In calculative move to investigate claims of discrimination on the basis of race and religion in America, the Destination America TV had to invite Marry Aliza, a 22 year old Jewish lady to share the from the experiences she has gone through on discrimination against women, certain races and religions. There had been so many complaints from the foreign citizens of incidences of discrimination but there was no sufficient evidence to say that indeed such claims was and that necessitated the interview. The interview panel was composed of three men and one lady. The interview kicked off at exactly 7 pm in the evening with a lined up questions focused on capturing the in areas required. ( Emerson 2000)
Contribution
Mary after through a brief introduction stated categorically that she was a single, Jewish woman born in Israel but brought up in America. While giving her opinions about the whole issue of discrimination she says that to policies are not enough to resolve the problem of discrimination. Policies are just the primary stage of bringing democracy in a country, and it is good that United States is moving towards that direction. The interviewee further explores that the best way to approach this negative vice in the society is by doing a massive campaign and with the aim to change people’s minds. People may avoid racism just because their laws bars them from such but within their hearts, they still have a feeling that if an opportunity arises they can always take the chance and to discriminate against fellow human.
She also cites education as the best way to begin everything. The only way people’s mindsets and attitudes can be changed is through integration of antidiscrimination lessons into the school curriculum right from the elementary. The problem that has been there from the past is that a child is brought up knowing that the blacks the people of this and that religion are bad. It is amazing to see how kids interact freely without distinction of their color, where they come from, or what they believe in. Attitude change that is a determinant factor of behavior change must be controlled right from the time when the child is still young and no fed up with the worldly staff.
The parents also play a key role in shaping the society. Parents who are racists are more likely to transfer the same traits to the children and the generations to come. The environment where one brought influences a person and even their perception about the other people in the society. If the parents are liberal and consider treating all human beings, equally regardless of their differences then the generation to come will definitely be an indiscriminative one. (Emerson 2000)
Memories
Mary shared her story with her interviewers that because of the frequent wars in Israel, her family decided to move to United. She was still a very young with around 8 years. She was be curious and inquisitive at that time and could notice even the smaller details. She began to notice some things when they were searching for passports to necessitate their travel. Their father would share the difficulties he was going through in processing of these precious travel documents. The requirements to apply for the passport itself were enormous and so the young girl would just listen much do not give much contribution. As he shared freely, his frustration that the speed at which the documents are processed depends on where one comes from. He said to them that the first things that even the receptionist asks are the country of origin. The foreigners especially the blacks were treated with less respect. When they finally took drove off to the airport she could notice the number of security measures that the blacks must fulfill. When they landed at their destination, they had to go through a series of interrogations. They were being questioned on their main agenda in visiting the country. When they had settled, she had to continue with her education just at the nearby school. The experience with other children was just amazing only at times the other children would question about her color. Some children however segregated themselves from the black students saying that they would dirtify themselves. Since Mary was Christian, some of her classmates hated hers for that. They would occasionally speak against the Christians before hers just to make her annoyed. When she tried to ask them why they hated Christians, they could not explain only arguing that that is how their friends and parents tell them. What Marry noticed though is that children themselves had no problem but the main issue was poor upbringing by their guardians and parents. The experience continued. She also learnt that at the elementary levels gender discrimination are not common.
When she proceeded to high school, she now met students from a wider region. They were students drawn from different districts; others from other states while still others from foreign countries. High school is the level of in learning process where relationships begin to come up. This was an opportunity for Marry to understand the problems the issue of gender discrimination better. She learnt that in the scenario of high school relationships, the boys treat girls as if they are objects using and dumping them. Some families value the boy child than the girl child arguing that it is because the boy has the potential to help the family after schooling. Currently Marry is in campus and she got the privilege to share ideas with students from all over the world. She realizes that in the university, discrimination graduates to a higher level without the focus now on knowledge. Some lecturers are biased in the way they treat assignments and research papers from the students. Usually when a student does a good research paper, he or she is supposed to be supported in implementing the project by the lecturer through connection with the donors. The lecturers normally decide to take the projects for their own advantage or they just frustrate the student. In the community, she could just notice that her views and contribution to the development in the community was not being appreciated as that of her age mates. (Emerson 2000)
Interpretation
Though there are laws governing the issues of racism, the United States citizens still have some form of discrimination deeply rooted in their hearts. Tracking Mary’s life, one can see that though America has transformed greatly in terms is antidiscrimination laws, there is need to put more effort to change people’s attitudes, influence their way of and control how children are brought up. The segregation, neglect and alienation that she ever went through while in school was much motivated by the information they was brought about by the children from the families discriminate other people on the basis of their race, religion or sex. Though the new rules have given power to the women lobby groups to fight for gender equity and affirmative action, not much could be done if people’s hearts do not undergo transformation ( Goldschmidt 2004)
Reflection
There is need to seek the root cause of the problems of racism and religious discrimination in United States instead of making assumptions and trusting that the laws passed by the congress will cover the issue amicably. Mary’s story is clear evidence that the issue of discrimination should not just be neglected. The change begins right from the common citizens then to the leadership. The future of Africa lies in the children and so if is any measure to be taken, it must target the younger generation. The young people have the opportunity to transform and change the nation unlike the older people who may not have any new idea. The American dream of equity and non-discrimination can only be achieved if there is public participation in efforts to realize the dream. Other states and societies must pick lessons from the case of Americans to ensure that the goal of ensuring equal rights. It is typically improper to discriminate against fellow human, bearing in mind that no one for instance, applied to be born in a particular society, culture race. It is also important to know that individuals have the right to choose what they believe it is right for them and so the issue of religion is an individual right which must not be questioned.
References
Emerson, M. O., & Smith, C. (2000). Divided by faith: Evangelical religion and the problem of race in America. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Goldschmidt, H., & McAlister, E. A. (2004). Race, nation, and religion in the Americas. New York: Oxford University Press.
Joshi, K. Y. (2006). New roots in America's sacred ground: Religion, race, and ethnicity in Indian America. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press.
