gender, and class, but that also means that we, as a society, can change these perceptions and strive for more equality. Leave a Reply. |